Perspectives on Deviance
major functionalist explanation by Robert K. Merton that views deviance as the natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and structure of society
Strain theory
Name three of the five types of crime
violent, property, victimless, white collar, organized
What two ways do people come to accept societal norms?
Internalization and Sanctions
Define deviance
behavior that violates significant social norms
rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to norms
sanctions
Which perspective of sociology would believe that people with power commit deviant acts to maintain their position and that people without power commit deviant acts to obtain economic rewards or to improve their low self-esteem and stop feeling powerless
conflict perspective
What is one limitation to statistics on crime?
Not all complaints that citizens make to police make it to official statistics (the officer decides whether or not to file a report & are more likely to file serious cases)
Individuals are less likely to report a crime if family or friends are involved
The police are more likely to file formal reports when victims are members of higher social classes and when the victim shows the officer respect
Victims are less likely to report certain crimes (like sexual assault)
the process by which a norm becomes a part of an individual’s personality, thus conditioning that individual to conform to society’s expectations
internalization
Determining whether an act is deviant or not depends on...
time, place, situation
the situation that arises when norms of society are unclear or are no longer applicable
anomie
deviance is seen as a natural occurrence and conformity is seen as the result of social ties among individuals
control theory
process of legal negotiation that allows an accused person to plead guilty to a lesser charge in return for a lighter sentence
plea bargaining
Examples of this include parents praise children for good behavior, teachers trust students with good grades, employers give pay raises to workers who show initiative and dedication, cheers from sidelines help a team’s morale to win the game
Positive sanctions
mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society
stigma
What is police discretion?
The power police have to decide who gets arrested
According to labeling theory, what are the names for the two types of deviance?
primary and secondary deviance
define racial profiling
practice of assuming that nonwhite Americans are more likely to commit a crime than white Americans
Define informal sanctions
spontaneous expression of approval or disapproval given by an individual or group
Name 3 of the 5 functions of deviance according to Durkehim
Clarifies boundaries, punishments act as warnings, unifies the group, relieve tension, help prompt social change
Name one function of deviance not outlined by Durkheim but still very relevant today
Provides jobs in the criminal justice dept, etc.
Define differential association (part of cultural transmission theory)
proposed by Edwin Sutherland, refers to the frequency and closeness of associations a person has with deviant and nondeviant individuals
What gender, race, and age range is most likely to be arrested for a crime?
Male, African American, 18-34
Why is social control important to society?
Behavior that violates social norms jeopardizes the social order
The Saints and the Roughnecks story is an example of....
Who was responsible for the Modes of Adaptation?
Robert K Merton