1. Deviant Behavior and Social Control
Chapter 7
Deviant Behavior and Social Control

2. Chapter Outline Defining Normal and Deviant Behavior
Mechanisms of Social Control
Theories of Crime and Deviance
The Importance of Law
Crime in the United States
Kinds of Crime in the United States
Criminal Justice in the United States

3. Normal and Deviant Behavior
Norms and values make up the moral code of a culture.
The moral code of a culture - The symbolic system in terms of which behavior takes on the quality of being “good” or “bad,” “right” or “wrong.”
Deviant behavior is behavior that fails to conform to the rules or norms of the group in question.

4. Question
Did you ever use marijuana during your senior year in high school?
Yes No

5. Functions of Deviance Causes the group’s members to close ranks.
Prompts the group to organize in order to limit future deviant acts.
Helps clarify for the group what it really does believe in.

6. The Functions of Deviance
Teaches normal behavior by providing examples of rule violation.
Tolerance of deviant behavior prevents more serious instances of nonconformity.

7. Dysfunctions of Deviance
It is a threat to the social order because it makes social life unpredictable.
It causes confusion about the norms and values of that society.

8. Dysfunctions of Deviance
Deviance undermines trust.
When people’s actions become unpredictable, the social order is thrown into disarray.
Deviance diverts valuable resources.
To control widespread deviance, resources must be shifted from other social needs.

9. Social Control
Mechanisms of social control A way of directing or influencing members’ behavior to conform to the group’s values and norms.
Internal means of control Operates on the individual even in the absence of reactions by others.

10. Question
I believe that underage drinking is an important social problem in our society.
Strongly agree
Agree somewhat
Unsure
Disagree somewhat
Strongly disagree

11. Sanctions
Rewards and penalties used by a group’s members to regulate an individual’s behavior.
Positive sanctions - Actions that encourage the individual to continue acting in a certain way.
Negative sanctions - Actions that discourage the repetition or continuation of the behavior.

12. Formal and Informal Sanctions
Formal sanctions are applied in a public ritual.
Example: Awarding a prize or announcing an expulsion.
Many social responses to a person’s behavior involve informal sanctions, or actions by group members that arise spontaneously with little or no formal direction.

13. Sanctions Type Description Examples Informal positive sanctions
Spontaneous displays of approval.
Smiles, handshakes, hugs
Informal negative sanctions
Spontaneous displays of disapproval.
Frowns, gossip, impolite treatment

14. Sanctions Type Description Examples Formal positive sanctions
Planned public ceremonies that express social approval.
Parades, presentation of awards, banquets, awards of money
Formal negative sanctions
Actions that express institutionalized disapproval of behavior.
Expulsion, dismissal, fines, imprisonment

15. Types of Social Sanctions

16. Question
Gossip about a neighbor's affair with his secretary would be an example of a(n):
informal positive sanction.
formal positive sanction.
informal negative sanction.
formal negative sanction.

17. Answer: C
Gossip about a neighbor's affair with his secretary would be an example of an informal negative sanction.

18. Sheldon’s Body Type Theory
Researched whether personality traits are associated with body types.
Classified human shapes into three types:
Endomorphic - round and soft
Ectomorphic - thin and linear
Mesomorphic - ruggedly muscular

19. Sheldon’s Body Type Theory
Claimed psychological orientations are associated with body types:
Endomorphs - relaxed creatures of comfort
Ectomorphs - inhibited, secretive, and restrained
Mesomorphs - assertive, action oriented, and uncaring of others’ feelings.

20. Question
Which of the following body types was identified as being most prone to criminal behavior?
endomorphic
ectomorphic
mesomorphic
pseudomorphic

21. Answer: C
The mesomorphic body types was identified as being most prone to criminal behavior.

22. Merton’s Strain Theory
Individuals who occupy favorable positions in the class structure have legitimate ways to achieve success.
Those who occupy unfavorable positions lack such means.
The goal of financial success combined with the unequal access to resources creates deviance.

