Chapter 6:Chapter 6:Deviance, Crime Deviance, Crime

and Social Controland Social Control

Melanie HatfieldMelanie Hatfield

Soc 100Soc 100

The Difference between The Difference between Deviance and CrimeDeviance and Crime

DevianceDeviance involves breaking a norm and involves breaking a norm and evoking a negative reaction from evoking a negative reaction from others.others.

Societies establish some norms as laws.Societies establish some norms as laws. CrimeCrime is deviance that breaks a law, is deviance that breaks a law,

which is a norm stipulated and enforced which is a norm stipulated and enforced by government bodies.by government bodies.

Just as deviance is relative, so is crime. Just as deviance is relative, so is crime.

SanctionsSanctions

Many otherwise deviant acts go unnoticed Many otherwise deviant acts go unnoticed or are considered too trivial to warrant or are considered too trivial to warrant negative sanctions, or actions indicating negative sanctions, or actions indicating disapproval of deviance.disapproval of deviance.

People who are observed committing People who are observed committing more serious acts of deviance are typically more serious acts of deviance are typically punished, either informally or formally.punished, either informally or formally. Informal punishment is mild.Informal punishment is mild. Formal punishment results from people Formal punishment results from people

breaking laws.breaking laws.

Classifying Deviance:Classifying Deviance:John HaganJohn Hagan

Three dimensionsThree dimensions::

1.1. Severity of the social response.Severity of the social response.

2.2. Perceived harmfulness of the act. Perceived harmfulness of the act.

3.3. Degree of public agreement about Degree of public agreement about whether an act should be whether an act should be considered deviant. considered deviant.

Hagan: Types of Hagan: Types of DevianceDeviance

1.1. Social diversionsSocial diversions are minor, are minor, harmless acts. harmless acts.

2.2. Social deviationsSocial deviations are more are more serious, somewhat harmful acts.serious, somewhat harmful acts.

3.3. Conflict crimesConflict crimes are deviant acts defined are deviant acts defined by the state as illegal, but the definition by the state as illegal, but the definition is controversial in the wider society.is controversial in the wider society.

4.4. Consensus crimesConsensus crimes are widely are widely recognized to be bad in themselves.recognized to be bad in themselves.

Crimes against WomenCrimes against Women

Until recently, many types of crimes Until recently, many types of crimes against women – including rape – were against women – including rape – were largely ignored in the US and most largely ignored in the US and most other parts of the world.other parts of the world.

Today the situation has improved. Today the situation has improved. This change has come partly because This change has come partly because

women’s position in the economy, the women’s position in the economy, the family, and other social institutions has family, and other social institutions has improved over the past half century.improved over the past half century.

White-Collar CrimeWhite-Collar Crime

White-Collar Crime: An illegal act White-Collar Crime: An illegal act committed by a respectable, high-committed by a respectable, high-status person in the course of work.status person in the course of work.

White-collar crime is underreported, White-collar crime is underreported, underdetected, undeprosecuted, and underdetected, undeprosecuted, and underconvicted because it is the underconvicted because it is the crime of the powerful and the well-crime of the powerful and the well-to-do.to-do.

Crime RatesCrime Rates

Every hour during 2006:Every hour during 2006: 2 murders, 11 rapes, 50 robberies, 98 2 murders, 11 rapes, 50 robberies, 98

aggravated assaults, 136 motor vehicle aggravated assaults, 136 motor vehicle thefts, 249 burglaries, and 750 larceny-thefts, 249 burglaries, and 750 larceny-thefts.thefts.

Between 1960 and 1992 in the US Between 1960 and 1992 in the US 500 percent increase in the rate of 500 percent increase in the rate of

violent crime.violent crime. 150 percent increase in major property 150 percent increase in major property

crimes rate.crimes rate.

Violent Crime, US. Rate per Violent Crime, US. Rate per 100,000 Population100,000 Population

Property Crime, US. Rate Property Crime, US. Rate per 100,000 Populationper 100,000 Population

Explaining Deviance and Explaining Deviance and CrimeCrime

Motivational theories identify the Motivational theories identify the social factors that social factors that drivedrive people to people to deviance and crime. deviance and crime.

