Cultural Deviance TheoriesCultural Deviance Theories

Attribute crime to a set of values that exist in Attribute crime to a set of values that exist in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Lower-class people have a different set of values, which Lower-class people have a different set of values, which tends to conflict with the values or norms of the middle-tends to conflict with the values or norms of the middle-class.class.

Programs based on culture deviance theories concentrate Programs based on culture deviance theories concentrate on teaching middle-class values.on teaching middle-class values.

Deviance defined by sociologists as any behaviour that Deviance defined by sociologists as any behaviour that members of a social group define as violating their norms. members of a social group define as violating their norms. Not necessarily bad, just different.Not necessarily bad, just different.

Two major cultural deviance theories: Two major cultural deviance theories: differential differential association theoryassociation theory and and culture conflict theoryculture conflict theory..

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Sutherland’s Differential Sutherland’s Differential Association TheoryAssociation Theory

Crime is learned through social Crime is learned through social interaction.interaction.

The ratio of definitions favourable The ratio of definitions favourable to violations of the law and to violations of the law and definitions unfavourable to definitions unfavourable to violations of the law determines violations of the law determines whether a person will engage in whether a person will engage in criminal behaviour.criminal behaviour.

Cultural transmissionCultural transmission: the : the process whereby values, beliefs process whereby values, beliefs and behaviours are passed from and behaviours are passed from generation to generation through generation to generation through the process of socialization.the process of socialization.

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Latin Kings gang member teaches gang hand symbols to a child. Social interactions like these are learned and transmitted from one generation to the next.

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Sutherland’s Nine PropositSutherland’s Nine Propositionsions

1.1. Criminal behaviour is learned.Criminal behaviour is learned.2.2. Criminal behaviour is learned in interaction with other Criminal behaviour is learned in interaction with other

persons in a process of communication.persons in a process of communication.3.3. The principal part of the learning of criminal behaviour The principal part of the learning of criminal behaviour

occurs within intimate personal groups.occurs within intimate personal groups.4.4. When criminal behaviour is learned, the learning When criminal behaviour is learned, the learning

includes a) techniques of committing the crime, and b) includes a) techniques of committing the crime, and b) the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations and attitudes.and attitudes.

5.5. The specific direction of motives and drives is learned The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favourable or from definitions of the legal codes as favourable or unfavourable.unfavourable.

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Sutherland’s Propositions Sutherland’s Propositions (cont’d) (cont’d)

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6.6. A person becomes A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of delinquent because of an excess of definitions favourable to violation of law over definitions definitions favourable to violation of law over definitions unfavourable to violation of law.unfavourable to violation of law.

7.7. Differential Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority and intensity.priority and intensity.

8.8. The The process of learning criminal behaviour by association process of learning criminal behaviour by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all the with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning.mechanisms that are involved in any other learning.

9.9. While While criminal behaviour is an expression of general criminal behaviour is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those general needs and values, it is not explained by those general needs and values, since non-criminal behaviour is an needs and values, since non-criminal behaviour is an expression of the same needs and values.expression of the same needs and values.

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Critiques of Sutherland’s TheoryCritiques of Sutherland’s Theory

Does not explain all types of crime.Does not explain all types of crime. Does not explain why some people who learn Does not explain why some people who learn

criminal behaviour patterns do not engage in criminal behaviour patterns do not engage in criminal acts.criminal acts.

No account taken of non-social variables or No account taken of non-social variables or situational factors.situational factors.

Does not tell us how the first criminal became Does not tell us how the first criminal became a criminal.a criminal.

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Sellin’s Culture Conflict TheorySellin’s Culture Conflict Theory

Sellin argues that Sellin argues that different groups have different groups have different conduct different conduct norms and that the norms and that the conduct norms of one conduct norms of one group may conflict group may conflict with those of another.with those of another.

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Peaceful protests turned “ugly” during the Toronto G20 Summit in June, 2010.

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Sellin’s Culture Conflict Theory Sellin’s Culture Conflict Theory (cont’d)(cont’d)

Conduct normsConduct norms: norms that regulate our daily : norms that regulate our daily lives – rules that reflect the attitude of the lives – rules that reflect the attitude of the groups to which each of us belongsgroups to which each of us belongs. .

Purpose of conduct norms is to define what is Purpose of conduct norms is to define what is considered appropriate or normal behaviour and considered appropriate or normal behaviour and what is inappropriate or abnormal behaviour.what is inappropriate or abnormal behaviour.

The main difference between a criminal and a The main difference between a criminal and a non-criminal is that each is responding to non-criminal is that each is responding to different sets of conduct normsdifferent sets of conduct norms..

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Sellin’s Culture Conflict Theory: Sellin’s Culture Conflict Theory: Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict

Two types of conflict:Two types of conflict: Primary conflictPrimary conflict occurs when norms of occurs when norms of

two cultures clash.two cultures clash. Secondary conflictSecondary conflict arises when a single arises when a single

culture evolves into a variety of cultures, culture evolves into a variety of cultures, each with its own set of conduct norms.each with its own set of conduct norms.

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