The Sociology of Crime & Deviance

The Sociology of Crime & Deviance

Part 1: What is Deviance?

• DEFINITION: any behavior that violates social norms, and is of sufficient severity to warrant disapproval from the majority of society

• Criminal or non-criminal

What is Deviance?

Cultural Implications• Considerable variation of

norms across groups, time & place; therefore, definitions of deviance may vary

• EXAMPLES:• Female circumcision v. genital

mutilation • Taking someone’s life• Divorce

Part 2: The Biological Context

• Caesare Lombroso, Italian Physician

• Genetic predisposition towards crime

• Extra “X” chromosome (XXY – “super male)

• Crime by body type• http://www.youtube.com/watc

h?v=XvZGfjqYCAY

The Biological Context

Part 3: The Psychological Context

Psychopath v. Sociopath

• Psychopaths:• Antisocial personality

disorder• Well planned crimes;

meticulous • Appear normal in their social

relationships• Have a tendency toward

violence• Controlled behavior

Psychopath v. Sociopath

• Sociopaths:• Antisocial personality disorder• Erratic crimes; less meticulous• Unable to maintain normal

relationships• Have a tendency toward

violence• Erratic behavior

Part 4: The Sociological Context

Social Functions of Deviance

• The Rules of Sociological Method, Durkheim

• NECESSARY FOR SOCIETY:• Clarifies cultural norms• Promotes social unity• Diffuses social tension• Promotes social change• Provides jobs

Structural-Functionalist Analysis

R. Merton: Strain Theory

• Deviance is a natural outgrowth of the values, norms, beliefs & structure of society

• BIG QUESTION:• How do individuals respond to

culturally approved goals & the means of achieving those goals?

R. Merton: Strain Theory

• Not everyone has legitimate means to achieve societal goals; the strain of incompatible goals & means leads to anomie

• Anomie:• Situation that arises when the

norms of society are unclear or no longer applicable

Mode of Adaptati

on

Cultural Goals

Cultural Norms

Deviant Respons

es

Conformity

Accept Accept

Innovation

Accept Reject

Ritualism

Reject Accept

Retreatism

Reject Reject

Rebellion

Reject &

Replace

Reject &

Replace

Conflict Theory

R. Quinney: Conflict Theory

• Competition & social inequality lead to deviance

• Why are people deviant?• To maintain position• To obtain economic reward• Low self-esteem & feelings of

powerlessness• RATES OF DEVIANCE

MISLEADING

Symbolic-Interactionist Analysis

Control Theory • Deviance is a natural

occurrence• Interested in the reasons for

which people conform, rather than the causes of deviance

Integrated into communityLikely to conform

Weak community tiesLikely to be deviant

Control Theory• Develop social bonds in 4

ways:• Attachment• Belief• Commitment• Involvement

Techniques of Neutralization

• Gresham Sykes & David Matza

• Some people, despite strong ties to the community, still perform deviant acts

• Suspend moral beliefs in order to do so

• HOW?

Techniques of Neutralization

• Denial of responsibility• Denial of injury• Denial of the victim• Condemnation of the

authorities• Appeal to higher loyalties

(Edwin Sutherland)• Suggests that deviance is

learned through association with those who encourage the violation of norms

Cultural Transmission Theory

• Differential association: If the majority of a person’s interactions are with deviant individuals, the person is likely to be socialized into patterns of deviant behavior

• Generally occurs in primary groups

Cultural Transmission Theory

Labeling Theory• Focuses on how individuals

come to be identified as deviant, rather than why people perform deviant acts

• ALL people commit deviant acts; not everyone is labeled as deviant

• Primary Deviance:• Nonconformity that

goes undetected by those in positions of authority

• Society does not consider individuals who commit primary acts deviance to be deviants

Labeling Theory

Labeling Theory• Secondary Deviance:• An act of deviance in which

the individual becomes labeled as deviant & accepts the label as true

• Alters self-concept & social identity (stigma)

• Degradation ceremony

Part 5: Crime

Types of Crime

• FBI defines 5 broad categories:

• Violent crimes• Crimes against property• Victimless crimes• White-collar crime• Organized crime

Criminal StatisticsPersons Arrested by Race

White

Black

Other

Criminal StatisticsPersons Arrested by Age

Under 18

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55+

Criminal StatisticsPersons Arrested by Gender

Male

Female

Criminal Statistics

Criminal Statistics

Criminal Statistics

Statistical Limitations• Individuals are less likely to

report a crime if their friends or family are involved

• Members of the upper classes are more likely to file formal reports; police are more likely to follow through

• Some crimes are less likely to be reported

• Three times higher?

Part 6: Juvenile Delinquency

Minor v. Juvenile

• Minor:• Anyone who is under

the age of 18; not all minors are considered “juvenile” in terms of criminal responsibility

• Juvenile:• Anyone who has not yet

reached the “age of majority” (threshold of adulthood)

• Juvenile status is defined by age, but varies by jurisdiction

Minor v. Juvenile

Upper Bound in U.S.(“Age of Majority”)• 40 states – 18 years of age• 10 states – 16 or 17 years of

age• Upper Bound of 17:• GA, IL, LA, MI, MA, MO, SC

and TX• Upper Bound of 16:• NY and NC

Lower Bound in U.S.(“Age of Reason”)• In the United States,

the lower bound used to be 7 years of age, though as of 1995 most states did away with the “age of reason”

• No lower age limit – controversial?

Special Privileges/Protections• Juvenile court, except

in extreme situations

• Parent/guardian MUST be present during questioning

• Confidentiality (when accused of a crime)

Special Privileges/Protections• May NOT be housed with

adult inmates (even if child is tried as an adult)

• What about 18 year olds who committed earlier crimes?

• Juveniles have a lower brain capacity than adults

• Evidence suggests that incarceration leads to a higher incidence of reoffending, than do other non-punitive consequences

Other Considerations

Other Considerations• Death penalty for juveniles

was discontinued in 2005 (Roper v. Simmons)

• Severe offenses (i.e. murder, gang-related acts) are treated as “adult crimes” in 44 states; the lower age limit is generally 14 years of age

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