Chapter 8: Deviance and Social Control

1. Objectives: Explain deviance from a symbolic interactionist perspective. Describing and applying the components of differential association theory, control theory, and labeling theory List and give examples of neutralization techniques Know from functionalist perspective which functions deviance fulfills in society Understand Strain theory and discuss its social implications Understand the role power plays in defining and punishing deviance from a conflict perspective Chapter 8: Deviance and Social Control

2. Differential Association Theory Edwin Sutherland associating with some groups results in learning an “excess of definitions” of deviance, and, by extension, in a greater likelihood that one will become deviant what we learn influences us toward or away from deviance Families, friends, neighborhoods, subcultures all influence us Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

3. Control Theory Walter Reckless idea that two control systems—inner controls and outer controls—work against our tendencies to deviate inner controls (conscience, religious principals, ideas of right and wrong, desire to be good, fear of punishment) outer controls (family, friends, police) stronger our bonds are with society, the more effective our inner controls are bonds are based on attachments, commitments, involvements, beliefs Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

4. Labeling Theory the view that the labels people are given affect their own and others’ perceptions of them, thus channeling their behavior either into deviance or into conformity labels are names and reputations Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

5. Techniques of Neutralization: ways of thinking or rationalizing that help people deflect society’s norms 1. Denial of Responsibility I’m not responsible because…;I couldn’t help my self 2. Denial of Injury I wasn’t wrong because nobody got hurt 3. Denial of a Victim Do you think they deserved it? 4. Condemnation of Condemners Who are you to talk? 5. Appeal to Higher Loyalties I had to help my friends…wouldn’t you do the same thing? Rejecting Labels

6. most people resist being labeled deviant, but others revel in it music, clothing, hairstyles labeling can become a self-fulfilling prophecy Roughnecks vs Saints doors of opportunity open for those with positive labels and close for those with negative labels Labeling Cont…

7. deviance, including crime, is a natural part of society and fulfills necessary functions Functions of Deviance (Durkheim): 1) clarifies moral boundaries and affirms norms 2)promotes social unity 3) promotes social change Functionalist Perspective

8. Robert Merton analyze what happens when people are socialized into desirable cultural goals but denied the institutionalized means to achieve those goals ie: people are socialized to be successful, but their paths are blocks because of social class, gender, etc… being unable to achieve those goals leads to strain (frustration) this can lead to anomie (sense of normlessness) because some people find it difficult to identify with these norms This can motivate people to deviant behavior Strain Theory

9. Responses to cultural goals and institutionalized means: 1) Conformity: using socially acceptable means to achieve goals Or when anomie is present… 2) Innovation: accept the goals of society but use illegitimate means to try and reach them (drug dealer) 3) Ritualism: give up on achieving goals, yet accept the means (burnt-out teachers) 4) Retreatism: reject both goals and means of achieving them (severe alcoholics) 5) Rebellion: reject both goals and means; replace existing goals with new ones (revolutionaries) Strain theory cont…

11. Street Crime robbery, burglary, drug dealing, prostitution, etc lower classes want to achieve cultural goals, but don’t fit into the institutionalized means schools are set up based upon middle class values and ideals; lower class don’t fit, so many drop out Illegitimate Opportunity Structure: opportunities for crimes that are woven into the texture of life for the lower class = street crime “hustling” hustlers are role models and attract disadvantaged youth into crime SOcial Class and Crime

12. White Collar Crime committed by people of respectable and high social status in the course of their occupation ie: bribery, embezzlement, price fixing Opportunity structures are different, but they still commit crimes can be more costly than street crime  financially costs billions a year (Zeune 2001) unsafe working conditions kill about 100,000 Americans each year, five times the number killed by street criminals SOcial Class and Crime cont…

13. Gender and Crime Women are committing a larger proportion of crimes than they committed in the past Women are still less likely to commit crime than men but are committing more and more, particularly white-collar crimes as they enter the professional and corporate world SOcial Class and Crime cont…

14. power plays a central role in defining and punishing deviance the group in power uses the law and criminal justice system (system of police, courts and prisons) to maintain its power and privilege over other groups the fundamental division is between the capitalist class (those who own the means of production) and the working class (those who sell their labor to the capitalist class) Conflict Perspective

15. Marginal working class: the most desperate members of the working class, who have few skills, little job security and are often unemployed many times they commit street crimes through desperation, which threatens social order, therefore they are severely punished Conflict cont…