The Sociology of Crime & Deviance

1. The Sociology of Crime & Deviance

2. Part 1: What is Deviance?

7. What is Deviance? • DEFINITION: any behavior that violates social norms, and is of sufficient severity to warrant disapproval from the majority of society • Criminal or non-criminal

8. Cultural Implications • Considerable variation of norms across groups, time & place; therefore, definitions of deviance may vary • EXAMPLES: • Female circumcision v. genital mutilation • Taking someone’s life • Divorce

9. Part 2: The Biological Context

10. The Biological Context • Caesare Lombroso, Italian Physician • Genetic predisposition towards crime • Extra “X” chromosome (XXY – “super male) • Crime by body type • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvZGfjqYCAY

11. Part 3: The Psychological Context

13. Psychopath v. Sociopath • Psychopaths: • Antisocial personality disorder • Well planned crimes; meticulous • Appear normal in their social relationships • Have a tendency toward violence • Controlled behavior

14. Psychopath v. Sociopath • Sociopaths: • Antisocial personality disorder • Erratic crimes; less meticulous • Unable to maintain normal relationships • Have a tendency toward violence • Erratic behavior

15. Part 4: The Sociological Context

16. Social Functions of Deviance • The Rules of Sociological Method, Durkheim • NECESSARY FOR SOCIETY: • Clarifies cultural norms • Promotes social unity • Diffuses social tension • Promotes social change • Provides jobs

17. Structural-Functionalist Analysis

18. R. Merton: Strain Theory • Deviance is a natural outgrowth of the values, norms, beliefs & structure of society • BIG QUESTION: • How do individuals respond to culturally approved goals & the means of achieving those goals?

19. R. Merton: Strain Theory • Not everyone has legitimate means to achieve societal goals; the strain of incompatible goals & means leads to anomie • Anomie: • Situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear or no longer applicable

21. Conflict Theory

22. R. Quinney: Conflict Theory • Competition & social inequality lead to deviance • Why are people deviant? • To maintain position • To obtain economic reward • Low self-esteem & feelings of powerlessness • RATES OF DEVIANCE MISLEADING

23. Symbolic-Interactionist Analysis

24. Control Theory • Deviance is a natural occurrence • Interested in the reasons for which people conform, rather than the causes of deviance Integrated into community Weak community ties Likely to conform Likely to be deviant

25. Control Theory • Develop social bonds in 4 ways: • Attachment • Belief • Commitment • Involvement

26. Techniques of Neutralization • Gresham Sykes & David Matza • Some people, despite strong ties to the community, still perform deviant acts • Suspend moral beliefs in order to do so • HOW?

27. Techniques of Neutralization • Denial of responsibility • Denial of injury • Denial of the victim • Condemnation of the authorities • Appeal to higher loyalties

28. Cultural Transmission Theory (Edwin Sutherland) • Suggests that deviance is learned through association with those who encourage the violation of norms

29. Cultural Transmission Theory • Differential association: If the majority of a person’s interactions are with deviant individuals, the person is likely to be socialized into patterns of deviant behavior • Generally occurs in primary groups

30. Labeling Theory • Focuses on how individuals come to be identified as deviant, rather than why people perform deviant acts • ALL people commit deviant acts; not everyone is labeled as deviant

31. Labeling Theory • Primary Deviance: • Nonconformity that goes undetected by those in positions of authority • Society does not consider individuals who commit primary acts deviance to be deviants

32. Labeling Theory • Secondary Deviance: • An act of deviance in which the individual becomes labeled as deviant & accepts the label as true • Alters self-concept & social identity (stigma) • Degradation ceremony

33. Part 5: Crime

34. Types of Crime • FBI defines 5 broad categories: • Violent crimes • Crimes against property • Victimless crimes • White-collar crime • Organized crime

35. Criminal Statistics

36. Criminal Statistics

37. Criminal Statistics

38. Criminal Statistics

39. Criminal Statistics

40. Criminal Statistics

43. Statistical Limitations • Individuals are less likely to report a crime if their friends or family are involved • Members of the upper classes are more likely to file formal reports; police are more likely to follow through • Some crimes are less likely to be reported • Three times higher?

44. Part 6: Juvenile Delinquency

45. Minor v. Juvenile • Minor: • Anyone who is under the age of 18; not all minors are considered “juvenile” in terms of criminal responsibility

46. Minor v. Juvenile • Juvenile: • Anyone who has not yet reached the “age of majority” (threshold of adulthood) • Juvenile status is defined by age, but varies by jurisdiction

47. Upper Bound in U.S.(“Age of Majority”) • 40 states – 18 years of age • 10 states – 16 or 17 years of age • Upper Bound of 17: • GA, IL, LA, MI, MA, MO, SC and TX • Upper Bound of 16: • NY and NC

48. Lower Bound in U.S.(“Age of Reason”) • In the United States, the lower bound used to be 7 years of age, though as of 1995 most states did away with the “age of reason” • No lower age limit – controversial?

49. Special Privileges/Protections • Juvenile court, except in extreme situations • Parent/guardian MUST be present during questioning • Confidentiality (when accused of a crime)

50. Special Privileges/Protections • May NOT be housed with adult inmates (even if child is tried as an adult) • What about 18 year olds who committed earlier crimes?