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Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6

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Page 1: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Deviance and Social Control

Chapter 6

Page 2: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

What is Deviance? Pages

154-157

Deviance- violation of the norms Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the act itself

but the reaction to the act that makes something deviant”

Relativity of deviance acceptable in one culture is deviant in another- this statement is true within societies. Deviance is relative

Specific form of deviance is crime- a violation of rules that are written into law

Sociologists do not view deviance as a bad thing- it is just acts that people see as negative- all of us are deviant at one time or another

Stigma characteristic that discredits people- includes violations of norms of ability (handicap), appearance (obesity) and being an involuntary member (AIDS victim)

Some stigmas can become a persons master status

Page 3: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

How Norms Make Social Life Possible Norms make life predictable by making behavior

predictable We are socialized to follow norms, play basic roles

that society assigns us. Norms bring social order, a groups customary

social arrangement. Deviance undermines this predictability Groups develop a systems of social control ,

formal and informal ways of enforcing norms Sanctions- expressions of disapproval of deviance

bring negative sanctions- range from frowns (breaking folkways) to imprisonment (breaking mores). Positive sanctions are used to reward for conforming to the norms. Most negative sanctions are informal.

Page 4: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Other types of sanctions Shaming- effective when

members of a primary group use it. Often used to keep children in line and small communities. Shaming can be part of a public ritual

Degradation Ceremony- a formal attempt to brand somebody as an outsider. Individual is stripped of their identity as a group member. This dramatizes that the member is no longer part of the group

Page 5: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Explanations of Deviance

Sociobiologists look for explanations within people Assume that people have genetic predispositions.

Sociologists argue that genetics have little influence on deviance

Psychologists focus on the abnormalities within individuals. Examine personality disorders. Sociologists dispute that deviant individuals fit a particular personality

Sociologists search for factors outside the individual. They look for social influences that recruit people to break norms

Page 6: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective of Deviance pages 159-164

Symbolic Interactionists argue that we act according to our interpretations of situations

Differential Association Theory Edwin Sutherland developed the theory-we learn deviance

from the different groups we associate with Give us messages about conformity and deviance We receive an imbalance of these messages one way or

another that tilts us in one direction Factors that influence us- family, friends, neighbors,

subcultures

Page 7: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Family, Friends, Neighborhood and Subcultures

Family is the primary agent of socialization, difference whether we learn deviance or conformity.

Studies have proven that families involved in crime, have lawbreaking children

Neighborhoods- people want to move our of “bad” neighborhoods keep children away from corrupting influences

Some neighborhoods develop subcultures of violence (gangs, mafia)

People have choice in the groups we associate with- we produce our own orientations to life

Page 8: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Control Theory Control Theory (Walter Reckless) We have two control systems that work against our

motivation to deviate. Inner Control- internalized morality- conscience,

religious principles, ideas of right and wrong Outer Controls- consist of people- family, friends,

police officers, etc. that influence us most not to deviate

The stronger our bonds are with society the more effective our inner controls (attachments, commitments and involvements)

Page 9: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Control Theory

Attachments – feeling affection and respect for people that conform to mainstream norms

Commitments- having a stake in society that you don’t want to risk

Involvements- putting time an energy into approved activities

Control theory how we learn self- control. Learning self control is achieved through socialization

Page 10: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Labeling Theory Labels- names, reputations, etc. we are

given, become part of our self- concept Most people resist negative labels by others Some people that are deviant do not view

themselves that way. The deflection of societies norms are rationalized in the five techniques of neutralization- denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of a victim, condemnation of condemners, appeal to higher loyalties

Page 11: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Functionalist Perspective of Deviance pages 164-166

Stress the functions of deviance to society (Durkheim)

1. It is essential to the social order

2. Clarifies moral boundaries and affirms norms

3. Promotes social unity

4. Promotes social change

Page 12: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Strain Theory Functionalists see crime as a

natural part of society. Mainstream values generate crime

Strain theory was developed by Robert Merton (1956) to explain this:

When society socializes large numbers of people to desire a cultural goal (success) but withholds the means of reaching that goal to many people. An adaptation to meet the goal is crime (outside of the approved system). To attain the cultural goal.

Page 13: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Strain Theory People who experience the strain feel anomie (a

sense of normlessness) Mainstream norms aren’t getting them anywhere,

find it difficult to identify with these norms, feel wronged by the system, rules are illegitimate

People match their goals to their means through five ways- conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreats, rebellion where they accept, reject or replace cultural norms

Page 14: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Four Deviant Paths1) Innovation- accept goals but use illegitimate means to

reach them2) Ritualism- give up on achieving goals but survive by

following rules of their job (job burnout)3) Retreats- reject cultural and societal goals and the

means of achieving them- alcoholics, drug addicts and nuns that enter convents are examples

4) Rebellion- reject societies goals . They seek to give societies new goals. Revolutionaries are an example

Page 15: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Social Class and Crime Social classes have distinct styles of crime

because of the unequal access to institutional means.

