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Stigma –Erving Goffman A person can have a stigma and be considered deviant A stigma is a blemish on ones identity A stigma is a violation of norms of appearance and ability A person can have a stigma by being a member of an involuntary group
Created by Edwin Sutherland We learn to deviate by those we associate with in our lives This includes family, friends, and neighbors 50 % of people in prison also have a father, mother, brother, or sister that have also committed a crime Prison or freedom?
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Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Differential Association Theory Differential Association Theory
Created by Travis Hirschi We all want to commit deviant acts but we don’t because of inner and outer controls The stronger the controls, the less likely deviance is to occur Inner controls: Conscience, Morals, Religious Beliefs Outer controls: Attachments, Commitments, Involvements in society
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Symbolic Interactionist Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Control Theory Perspective: Control Theory
Created by Howard Becker Labels propel us into deviance or can divert us away from it Techniques of Neutralization: 5 ways people reject labels Denial of Responsibility, Denial of Injury, Denial of a Victim, Condemnation of the Condemners, Appeal to Higher Loyalties
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Symbolic Interactionist Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Labeling Theory Perspective: Labeling Theory
The law is used as a means to oppress the masses Those who have the wealth and power often bypass the law and others must pay full penalties Every once in a while someone from the upper social classes is “showcased” so as to appear fair
The U.S. has the highest amount of prisoners in the world Many prisons face overcrowding The recidivism rate is high; 2/3 of those who commit violent crimes are rearrested The majority of prisoners are male, have a high school education, and are from the lower to middle social classes What should be the purpose of prisons?
Figure 6.1 Some States Are Safer: Violent Crime in the United States Note: Violent crimes are murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. As this figure illustrates, violent crime varies widely among the states. The chance of becoming a victim of these crimes is seven times higher in South Carolina, the most dangerous state, than in Maine, the safest state. Washington, D.C., not a state, is in a class by itself. Its rate of 1,508 is thirteen times higher than Maine’s rate. Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009:Table 297.
Figure 6.3 Recidivism of U.S. Prisoners Note: The individuals were not necessarily rearrested for the same crime for which they had originally been imprisoned. Source: By the author. Based on Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics 2003:Table 6.50.
