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Chapter 6:Chapter 6:

Deviant Behavior and Social ControlDeviant Behavior and Social Control

Dining Hall at Alcatraz

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What to Expect in This Chapter...What to Expect in This Chapter... What is Deviance?What is Deviance?

Functions and Dysfunctions of DevianceFunctions and Dysfunctions of Deviance

Mechanisms of Social ControlMechanisms of Social Control Theories of Crime and DevianceTheories of Crime and Deviance

Biological TheoriesBiological Theories

Psychological TheoriesPsychological Theories

Sociological TheoriesSociological Theories Crime in the United StatesCrime in the United States

Measuring CrimeMeasuring Crime

Types of CrimeTypes of Crime

The Criminal Justice SystemThe Criminal Justice System

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What is Deviance?What is Deviance?

DevianceDeviance isis any behavior that fails toany behavior that fails toconform to the rules or norms of a groupconform to the rules or norms of a group

or societyor society In defining norms and rules, societyIn defining norms and rules, society

invokes ainvokes a mor al c od emor al c od e and makes moraland makes moral

 judgments about what is appropriate judgments about what is appropriate andandwhat is inappropriate behavior what is inappropriate behavior 

American Society of Criminology Home Page

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Functions and Dysf unctions of Functions and Dysf unctions of DevianceDeviance

French sociologistFrench sociologist E mile Du rkhei mE mile Du rkhei m identifiedidentifiedseveral functions of devianceseveral functions of deviance

Deviance intensifies the loyalty of group members inDeviance intensifies the loyalty of group members inresponse to the deviant actresponse to the deviant act

Deviance clarifies the norms of the groupDeviance clarifies the norms of the group

Deviance may serve as a safety valve to releaseDeviance may serve as a safety valve to releasepressure, thereby avoiding more harmful actspressure, thereby avoiding more harmful acts

There are also dysfunctions of devianceThere are also dysfunctions of deviance Deviance can be a threat to the social order Deviance can be a threat to the social order 

 ± ± Deviance can cause confusion about normsDeviance can cause confusion about norms

 ± ± Deviance may undermine trustDeviance may undermine trust

 ± ± Deviance diverts valuable resources from other socialDeviance diverts valuable resources from other socialneedsneeds

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Mechanisms of Social ControlMechanisms of Social Control

Social control mechanisms are means by whichSocial control mechanisms are means by which

society can influence people¶s behavior tosociety can influence people¶s behavior to

conform to expectationsconform to expectations

Two types of social control mechanismsTwo types of social control mechanisms

I nter nal Mec hanismsI nter nal Mec hanisms²²as part of the socializationas part of the socialization

process, individuals internalize society¶s expectationsprocess, individuals internalize society¶s expectations Ex ter nal Mec hanismsEx ter nal Mec hanisms²²externally imposed by others,externally imposed by others,

in the form of rewards and punishmentsin the form of rewards and punishments

The rewards and punishments used in externalThe rewards and punishments used in external

control are calledcontrol are called sancti onssancti ons

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A Typology of SanctionsA Typology of Sanctions

PositivePositive NegativeNegative

Inf ormalInf ormal

SmilesSmiles

Pats on the backPats on the backThumbs upThumbs up

Encouraging wordEncouraging word

FrownsFrowns

AvoidanceAvoidanceObscene gestureObscene gesture

GossipGossip

FormalFormal

AwardsAwards

Promotion in jobPromotion in job

Recognition ceremonyRecognition ceremony

³Teacher of the year´³Teacher of the year´

FinesFines

Fired from jobFired from job

ImprisonmentImprisonment

DemotionDemotion

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Theories of Crime andTheories of Crime and

DevianceDeviance

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Biological Theories of Biological Theories of 

DevianceDeviance C esar e LombrosoC esar e Lombroso believed that criminals arebelieved that criminals are

evolutionary throwbacks to a more apeevolutionary throwbacks to a more ape--likelikebeingbeing

E.A. H ootenE.A. H ooten, also suggested that criminals were, also suggested that criminals were³born´ inferior ³born´ inferior 

W illiam S hel donW illiam S hel don identified body typesidentified body types²²ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph.ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph.Delinquents are more likely to be mesomorphsDelinquents are more likely to be mesomorphs²²

a muscular body typea muscular body type XYY  C hromosome T heory  XYY  C hromosome T heory  attributes criminalityattributes criminality

to an extra ³Y´ chromosome in some malesto an extra ³Y´ chromosome in some males

More recent biological theories identify genetic,More recent biological theories identify genetic,hormonal and neurological sources of deviancehormonal and neurological sources of deviance

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Psychological Theories of Psychological Theories of 

DevianceDeviance P sy c hoanal y tic t heory P sy c hoanal y tic t heory  is based on theis based on the

work of Sigmund Freudwork of Sigmund Freud Freud suggested that much devianceFreud suggested that much deviance

results from the inability of the ego andresults from the inability of the ego andsuperego to control the urges of the idsuperego to control the urges of the id

Behavi or al t heory Behavi or al t heory suggests that peoplesuggests that peoplerespond to stimuli, and seek torespond to stimuli, and seek tomaximize rewards and punishmentsmaximize rewards and punishments

R ati onal c hoice t heory R ati onal c hoice t heory alsoalsoemphasizes rewards and punishments,emphasizes rewards and punishments,but suggests that people act rationallybut suggests that people act rationallyon the basis of perceivedon the basis of perceived

consequencesconsequences

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Sociological Theories of Sociological Theories of DevianceDeviance

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 A nomie and Strain Theory A nomie and Strain Theory

Anomie t heory  Anomie t heory  is based on the work of Emile Durkheimis based on the work of Emile Durkheim He suggested that when there was insufficient definition of socialHe suggested that when there was insufficient definition of social

norms a state of norms a state of anomieanomie resultsresults Under such conditions, a culture does not provide sufficientUnder such conditions, a culture does not provide sufficient

guidelines for behavior guidelines for behavior 

St r ain t heory St r ain t heory , developed by Robert Merton, builds on, developed by Robert Merton, builds onDurkheim¶s ideasDurkheim¶s ideas ± ± Merton suggested that society holds out universal goals of Merton suggested that society holds out universal goals of 

material success; however, society does not hold out thematerial success; however, society does not hold out thelegitimate means to attain this success equally across thelegitimate means to attain this success equally across thepopulation.population.