23. Merton’s Typology of Individual Modes of Adaptation

24. Merton’s 4 Types of Deviance
Innovators:
Accept the culturally validated goal of success but find deviant ways of going about reaching it.
Con artists, embezzlers, bank robbers, fraudulent advertisers, drug dealers, corporate criminals, crooked politicians

25. Merton’s 4 Types of Deviance
Ritualists:
Reject the importance of success once they realize they will never achieve it.
Remain within the labor force but refuse to take risks that jeopardize their job security.
Ritualists are often in large institutions such as governmental bureaucracies.

26. Merton’s 4 Types of Deviance
Retreatists:
Pull back from society.
Drug and alcohol addicts who can no longer function, street people
Rebels:
Reject the goals of what to them is an unfair social order and the means of achieving them.

27. Control Theory
People are free to violate norms if they lack intimate attachments.
Without attachments, people can violate norms without fear of social disapproval.
This theory assumes the disapproval of others plays a major role in preventing deviance.

28. Hirschi’s Control Theory: Four Ways Individuals Bond to Society
Attachment to others.
Commitment to conformity.
Involvement in conventional activities.
A belief in the moral validity of social rules.

29. Neutralization: How to Justify Deviant Behavior
Denial of responsibility.
Denying the injury.
Denial of the victim.
Condemnation of the authorities.
Appealing to higher principles or authorities.

30. Athletes Accused of Sexual Assault

31. Theory of Differential Association
Based on the idea that criminal behavior is learned in the context of intimate groups.
When criminal behavior is learned, it includes two components:
Criminal techniques: how to break into houses
Criminal attitudes: justifications for criminal behavior

32. Sutherland’s Principles of Differential Association
Deviant behavior is learned.
Deviant behavior is learned in interaction with other people in a process of communication.
The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups.

33. Sutherland’s Principles of Differential Association
When deviant behavior is learned, the learning includes (a) techniques of committing the act and (b) the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes.
A person learns reasons for both obeying and violating rules.
A person becomes deviant because of an excess of definitions favorable to violating the law over definitions unfavorable to violating the law.

34. Sutherland’s Principles of Differential Association
Differential associations vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anticriminal patterns involves the mechanisms used in any other learning situation.
Criminal behavior is an expression of needs and values, but is not explained by general needs and values. Noncriminal behavior is also expression of needs and values.

35. Labeling Theory
Factors that determine whether a person will be labeled deviant:
Importance of the norms that are violated.
Social identity of the individual who violates them.
Social context of the behavior in question.

36. Question
Which sociological theory of deviance suggests that the likelihood of deviance can be decreased by increasing the social bond between the individual and society?
control theory
labeling theory
cultural transmission theory
techniques of neutralization

37. Answer: A
Control theory suggests that the likelihood of deviance can be decreased by increasing the social bond between the individual and society.

38. The Emergence of Laws
The consensus approach assumes laws are a formal version of people’s norms and values.
Example: People generally agree that stealing is wrong. Laws emerge that provide penalties for those caught violating the law.
The conflict approach assumes that the elite use their power to enact laws that support their economic interests and go against the interests of the lower class.

39. Crime Crime is behavior that violates a society’s legal code.
A violent crime is an unlawful event, such as homicide, rape, and assault, that may result in injury to a person.
A property crime is an unlawful act that is committed with the intent of gaining property but that does not involve the use or threat of force against an individual.

40. Property Crime
75% of all crime in the United States is a property crime.
In 2000:
3,444,000 households reported a burglary.
937,000 reported an auto theft.
19,297,000 reported a property crime.
Only 32.6% of all household thefts are reported.

