2013 Chapter Outlines
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LECTURE NOTES TEST 3
DEVIANCE
Deviance is an act that violates cultural norms. It's often seen as something which threatens our values (i.e., socially shared idea that something is morally good, desirable, or important). Iny our book, the connection between social control and conformity is discussed in regards to deviance. What is social dynamite? (e.g., rioters, labor organizers, gangs) Social junk? (i.e., stigmatized groups) This about how these terms relate to conflict theories of deviance.
Durkheim argued that deviance is actually necessary for the survival of society. The idea behind this is that you could do away with all forms of murder and society would come up with a new act, socially defined as just as bad. Why is this so?
Because deviance enhances conformity by defining and clarifying norms and therefore, moral boundaries. Deviance strengthens solidarity among law-abiding members of society. It also can bring about needed social change (e.g., civil disobedience, protests, etc.). Deviance even provides for an entire "industry" of deviance workers, such as, police, lawyers, probation officers, etc.. Finally, deviance provides a safety valve for discontented people.
Some questions that interest sociologists regarding deviance include:
What social groups are likely to be involved with different
types of deviance?
How does society respond to nonconforming behavior?
Who has the power to define what is conformity and deviant?
What do we mean when we say that deviance is relative? In other words, why does
it vary over time? From place to place? And why does
it depend upon public consensus? Are some acts deviant if society does not
define them as such?
How does the sociological perspective differ from biological and psychological
understandings of deviance?
The most exciting question of all is, "What is it about society, its norms, culture, beliefs, that either facilitates or constrains different types of deviance?" This question is squarely sociological because it begs that we look "outside" the individual for answers.
Some theories of Deviance include:
Differential Association -- E. Sutherland / sometimes
called the "cultural transmission theory." Deviance is learned
through interaction just as conformity is learned. If the conditions are
favorable, if those in your primary group approve, if you are exposed often and
at an early age, you're more likely to commit criminal or deviant acts.
Hirschi's control theory -- Society needs to create "inner"
controls in case the "outer" controls are not enough (e.g.,
attachment, commitment, belief, involvement).
Merton's structural strain theory argues that while we share the same
values for success in our society, we do not offer everyone equal opportunities
to achieve them. Deviance is an adaptation to the strains of this structural
condition. In other words, people adapt to the mixed messages they receive in
different ways (e.g., conformists, innovators, ritualists, retreatists,
rebels). Know each type and be able to give an example. Merton argued
that to get the most talented people to compete with one another, society has
to try and motivate everyone to strive for "success." One way we get
motivated is through discontent, i.e., feeling dissatisfied with what we have
and thus, trying to do better.
Illegitimate opportunity thesis argues that deviant subcultures develop
when legitimate opportunities are systematically blocked (e.g., hustling,
dealing, etc.). The alternative approaches become glamorized and are woven into
the everyday worlds of people who are already dissenfranchised. Indeed, the
drug dealer may be the only person on the block who demonstrates what society
defines as "material success."
Labeling Theory argues that deviance is an interactive process whereby
acts are defined and sustained as deviant. Howard Becker argues that you could
commit "clan incest and suffer no more than gossip so long as nobody makes
a public accusation. But, you will be driven to your death if a label is
attached." In other words, the punishment IS the label. The scarlet
letter, prison uniforms, DUI bracelets... these are identity markers that label
these individuals as "deviant."
Conflict theorists argue that society makes laws which protect those who
are powerful. Criminal behaviors are those that threaten the ruling classes
(e.g., robbery, burglary, labor organizers, gangs, etc.). Those in power will have
to hire "gatekeepers" to insulate them and protect them from
those who want what they have. Low wages keep people oppressed and this leads
to discontent which then leads to crime. Once the crime occurs, the powerful
use it as an example for more protection and to gain popular support that the
poor are a dangerous class.
Crimes are divided into two major categories (i.e., felonies and
misdemeanors). Sociologists further divide them along the lines of how they are
committed. Violent crimes, property crime, victimless crimes
.
Who is the most likely victim of violent crime?
white-collar crimes (engaged in for personal gain) You
should know some of the various types - such as: embezzlement, fraud, insider
trading, copyright violations, antitrust violations... separate white-collar
from corporate crimes (engaged in for company gain and sometimes extremely
violent)
myth: street crimes are more violent than white-collar/corporate crimes. Four types of corporate: against worker, consumers, government, environment
Why? profit motive, short-term goals rewarded, according to Colemen “amoral versus immoral” risky shift
Be sure to look over your lecture notes on various crimes against consumers and the environment.
What are some neutralization techniques used by corporations
According to the text, what are some functions of punishment?
What types of crimes do corporations choose?
Is CEO Pay linked to performance?
What are the three forms of Toxic Terror?
What is environmental racism?
Know about those sites that were mentioned in relation to environmental crimes,
e.g.,
Most common method of killing? Who does it? Who is the victim? How many exonerations thus far due to
misidentification and DNA
Average time spent ?
U,S. Population grew by 30 percent in last thirty
years… what about the prison population?
Are there different types of deviance? (e.g., primary - fleeting acts,
secondary - through labeling and self-labeling, the deviance becomes part of
the self-concept, tertiary - deviance is normalized and maybe even renamed as
not deviant)
Know the information from lecture on Corporate Greed – the main points and yes,
possibly something about AIG
Know the information from environmental crime and yes, possibly stats – e.g., 75% of diseases are waterborne… etc….