Deviance and Crime

What is deviance? • deviance: violation of cultural norms • not the same as crime which is the violation of norms a society formally enacts into law • deviance is relative – what is deviant to some is not deviant to others – what is deviant at one period in time may not be deviant in others – it is not the act itself, but the reactions to the act, that make something deviant • social foundations of deviance – deviance varies according to cultural norms – people become deviant as others define them that way – both rule making and rule breaking involve social power

Functional Perspective • deviance is functional (has positive consequences) – deviance affirms cultural values and norms – responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries – responding to deviance promotes social unity – deviance encourages social change • strain theory: deviance depends on how well society provides the institutionalized means to achieve cultural goals – strain leads to anomie (normlessness) – conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion – due to their social location, some people experience greater pressure to deviate from social norms • opportunity structures: deviance or conformity depends on relative opportunity structures – not just limited legitimate (legal) opportunity, but also availability of illegitimate (illegal) opportunity – youth gangs fulfill needs through illegitimate opportunity structure (money, recreation, protection) – white-collar crime: crime committed by “respectable” people with high social status in the course of their occupation • different illegitimate opportunities • very high social and economic costs

1 Symbolic Interaction Perspective • labeling theory: deviant behavior is nothing more than “behavior that people so label” – not only what people do, but how others respond – primary deviance: temporary, exploratory, little or no reaction – secondary deviance: set in motion by response to primary deviance; repeated behavior, deviant identity – stigma: powerful negative social label which changes self-concept, becomes master status, “closes doors”, leads to “deviant career” – neutralization techniques • denial of responsibility, injury, or victim; condemnation of condemners, appeal to higher loyalties • differential association: learn deviance or conformity to society’s norms from those we associate with – balance of definitions (of behaviors) favorable to either following or breaking the norms • control theory: focus on factors which encourage conformity (self-control) and discourage deviance – social bonds with society based on: attachments, commitments, involvement, beliefs – inner controls (conscience, fear of punishment), outer controls (groups and individuals)

Conflict Perspective • deviance reflects social inequality: who or what is labeled deviant depends on which categories of people hold power in society – norms, especially laws, reflect the interests of the rich and powerful – even if their behavior is called into question, the powerful have resources to resist deviant labels – widespread belief that norms and laws are natural and good masks their political character • although we may criticize unequal application of laws, we give little thought to whether the laws themselves are inherently fair • white-collar crime – high social and economic cost yet very lenient punishment • civil vs. criminal violations, low conviction and imprisonment rates

2 Crime ... • types of crime – violent, property, “victimless”, white-collar • cross-cultural comparison – U.S. violent crime rate 5 times higher than Europe – U.S. property crime rate 2 times higher than Europe • “profile” of street criminal – young, male, disproportionately nonwhite, lower class • “profile” of crime victims – young, male, disproportionately nonwhite, lower class ...and Punishment • criminal justice “funnel” – type of crime > crime reported > detention > arrest > bail > indictment > plea bargaining > conviction > sentencing >imprisonment – most consistent factor determining movement through the process is social class – those who end up in prison are disproportionately young, male, nonwhite, poor • incarceration rate higher than any other industrial democracy (1.5 million in prison and .5 million in jail) • high recidivism rate: about 3/4 have been in jail before, 2/3 will be back within 3 years • social reasons for imprisonment – incapacitation, retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation