Deviant BehaviorDeviant Behavior

and and

Social ControlSocial Control

Chapter 7Chapter 7

Defining Normal and Deviant Defining Normal and Deviant BehaviorBehavior

What determines whether a person’s actions What determines whether a person’s actions are seen as eccentric, creative, or are seen as eccentric, creative, or

deviant? deviant?

In your opinion what makes a given action In your opinion what makes a given action such as a 25 year old dating a 14 year old such as a 25 year old dating a 14 year old

wrong to some people?wrong to some people?

Why will two men walking hand-in-hand Why will two men walking hand-in-hand cause raised eyebrows in one place but cause raised eyebrows in one place but

not in another? not in another?

Norms and values make up the moral codeNorms and values make up the moral code Moral codeMoral code

The symbolic system in terms of which The symbolic system in terms of which behavior takes on the quality of being “good” behavior takes on the quality of being “good” or “bad,” “right” or “wrong.” or “bad,” “right” or “wrong.”

Moral codes differ widely from one society to Moral codes differ widely from one society to another. another.

Deviant behaviorDeviant behavior Behavior that fails to conform to the rules Behavior that fails to conform to the rules

or norms of the group in question or norms of the group in question

Deviant behavior?Deviant behavior?

What is Deviant Behavior?What is Deviant Behavior?

From the sociological perspective, From the sociological perspective, deviance is seen as relative to the values deviance is seen as relative to the values of any given culture. However, there are of any given culture. However, there are certain acts that are almost universally certain acts that are almost universally accepted as being deviant.accepted as being deviant. GenocideGenocide Parent-child incestParent-child incest

Functions of DevianceFunctions of Deviance

Prompts the group to organize in Prompts the group to organize in order to limit future deviant acts.order to limit future deviant acts.

Helps clarify for the group what it Helps clarify for the group what it really does believe in.really does believe in.

Teaches normal behavior by Teaches normal behavior by providing examples of rule violationproviding examples of rule violation

Dysfunctions of DevianceDysfunctions of Deviance

It is a threat to the social order It is a threat to the social order because it makes social life because it makes social life unpredictable. unpredictable.

It causes confusion about the norms It causes confusion about the norms and values of that society.and values of that society.

How do we achieve social control?How do we achieve social control?

Theories of Crime and DevianceTheories of Crime and Deviance

Biological Theories of DevianceBiological Theories of Deviance Cesare Lombroso (1835–1901)Cesare Lombroso (1835–1901) People are born criminalsPeople are born criminals Criminals are evolutionary throwbacks whose Criminals are evolutionary throwbacks whose

behavior is more apelike than humanbehavior is more apelike than human Driven by their instincts to engage in deviant Driven by their instincts to engage in deviant

behaviorbehavior Believed that certain criminal types could be Believed that certain criminal types could be

identified by their head size, facial identified by their head size, facial characteristics and even hair color.characteristics and even hair color.

Psychological Theories of DeviancePsychological Theories of Deviance Downplay biological factors and emphasize instead the Downplay biological factors and emphasize instead the

role of parents and early childhood experiences, or role of parents and early childhood experiences, or behavioral conditioning, in producing deviant behavior.behavioral conditioning, in producing deviant behavior.

Assume that the seeds of deviance are planted in Assume that the seeds of deviance are planted in childhood and that adult behavior is a manifestation of childhood and that adult behavior is a manifestation of early experiences rather than an expression of ongoing early experiences rather than an expression of ongoing social or cultural factors. social or cultural factors.

Behavioral TheoriesBehavioral Theories People adjust and modify their behaviors in People adjust and modify their behaviors in

response to the rewards and punishments response to the rewards and punishments their actions elicit. their actions elicit.

Something that leads to a favorable outcome, Something that leads to a favorable outcome, we are likely to repeat that action.we are likely to repeat that action.

Strain TheoryStrain Theory Robert K. Merton (1938, Robert K. Merton (1938, 1969) believed that American society 1969) believed that American society pushes individuals toward deviance by pushes individuals toward deviance by overemphasizing the importance of overemphasizing the importance of monetary success while failing to monetary success while failing to emphasize the importance of using emphasize the importance of using legitimate means to achieve that success. legitimate means to achieve that success.

The Importance of LawThe Importance of Law

What is the legal code? What is the legal code?

Legal codeLegal code The formal rules, called The formal rules, called lawslaws, adopted by a , adopted by a

society’s political authority. society’s political authority. The code is enforced through the use of The code is enforced through the use of

formal negative sanctions when rules are formal negative sanctions when rules are broken. broken.

