Theories of Deviance - Deviance - Lecture Slides, Slides of Sociology of Deviance

Download Theories of Deviance - Deviance - Lecture Slides and more Slides Sociology of Deviance in PDF only on Docsity! Theories of Deviance Adler & Adler I. Biological & Psychological Theories  Lombroso (1867/1920):  Criminals like primitive beings resembling their ape- like ancestors; women inferior to men; deviant behavior innate  Goring (1913) & Hooton (1939):  Physical inferiorities (shorter) indicated criminal types  Sheldon (1949):  More active & muscular, more aggressive  More recent:  XYY syndrome creates “double male” or “super male” predisposed to violence Docsity.com ll. The Structural Perspective Durkheim first advanced the view that society is a moral phenomenon  Moral beliefs largely determine how people behave, their wants, and their identities  Morality (norms, values, laws) are acquired in childhood Docsity.com  Summation:  the structural perspective locates the root cause of deviance and crime outside of the individual in the invisible social structures of society  Structuralists locate the causes of crime in two main factors:  Differential opportunity structure  Prejudice and discrimination toward certain groups  Members of groups with less structural access to legitimate opportunities will have less effective means to succeed by conforming to morally approved ways Docsity.com  Merton extended Durkheim’s ideas into strain theory  Culture dictates success goals for all but institutional access limited to certain classes: American dream shared by all but only legitimately attainable by some Docsity.com  Some of those excluded retaliate by choosing deviant alternatives  The source of deviance lies in the social structure not the deviant individuals  Anomie for Merton results from this contradiction in social structure Docsity.com  Such opportunities are affected by several factors:  Neighborhoods rife with crime, gangs, drugs  Ethnic or racial people dominate certain illegal businesses or organizations making it easier for members of those groups to join  A glass ceiling for women exists with men in leadership posts  Conflict over definitions of deviance can occur between various groups based on economics, race/ethnicity, gender, religion, cultural identity, etc. Docsity.com  Structural but not functionalist view of deviance and crime  Society is seen as pluralistic, heterogeneous, and conflictual  Incompatible interests of diverse groups leads to conflict arising from these structural arrangements within society, including crime and deviance Docsity.com  Patriarchal structure of society responsible for the discrimination and oppression of women  Patriarchy pervades culture, social structures and social institutions  This includes laws, the family, the economy and political system, religion, the media and education.  Women are systematically disadvantaged as a result and subject to verbal, physical and sexual abuse  Feminists maintain theories of society and deviance are also male-centered Docsity.com  Overlap between American culture and subcultures suggests some parallels but not exact fit:  Differences may lead to conflict  Disparities and different cultural codes between subcultural groups likely to arise in three situations: (see next slide) Docsity.com  When people from one group “migrate” or cross into another’s territory  In a “takeover” situation when one group invades another’s turf  In “border’ areas where contact between members of two groups find themselves in occasional but regular contact Docsity.com  Cohen in Delinquent Boys builds on subcultural conflict idea  Focus on working-class teen males who develop subculture with a value system different from dominant American culture  Lower class boys try but cannot succeed fulfilling middle-class expectations since they are ill equipped at meeting such different standards Docsity.com lll. The Interactionist Perspective  Left unaccounted for in the previous theories are the actual situational dynamics and interactional processes between macro structures and micro individuals  Sutherland and Cressey posit the view that deviant behavior is socially learned Docsity.com  Most significant in this process of learning are the values, beliefs and norms of a person’s closest intimates:  Family, friends, and others known well and respected  As this circle of contacts shifts to a set of deviant values and norms, one is more likely to begin adopting and displaying deviant attitudes and acts as well Docsity.com  Focus on micro level, less on interaction, more on relationships between persons and society  Reverse the question to be asked:  Does NOT ask why people commit deviance:  Deviance may not only be fun, but even offers shortcuts and tangible benefits  Instead control theory asks:  Why do people conform?  What holds people back from committing deviance? Docsity.com  Hirschi’s Answer:  Social control resides in the extent to which people develop a stake in conformity, a bond to society  Such persons will be less likely to risk loss of job, status, reputation, friends and family, and thus avoid deviance and conform willingly  The more society is able to foster greater social bonds and a greater stake in conformity, the less deviance there will be Docsity.com  How does feminist theory view deviance in comparison to conflict theory?  Compare the structural-functional theory of deviance to that of the interactionist perspective. Docsity.com