Constraint theories identify the Constraint theories identify the social factors that social factors that imposeimpose deviance deviance and crime (or conventional and crime (or conventional behavior) on people.behavior) on people.

Learning the Deviant Learning the Deviant RoleRole

Habitual deviant behavior is a learned process.Habitual deviant behavior is a learned process. Howard S. Becker analyzed this learning Howard S. Becker analyzed this learning

process in a classic study of marijuana users process in a classic study of marijuana users where he found that his fellow musicians had where he found that his fellow musicians had to pass through a three-stage learning process to pass through a three-stage learning process before becoming a regular marijuana user.before becoming a regular marijuana user.

1.1. Learning to smoke in a way that produces real Learning to smoke in a way that produces real effects. effects.

2.2. Learning to recognize the effects and connect Learning to recognize the effects and connect them with drug use. them with drug use.

3.3. Learning to enjoy the perceived sensations.Learning to enjoy the perceived sensations.

Durkheim’s Functional Durkheim’s Functional ApproachApproach

(Motivational Theory)(Motivational Theory) According to Durkheim, deviance gives According to Durkheim, deviance gives

people the opportunity to define what is people the opportunity to define what is moral and what is not.moral and what is not.

Our reactions to deviance clarify moral Our reactions to deviance clarify moral boundaries, allowing us to draw the boundaries, allowing us to draw the line between right and wrong.line between right and wrong.

This promotes the unity of society and This promotes the unity of society and encourages healthy social change.encourages healthy social change.

Strain Theory: MertonStrain Theory: Merton(Motivational Theory)(Motivational Theory)

Argued that cultures often teach Argued that cultures often teach people to value material success.people to value material success.

However, societies do not provide However, societies do not provide enough legitimate opportunities for enough legitimate opportunities for everyone to succeed. everyone to succeed.

Therefore, some people experience Therefore, some people experience strain.strain. Most will adhere to social norms.Most will adhere to social norms. The rest adapt.The rest adapt.

Subcultural TheorySubcultural Theory(Motivational Theory)(Motivational Theory)

Argues that gangs are a collective Argues that gangs are a collective adaptation to social conditions. adaptation to social conditions.

Distinct norms and values that reject Distinct norms and values that reject the legitimate world crystallize in the legitimate world crystallize in gangs.gangs.

Three features of criminal subcultures:Three features of criminal subcultures: Delinquent youths may turn to different Delinquent youths may turn to different

types of crime. types of crime. Members justify their criminal activities.Members justify their criminal activities. Members are conformists to the norms of Members are conformists to the norms of

their own group.their own group.

Theory of Differential Theory of Differential AssociationAssociation

(Motivational Theory)(Motivational Theory) A person learns to favor one A person learns to favor one

adaptation over another as a result adaptation over another as a result of life experiences or socialization.of life experiences or socialization. Everyone is exposed to deviant and Everyone is exposed to deviant and

nondeviant values and behaviors as nondeviant values and behaviors as they grow up. they grow up.

If you are exposed to more deviant than If you are exposed to more deviant than nondeviant experiences, chances are nondeviant experiences, chances are you will learn to become a deviant.you will learn to become a deviant.

Labeling TheoryLabeling Theory(Constraint Theory)(Constraint Theory)

Deviance results not so much from Deviance results not so much from the actions of the deviant as from the actions of the deviant as from the response of others, who label the the response of others, who label the rule breaker a deviant.rule breaker a deviant.

These labels often become a self-These labels often become a self-fulfilling prophecy. fulfilling prophecy.

Control TheoryControl Theory (Constraint Theory)(Constraint Theory)

The rewards of deviance and crime The rewards of deviance and crime are many. are many.

Nearly everyone would engage in Nearly everyone would engage in deviance and crime if they could get deviance and crime if they could get away with it. away with it.

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory(Constraint Theory)(Constraint Theory)

The powerful impose deviant and The powerful impose deviant and criminal labels on less powerful criminal labels on less powerful members of society.members of society.

Meanwhile, they are usually able to Meanwhile, they are usually able to use their money and influence to use their money and influence to escape punishment for their own escape punishment for their own misdeeds.misdeeds.

