Deviance, Crime, and

Social Control
DEVIANCE
 Refers to norm violations that
exceed the tolerance level of the
community and result in negative
sanctions.
 Sociologist treat deviance as label
attached to certain behaviors by
certain groups within society.
 It is relative
THEORIES ON DEVIANCE
• Structural-Functional Theories
Anomie (Durkheim)
Strain Theory (Robert Merton)
• Symbolic Interaction Theories
Differential Association Theory
( Edwin Sutherland)
Self-Esteem Theory
Control Theory
Labeling Theory
• Conflict Theory
1. Structural-Functional
Theories

 Anomie (Durkheim)
 A situation where the norms of a society
are unclear or no longer applicable to
current conditions.
 Durkheim believed that it was a major
cause of suicide in industrialization.
 Strain Theory (Robert Merton)
 Suggests that deviance occurs when
culturally-approved goals cannot be
reached by culturally-approved means.
 Types of strain deviance

Modes of Cultural Institutional

adaptation goals means
CONFORMITY Accepted Accepted

DEVIANCE

Innovation Accepted Rejected

Ritualism Rejected accepted

Retreatism Rejected rejected

Rebellion Rejected/Replace Rejected/Replace

d d
2. Symbolic Interaction
Theories

 Suggest that
deviance is
learned through
interaction with
others and
involves the
development of
a deviant self-
concept.
 A. Differential Association Theory ( Edwin
Sutherland)
- argues that people learn to be deviant
when their associates favor deviance more
than they do conformity.

B. Self-Esteem Theory
- suggest that people choose deviance
or conformity depending on which will do the
most to enhance their self-esteem.
C. Control Theory
- Argues deviance occurs when individuals
lack the ties to conventional society that are
necessary

D. Labeling Theory
- is concerned with the process by
which the label deviant comes to be
attached to specific people and
specific behavior.
3. Conflict
Theory

• proposes that competition

and class conflict within
society create deviance.
 Major Question Major Assumption Cause of Deviance Most Useful For
Explaining Deviance Of
STRUCTURAL- Why do people Deviance is an A dislocation The working and lower
FUNCTIONAL break rules? abnormal between the goals classes who cannot
(Strain) THEORY characteristic of the of society and the achieve desired goals
social structure. means to achieve by prescribed means
them.
SYMBOLIC
INTERACTION
THEORIES
Differential Why is Deviance is learned Sub cultural Delinquent gangs and
association Theory deviance more like other social values differ in those integrated into
characteristics behavior. complex societies; deviant subcultures
of some groups some subcultures and neighborhoods.
than others? hold values that
favor deviance.
These are learned
through
socialization
Self-esteem Theory Why do some Deviant roles are Failure to reward Those who are
people to be adopted if they conforming unsuccessful in
deviant? enhance self-esteem. behavior. conventional roles.
Control Theory What keeps Deviance is normal Absence of strong Individuals who are
people from and it is conformity ties to others and poorly integrated into
breaking the which must be to society’s values families,
rules? explained. and activities. neighborhoods, and
communities.
Labeling Theory How do acts Deviance is relative People whose acts The powerless that is
and people and depends on how are labeled labeled deviant by
become labeled others label acts and deviant and who more powerful
deviant? actors. accept that label individuals.
become career
deviants.
 Forms of Social Deviation

Crime as deviance

Crimes
- Acts that are
subject to legal or
civil penalties
- Deviant act that
violates a law
TYPES:

• Street Crime 2. Professional Crime

• Murder • Burglary
• Rape • Safecracking
• Robbery • Hijacking of Cargo
• Assault • Pick pocketing
• Shoplifting

Professional criminal
- a person who pursues crime as a day-
to-day occupation, developing skilled
techniques and enjoying a certain
degree of status among other criminals.
 3. White Collar Crime
Illegal acts committed in the
course of business activities, often
by affluent, “respectable”
people.

4. Organized Crime
- Secret,
conspiratorial 5. Political Crime
activity that - The abuse of a
generally invades government or
law enforcement. political office of
position
 Crimes involving use of force or the
threat of force

TYPES:

1. Murder
2. Rape
3. Robbery
4. Assault
Drug
a substance that has an effect upon body or
mind. However once it was taken excessively,
then it began a problem for it may harm both
physical and mental faculties.

Drug Dependence
Is a state of psychological
or physical dependence,
or both which results from
chronic, periodic or
continuous use.
Habituation
a psychological desire to
repeat the use of drug
intermittently or
continuously because of
emotional reasons.
Drug Addiction
a physical dependence
upon a drug. Its scientific
definition includes the
development of tolerance
and withdrawal. As person
develops tolerance he
requires larger and larger
amounts of the drug to
produce the same effect.
 Identifying the Drug Abuser
 A drug Abuser will do everything possible to
conceal his habit. So it is important to be able
to recognize the out ward signs and symptoms
of a drug abuse
 Common signs of Drug Abuse:
 Change in attendance at work or in school
 Change from normal capabilities (work habits,
efficiency, etc.)
 Poor physical appearance, including inattention to
dress and personal hygiene
 Wearing sunglasses constantly at inappropriate
times
 Unusual effort made to cover in order to cover arms
to hide needle marks.
 Association with known drug abusers
 Stealing items that can be readily sold for cash
 Changes in mood - depending on the drug taken. Ex:
depressed, or becoming elated and euphoric
 Is the observation
that in most settings
a few at risk
individuals follow
uncommon,
beneficial practices
and consequently
experience better
outcomes than their
neighbors who share
similar risks
 Social control

-Refers to social processes used to

minimize deviance from social norms.

- is the forces and processes that

encourage conformity, including self-
control, informal control and formal control
Types of Social Control:
 Self Control
-Occurs because individuals internalize
the norms and values of their group.
 Informal Social Control
- Self-restraint exercised because of
fear of what others will think.
 Formal Social Control
- Administrative sanctions such as:
fines, expulsion, and imprisonment