41. Percentage of Selected Crimes Reported to the Police

42. Likelihood That Someone Will Be Arrested for a Known Crime

43. Likelihood That Someone Will Be Sent to Prison for a Known Crime

44. Juvenile Crime
The breaking of criminal laws by individuals under the age of 18.

45. Age Distribution of Arrests, 2000
Age Group
% of U.S. Population
% of People Arrested
Age 14 and younger
21.2
5.1
15–19
7.2
20.4
20–24
6.8
19.8
25–29
6.4
12.9
30–34
7.1
10.5
35–39 8
9.8

46. Age Distribution of Arrests, 2000
Age Group
% of U.S. Population
% of People Arrested
40-44
8.2
9.2
45-49
7.3
6.2
50-54
6.4
3.3
55-59
4.9
1.5
60-64
3.9
0.7
Age 65 and older
12.7
0.6

47. White-Collar Crime
Crimes committed in the course of one’s job for the purpose of personal or organizational gain.
Examples: embezzlement, bribery, fraud, theft of services and kickback schemes.
In 2000, federal prosecutors charged 8,766 defendants with white-collar crimes.

48. U.S. Homicide Solution Rates

49. Victimless Crimes
Acts that violate those laws meant to enforce the moral code.
Usually they involve the use of narcotics, illegal gambling, public drunkenness, the sale of sexual services, or status offenses by minors.

50. Criminal Justice in the United States
Every society that has established a legal code has also set up a criminal justice system—personnel and procedures for arrest, trial, and punishment—to deal with violations of the law.
The three main categories of our criminal justice system are the police, the courts, and the prisons.

51. Who Decides? Police Enforce specific laws Investigate specific crimes
Search people, vicinities, buildings
Arrest or detain people
Prosecutors
File charges or petitions for
adjudication
Seek indictments
Drop cases
Reduce charges

52. Who Decides? Judges or magistrates
Set bail or conditions for release Accept pleas and determine delinquency Dismiss charges, impose sentences or revoke probation
Correctional officials
Assign to correctional facility Award privileges and punish for disciplinary infractions
Paroling authorities
Determine conditions of parole Revoke parole

53. Goals of Imprisonment Prisons exist to accomplish at least four goals:
separate criminals from society
punish criminal behavior
deter criminal behavior
rehabilitate criminals

54. Question
From the following list, what do you feel should be the most important function of prison?
Punish people for crimes they committed.
Rehabilitate criminals.
Protect society by locking away criminals.
Warn to would-be lawbreakers.
Make people pay back society for crimes they committed.
Don't know

55. Likelihood of Prisoners Being Arrested Three Years of Release

56. Women Prisoners in State and Federal Institutions, 1925–2004

57. Average Time Served for Various Types of Crime

58. Quick Quiz

59. 1. Deviant behavior is behavior which is:
illegal.
immoral.
violates the norms of society in which it occurs.
unsocialized.

60. Answer: C
Deviant behavior is behavior which violates the norms of society in which it occurs.

61. 2. Which of the following is not a dysfunction of deviant behavior?
It makes social life unpredictable.
It creates opportunities for cooperation.
It results in confusion about the norms of the society.
It undermines trust.

62. Answer: B The following is not a dysfunction of deviant behavior:
It creates opportunities for cooperation.

63. 3. According to Merton's theory, a student who passes a course by cheating on every test is a(n):
innovator.
ritualist.
retreatist.
rebel.

64. Answer: A
According to Merton's theory the student who passes a course by cheating on every test is an innovator.

65. 4. The differential association theory of deviant behavior is based on the idea that:
deviant behavior is a result of being told one is deviant.
deviant behavior is learned in the context of intimate groups.
the values and norms of the society determine deviant behavior.
deviant behavior is the result of the rewards and punishments.

66. Answer: B
The differential association theory of deviant behavior is based on the idea that deviant behavior is learned in the context of intimate groups.

67. 5. Which of the following is not a goal of the prison system?
elimination of all criminals
separation of criminals
rehabilitation of criminals
deterrence of criminal behaviors

68. Answer: A
Elimination of all criminals is not a goal of the prison system.