Essential QuestionEssential Question

In what ways does In what ways does crime and deviance crime and deviance mold culture?mold culture?

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance from the from the Symbolic InteractionistSymbolic Interactionist, ,

FunctionalistFunctionalist, and , and ConflictConflict perspectives of sociologyperspectives of sociology

Symbolic InteractionistSymbolic Interactionist

Differential Association TheoryDifferential Association Theory Control TheoryControl Theory Labeling TheoryLabeling Theory

Differential Association (SI)Differential Association (SI)

Sutherland proclaims that deviation is Sutherland proclaims that deviation is learned through the different groups that we learned through the different groups that we associate with…associate with…

Who we associate with gives us mixed Who we associate with gives us mixed messages about conformity and the end messages about conformity and the end result may tilt us in the direction of deviationresult may tilt us in the direction of deviation

Control Theory (SI)Control Theory (SI)

Inner controls (morality) and Outer controls Inner controls (morality) and Outer controls (people) influence us not to deviate(people) influence us not to deviate

Attachments, Commitments, Involvements, Attachments, Commitments, Involvements, and Beliefs (SELF-CONTROL) fosters and Beliefs (SELF-CONTROL) fosters strong inner controlsstrong inner controls

Continued interactions with various symbols Continued interactions with various symbols that keep one from deviating should start that keep one from deviating should start early in childhoodearly in childhood

Scenario for Control TheoryScenario for Control Theory

There is pressure to take drugs at a partyThere is pressure to take drugs at a party

Most people at the party are taking drugs, Most people at the party are taking drugs, and simple curiosity pushes you into the and simple curiosity pushes you into the mind frame to participate as wellmind frame to participate as well

InnerInner conscience and parental influence and conscience and parental influence and teacher influence (teacher influence (outerouter) alert you to danger) alert you to danger

What to do? Follow the “pushes” or your What to do? Follow the “pushes” or your inner and outer controls?inner and outer controls?

Labeling Theory (SI)Labeling Theory (SI)

Focus on significance of labels that we are Focus on significance of labels that we are given which influence our self-given which influence our self-concept….which, in turn, act as a diversion concept….which, in turn, act as a diversion to deviance or sends us along a path of to deviance or sends us along a path of deviancedeviance

Most people do resist these labels even Most people do resist these labels even while being deviants (see techniques of while being deviants (see techniques of neutralization handout)neutralization handout)

The Functionalist PerspectiveThe Functionalist Perspective- - Durkheim states that crime contributes Durkheim states that crime contributes

to the maintenance of social orderto the maintenance of social order

Deviance performs 4 functionsDeviance performs 4 functions– Clarifies Moral BoundariesClarifies Moral Boundaries– Affirms NormsAffirms Norms– Promotes social unityPromotes social unity– Promotes social changePromotes social change

One of the most fundamental social values One of the most fundamental social values is to train the most talented people to take is to train the most talented people to take over jobs in society, whether they are over jobs in society, whether they are wealthy or impoverished, in order to keep wealthy or impoverished, in order to keep up with modern society (Cloward and Ohlin, up with modern society (Cloward and Ohlin, 1960) 1960)

Society therefore tries to motivate everyone Society therefore tries to motivate everyone to succeed therefore creating competitionto succeed therefore creating competition

Discontent is obtained (or a dissatisfaction Discontent is obtained (or a dissatisfaction of one’s self) creating the will to “better” of one’s self) creating the will to “better” himself……….this is called STRAIN (F)himself……….this is called STRAIN (F)

As a result of this strain….As a result of this strain….

Goals or high status and wealth are desiredGoals or high status and wealth are desired

BUT…society withholds BUT…society withholds institutionalized institutionalized means means

Therefore STRAIN (F) or frustration turns Therefore STRAIN (F) or frustration turns into devianceinto deviance

??What happens when people experience unequal access to the institutionalized means necessary to succeed?

It begins with the myth…It begins with the myth…

ALL AMERICANS CAN AFFORD ALL AMERICANS CAN AFFORD MANY OF SOCIETY’S GOODS MANY OF SOCIETY’S GOODS

AND SERVICESAND SERVICES(the American Dream)(the American Dream)

Functionalists point out the fact that we Functionalists point out the fact that we socialize the poor into wanting to own things socialize the poor into wanting to own things (through the media primarily) showing the (through the media primarily) showing the middle class and others enjoying many middle class and others enjoying many luxuriesluxuries

The poor begin their education but drop out The poor begin their education but drop out when the middle class system does not when the middle class system does not match their cultural backgroundmatch their cultural background

Therefore….Therefore….

Pimping, drug dealing, gambling, even white Pimping, drug dealing, gambling, even white collar crime ( DID YOU KNOW>>>>that collar crime ( DID YOU KNOW>>>>that white collar crime costs more (in dollars) white collar crime costs more (in dollars) than street crime?) or other than street crime?) or other illegitimate illegitimate opportunitiesopportunities are taken to deal with the are taken to deal with the STRAIN, and/or achieve set goals STRAIN, and/or achieve set goals

Merton’s Strain Theory Merton’s Strain Theory (refer to the handout)(refer to the handout)

ANOMIE – a feeling of normlessness is felt ANOMIE – a feeling of normlessness is felt by those that experiencing strainby those that experiencing strain

Since working and getting and education do Since working and getting and education do not get them close to pursuing the American not get them close to pursuing the American Dream they cannot identify with the normsDream they cannot identify with the norms

Therefore, society’s norms seem illegitimateTherefore, society’s norms seem illegitimate

Roger and Me and Social Roger and Me and Social StrainStrain

Movie and Assessment paperMovie and Assessment paper

The Conflict Perspective and The Conflict Perspective and DevianceDeviance

Deviance is the struggle between those that Deviance is the struggle between those that own the means of production and those that own the means of production and those that do notdo not

Main Social Conflict – social inequality and Main Social Conflict – social inequality and powerpower

The power elite protects its power by passing laws that ensures that anyone that threatens the power goes to prison

Stratification within U.S. SocietyStratification within U.S. Society

Capitalists: buy labor and control the workersCapitalists: buy labor and control the workers

Working Class: those who sell their laborWorking Class: those who sell their labor

Marginal Working Class: those who have few skills Marginal Working Class: those who have few skills and are subject to layoffs, have low pay for the and are subject to layoffs, have low pay for the labor they sell, are part-time or seasonallabor they sell, are part-time or seasonal

This class supplies our prison systemThis class supplies our prison system Desperation leads to street crime, which leads to severe Desperation leads to street crime, which leads to severe

punishment because that crime comes in conflict with social orderpunishment because that crime comes in conflict with social order

StatisticsStatistics

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/prisons.htmhttp://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/prisons.htm

StatisticsStatistics

http://http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cp.htmwww.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cp.htm

Project begins that will Project begins that will help us answer our help us answer our essential questionessential question