10/22 (WEDNESDAY)

TOTD: Have you ever done something that could be considered deviant?

Objectives: Explain deviance from a symbolic interactionist perspective. Describing and applying the components of differential association theory, control theory, and labeling theory

Agenda: Articles/rating on deviance/short notes.

CHAPTER 8: DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL

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

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVEDifferential Association TheoryEdwin Sutherland (famous American

criminologist)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 PERSPECTIVEControl TheoryWalter Recklessidea 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 PERSPECTIVELabeling Theorythe 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

REJECTING LABELSTechniques 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 VictimDo you think they deserved it?

4. Condemnation of CondemnersWho are you to talk?

5. Appeal to Higher LoyaltiesI had to help my friends…wouldn’t you do the same thing?

LABELING CONT…

most people resist being labeled deviant, but others revel in it

music, clothing, hairstyleslabeling can become a self-fulfilling

prophecyRoughnecks vs Saints doors of opportunity open for

those with positive labels and close for those with negative labels

10/23 THURSDAY Use your notes from yesterday and

decide which category of denial someone falls into if they beat up a school bully?

Agenda: Finish notes on functions of deviance Articles/levels of deviance Gang Involvement

10/24 (FRIDAY)

What is the difference between inner and outer controls?

Gangs: Most Dangerous in America Go to http://

www.businessinsider.com/dangerous-american-gangs-fbi-2011-11?op=1

GANG INFO:

WHO ARE THEY WHEN DID THEY BEGIN WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED WHY IS THE FBI CONCERNED WITH

THIS GANG? Roughly, HOW MANY MEMBERS DO THEY RECRUIT? How do they get

members?

FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE

deviance, including crime, is a natural part of society and fulfills necessary functions

Functions of Deviance (Durkheim):1) clarifies moral boundaries and affirms norms2) promotes social unity3) promotes social change

STRAIN THEORYRobert Mertonanalyze 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 CONT…

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)

SOCIAL CLASS AND CRIME

Street Crime robbery, burglary, drug dealing, prostitution, etclower SES want to achieve cultural goals, but

don’t fit into the institutionalized meansschools are set up based upon middle class

values and ideals; lower SES 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 CONT…

White Collar Crimecommitted by people of respectable and high social

status in the course of their occupationie: 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…

Gender and CrimeWomen 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

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE

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 CONT…

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