question of the day pt. i

Question of the Day pt. I•Why do ‘we’ (people) repeatedly do the

same actions?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

-Albert Einstein

Question part II•If what we (as a society) do is knowingly

wrong, why do we do it?

Deviance & Social ControlCh. 7

Deviance•Deviance =

violation of social norms▫Breaking laws▫Wearing nail

polish •Defined by

society, groups

Types of Deviance•Negative deviance

▫Doesn’t meet the expected norms

▫Happens because people ignore, misinterpret, or don’t know the norms

▫Stereotypical deviance

Types of Deviance (cont.)•Positive deviance

▫Overconformity to norms▫Perfectionism (based on norms)▫Act out the ideal norms

•Deviant▫Person who breaks HIGHLY VALUED norms

•Come up with a list of deviant activities▫Which ones are agreed upon by all parties?▫Which ones would SOME people disagree

with?▫Positive deviance▫Negative deviance

Dealing with deviance•Social control = promoting conformity to

the norms▫Internal control (internalization)

Individualized, happens during socialization Morals, know right and wrong

▫External control Social sanctions: rewards/punishments used

to encourage desired behavior

Controlling deviance with…•Formal sanctions

▫Attempts to change/control behavior (de-socialization/re-socialization) Prisons, military service Official recognition/awards

•Informal sanctions▫Peer pressure, gossip, smiles

•Ignorance▫“Boys will be boys”

Question of the Day•What is now normal/typical behavior that

as a child you considered deviant?

What would you consider as deviant behavior when you are an adult that you think is fine now?

Functionalism & Deviance7.2

Negative Aspects of Deviance•No more trust

▫Society cannot function sans trust•Deviance leads to more deviance•Waste of resources

How is this beneficial to society?

Positive Effects of Deviance•Clarifies norms•Relieves some pressure

▫Minor deviance keeps from eruptions•Increases unity within groups

▫Gives reminders of what societies value•Social change

Land of the Free?

Strain Theory •Anomie

▫Social instability due to lack of norms•Strain theory

▫Deviance caused by a gap between goals and ways to achieve those goals

▫Why is there animosity between rich and poor?

How would the pursuit of the “American Dream” cause deviance?

Strain & Deviancy•Innovation (robbery, crime)

▫Accept goal of success, use illegal ways to obtain it

•Ritualism (just go through the motions)▫Rejects goal of success, use legal ways

•Retreatism (homelessness, drug addicts)▫Reject success & use illegal ways

•Rebellion (US Confederacy)▫Retreatism AND create a new set of goals

& means

Control Theory•Conforming depends on strong bonds

▫Travis Hirschi Humans are selfish Decisions based on biggest benefit to

individual▫Good for describing youth delinquency, not

adult ▫Social bonds control the behavior

Elements of social bonds•Attachment•Commitment•Involvement•Belief

Homework•P. 212, questions 1-4

•Why are some people in society allowed to break the rules without punishment? Why does society allow this to happen?

Symbolic Interactionism & Deviance7.3

Differential Association theory•Individuals learn deviance based on how

many deviant acts they see•Knowing more deviant people than non-

deviant people leads to more deviance•More likely to be deviant if significant

others participate in deviant acts•Younger children learn deviant acts

quicker than older children

Labeling Theory•Society creates deviance by

labeling/identifying people as deviant•Not all deviants are treated as deviant

▫Societal standards▫Public eye▫Status

Levels of Deviance•Primary deviance

▫Initial act of deviance▫Occasionally breaking norms▫Individuals do not internalize behavior▫Not part of one’s master status

•Secondary deviance▫Deviance as a lifestyle▫Labeled by others and yourself as deviant

Consequences of labels•Cause discomfort, suffering•Can direct their future lifestyle•Stigma

▫Undesirable label used to keep deviants from being accepted fully into society

Homework•Create a collage of images, people, scenes•“label” each image based on your own

ideas/thoughts•Indicate each any image if it is a primary

or secondary deviance

Classwork•Give a description of 5 people

▫Give each a label▫Give an example of primary or secondary

deviance they might partake in▫Is there a stereotype for this person? What

is it and where does it come from?

Question of the Day•How do you “escape” from the barrage of

modern technology?

Ted Kaczynski •Unabomer•Domestic terrorist•Incredibly intelligent

▫Graduated Harvard at 16

▫PhD▫Professor @ 26

•Recluse•Unabomer Manifesto•NOT insane

Discussion Question of the Day

•Which is more detrimental to society, someone who steals millions of dollars or someone who steals a car?

Conflict Theory & Deviance7.4

Deviance in INDUSTRIAL societies•Most powerful members of society

determine WHO is deviant•Determine HOW they should be punished•Problems occur because of POWER

struggles

How to defend against deviance

Those criticized by those in charge•Critics of industrial society•Those who do not work•Threaten private property•Agitators

•Accepted: violence in sports

Race, ethnicity, & crime•Minorities get unequal treatment•In the US, more African-Americans and

Latinos are convicted and serve more time than whites for the same crime

•Blacks more likely to get death penalty for killing a white, but whites likely to get life in prison if they kill blacks

Why black ≠ white•Minorities do not have the resources for

good defense lawyers•Society deems minority interests as less

important than whites•Victim discounting

▫Reduces seriousness of crimes directed at people of lower social classes

▫Victim is less valuable

Why would the police target certain individuals over others?

White collar crime•Crime committed by respectable, high-

status persons•Typically deals with business

negotiations, office style crimes•Done without violence

•Estimated cost per year: more than $150 Billion

White collar time•Treated much more leniently than street

criminals•Less likely to be put in prison, lesser

sentences•Minimum security prisons, “Club Fed”

•Why are white collar criminals not perceived as much of a threat as street criminals?

Should white collar criminals be able to make money on their experiences (books, movies, CDs, etc.)

Question of the Day•Describe the quote “An eye for an eye

makes the whole world blind.”

Crime & PunishmentSection 7.5

Crime Reports•Overrepresent lower classes

▫Typically made up of minorities•2/3 of crime not reported

How does the media play a role in portraying crime?

Juvenile Crime•Delinquent behavior:

▫Deviance only minors commit▫Skipping school▫Fighting▫Underage smoking/drinking

Juvenile Crime Reduced•Decline in crime due to:

▫Fewer crack [cocaine] gangs▫Less violence associated w/out gangs▫Stricter sentences

Controlling Crime•Criminal justice system:

▫Cops, courts, correction system (prisons/jails)

▫Use deterrence, retribution, incarceration, rehab

•Deterrence ▫Discourages crime by threat of punishment▫Potential law breakers must:

Know they are likely to get caught Severe punishment

Capital Punishment•“Death Penalty”

▫Supported mostly because of sense of retribution

▫Retribution: compensation criminals pay for their acts “eye for an eye”

▫Supported by low educated, males, Republican, religious folk

Prisons•“Incarceration”

▫If in prison, can’t commit more crimes▫3 strikes law

•Rehabilitation▫Attempt to resocialize inmates▫Given work/social skills

About ½ return to prison in 3-5 years = recidivism

Prison Alternatives•Shock probation

▫Part of sentence in prison, rest on probation

•Community programs▫Reintroduce into society▫Break “inmate code”

•Diversion▫Referral to community program▫Reduce/prevent time in the criminal justice

system