 ± ± This results in certain ³strain´ which can be resolved in one of This results in certain ³strain´ which can be resolved in one of several waysseveral ways

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Merton¶s Typology of Adaptation to StrainMerton¶s Typology of Adaptation to Strain

Mode of Mode of 

AdaptationAdaptation Culture¶s GoalsCulture¶s Goals

InstitutionalizedInstitutionalized

MeansMeans

ConformityConformity AcceptAccept AcceptAccept

InnovationInnovation AcceptAccept RejectReject

RitualismRitualism RejectReject AcceptAccept

RetreatismRetreatism RejectReject RejectReject

RebellionRebellionRejectReject

Replace with AlternativeReplace with Alternative

RejectReject

Replace with AlternativeReplace with Alternative

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Control TheoryControl Theory

C ont rol t heory  C ont rol t heory  maintains that we all have themaintains that we all have thecapacity to commit deviant actscapacity to commit deviant acts

Most people don¶t commit deviant acts,Most people don¶t commit deviant acts,

however, because of a ³bonding´ tohowever, because of a ³bonding´ toconventional society.conventional society.

Travis Hirschi identifies 4 elements to thisTravis Hirschi identifies 4 elements to thissocial bond:social bond: ± ± Attac hment t o ot her s Attac hment t o ot her s²²emotional attachments toemotional attachments to

parents, teachers, etc.parents, teachers, etc. ± ± C ommit ment t o c onf ormit y C ommit ment t o c onf ormit y ²²investment of time ininvestment of time in

conforming behavior such as school, sports, etc.conforming behavior such as school, sports, etc.

 ± ± I nv olvement in c onventi onal activitiesI nv olvement in c onventi onal activities²²leavingleavinglittle time for deviant activitieslittle time for deviant activities

 ± ± B

elief in vali d it y  of social r ulesB

elief in vali d it y  of social r ules²²acknowledgingacknowledgingthe moral authority of law and rulesthe moral authority of law and rules

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Cult ural Transmission TheoryCult ural Transmission Theory

Insists that deviant behavior isInsists that deviant behavior is lear ned lear ned  in thein theprocess of interaction with othersprocess of interaction with others

Edwin Sutherland developed a generalEdwin Sutherland developed a generalcultural transmission theory calledcultural transmission theory calledd iffer ential associati ond iffer ential associati on Suggested that deviant and criminal behavior isSuggested that deviant and criminal behavior is

learned in interaction with others who definelearned in interaction with others who define

deviance in positive termsdeviance in positive terms Another cultural transmission theoryAnother cultural transmission theory

developed by Sykes and Matza uses thedeveloped by Sykes and Matza uses thenotion of ³techniques of neutralizationnotion of ³techniques of neutralization

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Techniques of NeutralizationTechniques of Neutralization

Sykes and Matza suggest that juvenileSykes and Matza suggest that juvenile

delinquents learn to neutralize conventionaldelinquents learn to neutralize conventional

norms with the following techniques:norms with the following techniques:

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L

abeling TheoryL

abeling Theory Labeling t heory Labeling t heory shifts the focus fromshifts the focus from

why people engage in deviant actswhy people engage in deviant actsto:to: ± ± how and why certain acts arehow and why certain acts are d efined d efined asas

deviant in the first placedeviant in the first place

 ± ±

how and why certain individuals arehow and why certain individuals arelabeled deviantlabeled deviant

 ± ± the impact of the label on futurethe impact of the label on futurebehavior behavior 

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Crime in the United StatesCrime in the United States

Deviance which violates the legal codeDeviance which violates the legal codeof a society is calledof a society is called c r i me.c r i me.

Crimes are classified according to their Crimes are classified according to their seriousness:seriousness:

 ± ± F el oniesF el onies²²serious crimes which carry aserious crimes which carry a

sentence of a year or more in a statesentence of a year or more in a statepenitentiarypenitentiary

 ± ± Misd emeanor sMisd emeanor s²²less serious crimes thatless serious crimes thatcarry a sentence of less than a year in acarry a sentence of less than a year in acounty jailcounty jail

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Types of CrimeTypes of Crime

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The Criminal Justice SystemThe Criminal Justice System

The criminal justiceThe criminal justice

system is comprised of:system is comprised of:

 ± ± PolicePolice

 ± ± CourtsCourts

 ± ± PrisonsPrisons

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PrisonsPrisons

Prisons serve four primaryPrisons serve four primary

functions or goals:functions or goals:

Separation of criminals from societySeparation of criminals from society

Punishment of criminal behavior Punishment of criminal behavior 

Deterrence of criminal behavior Deterrence of criminal behavior 

Rehabilitation of criminalsRehabilitation of criminals

Two issues facing prisons todayTwo issues facing prisons todayare a growing shortage of prisons,are a growing shortage of prisons,

and an increasing female prisonand an increasing female prison

population with special needspopulation with special needs