The illegitimate opportunity structure is the term given to the opportunity for crime woven into the texture of life

Page 16: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Street Crime Industrialized societies socialize all

classes into the desire for material possessions (all Americans can afford society’s goods and services)

Education the most common route to success, not an option for the poor

School system is out of touch with the poor- closes the door to them as a legitimate avenue to success

Urban slums there is an opportunity –crime (drug dealing, prostitution, burglary, gambling)

The “hustler” is viewed as a role model- the image of easy money, only ones seen as coming close to the ideal of success

Page 17: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

White Collar Crime More privileged classes have different

opportunities for crime White collar crime (embezzlement, money

schemes opportunities encountered by these classes)

Another form is corporate crime committed by executives to benefit their corporation

White collar criminals rarely spend a day in jail even though it costs more than street crime

Most Americans are concerned with street crime and the disruption it will cause in their lives.

Page 18: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the
Page 19: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Conflict Perspective Conflict theorists- power

and social inequality as the main characteristics of society.

Power elite that runs society also runs the criminal justice system.

Division between the haves and have nots

Those at the lower end of the scale are at the highest risk for poverty, prison

Page 20: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Conflict Perspective on Deviance

“Justice for all” myth promoted by the elite. Conflict theorists see the law as an instrument of oppression designed by the elite to maintain their position.

Criminal justice system does not focus on the corporate criminals, directs energies toward the working class.

When the corporate class is prosecuted and the case receives attention- stabilizes the justice system and provides evidence of “fairness”

To a conflict theorist this is a cultural device that the power elite uses to carry out self protective and repressive policies

Page 21: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Reactions to Deviance

Page 22: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Decline in Crime and Recidivism

Reaction to deviance from minor sanctions to death penalty

Past 20 years more and more people have been put in prison and three strikes laws have reduced early release.

At the same time the crime rate has dropped sharply.

Sociologists question if this has caused the drop in crime rates

Statistics demonstrate prisons fail to rehabilitate criminals.

Recidivism rate (prisoners that are rearrested) is high.

If the purpose of prisons is to keep people from being criminals, and to teach those that crime does not pay; are the prisons failing?

Page 23: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

A Profile of A Street Criminal 14% of US population between ages of 15 and 24,

account for 40% of violent crimes and 45% of property arrests

65% arrested are male Most are poor36% of those arrested for violent crime

are African-American even though they are 13% of the population

Race is closely related to social standing which affects the likelihood of engaging in street crime

African American family patterns – most grow up in single parent homes (66%)

Prejudice leads to more arrests of African Americans (they are over criminalized)

Page 24: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Death Penalty and Bias Capital punishment is the

most extreme measure the state takes against criminals.

It is a very divisive issue on moral and philosophical grounds

The death penalty is not administered evenly

Factors like geography, social class gender are factors in who is given the death penalty

Page 25: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Punishment Why should society punish wrong doers? Four basic

reasons1. Retribution: oldest form of punishment

Act of moral vengeance, makes offender suffer as much as those they harmed

2. Deterrence: attempt to discourage criminality through use of punishment Originally used to reform retribution

3. Rehabilitation: reforming offender to prevent later offences Leads to prisons as places to teach proper behavior Motivates offender to reform

4. Societal Protection: renders offender incapable of further offences through imprisonment or execution Led to US incarcerating a higher percentage of its

population than any country in the world except China

Page 26: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Mental Illness and the Medicalization of Deviance

Shift in the way society deals with deviance Mental Illness is when society “medicalizes” it Medicalization of deviance created when psychoanalysis was founded in

the late 1800’s,deviance related to mental illness was seen as a medical condition that needed to be treated

Some mental illness is organic and chemical (depression). Some are defined by society (ADD)

When something becomes deviant in ways that disturbs others and a satisfying explanation can’t be found to explain it, mental illness is seen as the cause

Thomas Szaz describes these as behaviors not mental illness. Szaz thinks that mental illness as an explanation is a myth to get nonconforming , or deviant individuals to conform, to accept societies definition of “normal”

Szaz explains that deviant or bizarre behavior depends on a person’s particular experience in life, not an illness in the mind.

Szaz’s research demonstrates the power of socialization and social structures that underlie deviant behavior

Page 27: Deviance and Social Control Chapter 6. What is Deviance? Pages 154-157  Deviance- violation of the norms  Sociologist Howard Becker (1966) “not the

Mental Illness and the Medicalization of Deviance

When deviance is defined as a medical issue it has three consequences

First who responds to deviance- medical label places situation under control of doctors and psychiatrists, not law enforcement

Second is how people respond to deviance- medically they become patients that need help not punishment

Third is the label that explains the personal competence of the deviant person- medical definition takes responsibility from the individual

Individual seen as unable to control their actions