The Emergence of LawsThe Emergence of Laws

How is it that laws come into society? How is it that laws come into society? How do we reach the point where norms How do we reach the point where norms

are no longer voluntary and need to be are no longer voluntary and need to be codified and given the power of authority codified and given the power of authority for enforcement? for enforcement?

Explanatory Approaches

Conflict Consensus

Consensus approachConsensus approach Assumes that laws are merely a formal version of the Assumes that laws are merely a formal version of the

norms and values of the people. norms and values of the people. Functionalist model for explaining a society’s legal Functionalist model for explaining a society’s legal

system. system.

Conflict approach Conflict approach Assumes that the elite use their power to enact and Assumes that the elite use their power to enact and

enforce laws that support their own economic enforce laws that support their own economic interests and go against the interests of the lower interests and go against the interests of the lower classes classes

Crime in the United StatesCrime in the United States

A Crime is behavior that violates a society’s A Crime is behavior that violates a society’s legal code.legal code.

Violent crimeViolent crime An unlawful event such as homicide, rape, and An unlawful event such as homicide, rape, and

assault that may result in injury to a person. assault that may result in injury to a person. • Aggravated assaultAggravated assault

• RapeRape

• Murder Murder

• Robbery Robbery

Property crimeProperty crime An unlawful act that is committed with the An unlawful act that is committed with the

intent of gaining property but that does not intent of gaining property but that does not involve the use or threat of force against an involve the use or threat of force against an individual.individual.

LarcenyLarceny BurglaryBurglary Motor vehicle theft are examples of property Motor vehicle theft are examples of property

crimescrimes

Violent CrimeViolent Crime In addition to homicide and rape, other violent crimes In addition to homicide and rape, other violent crimes

such as aggravated assault and robbery have an such as aggravated assault and robbery have an effect on American households. effect on American households.

White-Collar CrimeWhite-Collar Crime Refers to the acts of individuals who, while Refers to the acts of individuals who, while

occupying positions of social responsibility or occupying positions of social responsibility or high prestige, break the law in the course of high prestige, break the law in the course of their work for the purpose of illegal personal their work for the purpose of illegal personal or organizational gain. or organizational gain.

Victimless CrimeVictimless Crime Acts that violate those laws meant to Acts that violate those laws meant to

enforce the moral code.enforce the moral code. Examples:Examples:

The use of narcoticsThe use of narcotics Illegal gamblingIllegal gambling Public drunkennessPublic drunkenness The sale of sexual servicesThe sale of sexual services

Would you consider Would you consider Prostitution Prostitution

a victimless crime?a victimless crime?

QuestionQuestion

From the following list, what do you feel should From the following list, what do you feel should be the most important function of prison?be the most important function of prison?

A.A. Punish people for crimes they committed.Punish people for crimes they committed.B.B. Rehabilitate criminals. Rehabilitate criminals. C.C. Protect society by locking away criminals. Protect society by locking away criminals. D.D. Warn to would-be lawbreakers.Warn to would-be lawbreakers.E.E. Make people pay back society for crimes Make people pay back society for crimes

they committed.they committed.F.F. Don't knowDon't know

Goals of ImprisonmentGoals of Imprisonment

Prisons exist to accomplish at least four Prisons exist to accomplish at least four goals: goals:

• separate criminals from societyseparate criminals from society• punish criminal behaviorpunish criminal behavior• deter criminal behaviordeter criminal behavior• rehabilitate criminalsrehabilitate criminals

Women Prisoners in State and Women Prisoners in State and Federal Institutions, 1925–2004Federal Institutions, 1925–2004

Average Time Served for Average Time Served for Various Types of CrimeVarious Types of Crime

U.S. Homicide Solution RatesU.S. Homicide Solution Rates

Percentage of Selected Crimes Percentage of Selected Crimes Reported to the PoliceReported to the Police

Likelihood That Someone Will Likelihood That Someone Will Be Arrested for a Known CrimeBe Arrested for a Known Crime

Likelihood That Someone Will Be Likelihood That Someone Will Be Sent to Prison for a Known CrimeSent to Prison for a Known Crime

Age Distribution of Arrests, Age Distribution of Arrests, 20002000

Age Group% of U.S.

Population % of People

Arrested

Age 14 and younger

21.2 5.1

15–19 7.2 20.4

20–24 6.8 19.8

25–29 6.4 12.9

30–34 7.1 10.5

35–39 8 9.8

Age Distribution of Arrests, Age Distribution of Arrests, 20002000

Age Group% of U.S.

Population % of People

Arrested

40-44 8.2 9.2

45-49 7.3 6.2

50-54 6.4 3.3

55-59 4.9 1.5

60-64 3.9 0.7

Age 65 and older

12.70.6