CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINOLOGY & THEORIES OF DEVIANCETHEORIES OF DEVIANCE

Deviance is a Deviance is a recognized violation of recognized violation of cultural norms cultural norms

CRIME AND CRIMINALITY

When we think of deviance we often think of crime and criminality

Cesare Lombroso and the biological roots of

criminality

William Sheldon

body structure as a predictor of criminality

Major Theories in Sociology

Functionalism

Symbolic Interactionism

Conflict Theory

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM

Emile Durkheim

deviance affirms cultural values and norms-condemning something as “deviant”

clarifies moral boundaries-constructing an act as deviant can unify

social groups-what is constructed as deviant may often

be reconstructed as a social or commercial good

Robert Merton’s Strain Theory

Deviant behavior arises from social realities in which few opportunities or “means” to an end exist to achieve cultural goals

Strain Theory

Conformity-embracing the society’s definition of success and adhering to the established and approved means of achieving success

Strain Theory

Innovation-refers to used of illicit means to reach approved goals

Strain Theory

Ritualism- involves strict adherence to the culturally prescribed rules, even though individuals give up on the goals they hoped to achieve

Strain Theory

Retreatism-giving up on both the goals and the means to achieve them

Strain Theory

Rebellion-rejecting the socially approved ideas of success and the means of attaining that success but replacing them with alternative definitions of success and alternative strategies for attaining the new goals

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE ON DEVIANCE

what we understand to be deviant is nothing more than a function of perspective

examples: “crimes” such as murder, theft, statutory rape

Deviance and Conflict Theory

Conflict Theory

This approach links deviance to social inequalityWho or what is labeled “deviant” depends on

which categories of people hold power in a society

Deviance, Conflict Theory and Capitalism

Deviant labels have often been applied to people or populations that are perceived to have no or little use in a system of industrial or capitalist production

Erving Goffman and Stigma

Stigma: culturally negative label that greatly alters or shapes ones self-concept/identity

MEDICALIZATION OF DEVIANCE

when behavior constructed as deviant becomes medicalized, the notions of objectivity and legitimacy associated with science and scientific inquiry alter the construction of the behavior;

?What is the difference between behavior

that is “biologized” versus “medicalized”?

Travis Hirschi: Control Theory

four types of social control

1. attachment2. opportunity3.

involvement4. belief

attachment

Attachment to other people who respect the values and rules of the society; individuals do not want to be rejected by those to whom they are close or they admire

commitment

Commitment to conventional activities (schools and jobs) that they do not want to jeopardize

involvement

Involvement in activities that keep them so busy with conventional roles and expectations that they do not have time for mischief

belief

Belief in the social rules of their culture that they accept because of childhood socialization and indoctrination into conventional beliefs.

Differential association theory

Refers to the difference in people with whom members of a society interact; some people learn to conform and other learn to deviate, depending on their associations

Differential association theory

This theory focuses on the process of learning deviance from family, peers, fellow employees, political organizations, gangs etc…

Differential association theory

According to this theory, the possibility of becoming deviant depends on four factors:

DurationIntensityPriorityFrequency

LABELING THEORY

Labeling theory focuses on how people define reality or what is or is not “normal”

No behavior or individual is intrinsically deviant

Behavior “is” deviant because individuals label it deviant

Members of a society create deviance by defining behaviors as deviant; they then react to the deviance by rejection or by imposing penalties

LABELING THEORY

Labeling theorists define 2 stages in the process of becoming a deviant:

1. Primary deviance-a violation of a norm that may be an isolated event

2. Secondary deviance-continuing to violate a norm and taking on a deviant identity

ANOMIE

Anomie or “normlessness” describes the breakdown of norms caused by the lack of shared, achievable goals and lack of socially approved means to achieve goals