The Medicalization of The Medicalization of DevianceDeviance

The medicalization of deviance The medicalization of deviance refers to the fact that medical refers to the fact that medical definitions of deviant behavior are definitions of deviant behavior are becoming more prevalent.becoming more prevalent.

Today we respond to many deviant Today we respond to many deviant behaviors with a medical treatment. behaviors with a medical treatment.

The Medicalization of The Medicalization of DevianceDeviance

The Spread of Mental The Spread of Mental DisordersDisorders

Many mental disorders have obvious Many mental disorders have obvious organic causes, such as chemical organic causes, such as chemical imbalances in the brain.imbalances in the brain.

Other disorders are unclear, having more Other disorders are unclear, having more social and political value in considering social and political value in considering whether or not they should be considered whether or not they should be considered a mental disorder.a mental disorder.

As the number of mental disorders has As the number of mental disorders has grown, so has the proportion of Americans grown, so has the proportion of Americans presumably affected by them.presumably affected by them.

PrisonsPrisons

Prisons are Prisons are agents of socializationagents of socialization.. New inmates often become more New inmates often become more

serious offenders as they adapt to serious offenders as they adapt to the culture of the most hardened, the culture of the most hardened, long-term prisoners.long-term prisoners.

Goals of IncarcerationGoals of Incarceration Rehabilitation - prisoners can be taught Rehabilitation - prisoners can be taught

how to become productive citizens.how to become productive citizens. Deterrence - People will be less inclined Deterrence - People will be less inclined

to commit crimes if they know they are to commit crimes if they know they are likely to serve long and unpleasant likely to serve long and unpleasant prison terms. prison terms.

Revenge - Depriving criminals of their Revenge - Depriving criminals of their freedom is fair retribution for their acts.freedom is fair retribution for their acts.

Incapacitation - The chief function is to Incapacitation - The chief function is to keep criminals out of society to ensure keep criminals out of society to ensure that they can do no more harm.that they can do no more harm.

Moral PanicMoral Panic

Between the early 1970s and the Between the early 1970s and the present the U.S. was gripped by present the U.S. was gripped by moral panic. moral panic.

The government declared a war on The government declared a war on drugs, imprisoning hundreds of drugs, imprisoning hundreds of thousands of nonviolent offenders. thousands of nonviolent offenders.

Many states passed a law to put Many states passed a law to put three-time violent offenders in three-time violent offenders in prison for life.prison for life.

Belief in Capital Belief in Capital PunishmentPunishment

Death PenaltyDeath Penalty

Capital PunishmentCapital Punishment

Whether capital punishment serves as a Whether capital punishment serves as a deterrent is questionable for 2 reasons:deterrent is questionable for 2 reasons: Murder is often committed in a rage, when Murder is often committed in a rage, when

the perpetrator is not thinking entirely the perpetrator is not thinking entirely rationally. In such cases the murderer is rationally. In such cases the murderer is unlikely to coolly consider the costs and unlikely to coolly consider the costs and consequences of his or her actions. consequences of his or her actions.

If rational calculation of consequences does If rational calculation of consequences does enter in to the picture, the perpetrator is enter in to the picture, the perpetrator is likely to know that very few murders result in likely to know that very few murders result in the death sentence. the death sentence.

Incarcerating Less serious Incarcerating Less serious OffendersOffenders

Most of the increase in the prison Most of the increase in the prison population over the past 20 years is population over the past 20 years is because of the conviction of nonviolent because of the conviction of nonviolent criminals.criminals.

The main rationale for imprisoning these The main rationale for imprisoning these offenders is that incarceration presumably offenders is that incarceration presumably deters them from repeating their offense.deters them from repeating their offense.

Data shows a weak relationship between Data shows a weak relationship between imprisonment and the crime rate.imprisonment and the crime rate.

Prison teaches inmates to behave more Prison teaches inmates to behave more violently.violently.

Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation and ReintegrationReintegration

Evidence suggests that institutions Evidence suggests that institutions designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners into society can work, prisoners into society can work, especially for less serious offenders.especially for less serious offenders.

A cost-effective and workable A cost-effective and workable alternative may exist, but it is not likely alternative may exist, but it is not likely to be tried anytime soon because of the to be tried anytime soon because of the current climate of public opinion.current climate of public opinion.