Deviance 10e
Alex Thio
Chapter Thirteen:
Privileged Deviance
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Introduction
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Privileged deviance can be divided into
white-collar deviance, or corporate and
occupational deviance, and governmental
deviance
Example: the head of Tyco Corporation
stole $150 million
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
What is White-Collar Deviance?
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Sutherland: crime committed by "the
upper, white-collar class, which is
composed of respectable, or at least
respected, business and professional
men."
Also includes corporations participating in
deviant activities
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Corporate Deviance
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Corporate deviance takes place in
corporations; it is carried out for benefit
of the company or an individual; the
FOUR major types of deviance inlude:
Deviance against employees
Deviance against customers
Deviance against the Government
Deviance against the environment
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
A Social Profile of Corporate
Crooks
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In 2002 alone, corporate crooks were
responsible for devaluing their
companies by $530 billion and costing
162,000 jobs
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Most famous: Kenneth Lay of Enron; top
executives at Arthur Anderson; founder of
Adelphia
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
A Social Profile of Corporate
Crooks – cont.
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Typical illegal practices:
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moving corporate headquarters to avoid
taxes
overpaying executives
stacking the Board of Directors
giving money to candidates of both parties
to ensure government favor and tax breaks
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Occupational Deviance
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White-collar crime committed by employees for
individual gain is usually less costly than that
committed by corporations, but still far more
costly than street crimes
It is estimated that as many as 60% of
American employees may steal from their
employers if the opportunity is presented
Embezzlement: stealing of money; costs as
much as $27.2 billion in one year (commercial
banks lose five times as much to embezzlers
as armed robbers).
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Occupational Deviance – cont.
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Financial frauds are very prevalent
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tax evasion
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securities fraud
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Deviance in the professions is those acts committed
during the course of the individual's occupation
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medical misconduct – fee splitting, unnecessary
surgery and fraudulent payment claims
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lawyerly lawlessness – overcharging, and
intentionally causing delays in court
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accounting abuses – assisting clients in falsifying
deductions during audits
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
What Makes White-Collar
Deviance Unique?
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Use of power, influence, or respectability
to minimize detection
Rational execution to maximize profits
Non-criminal self-image
Victim's unwitting cooperation
Society is relatively indifferent
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Causes of White-Collar
Deviance
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Three reason why some people are more
likely than other to be deviant:
Stronger criminal motivation (greed is
stronger than fear)
Great criminal opportunity
Weaker social control (lax law
enforcement)
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Governmental Deviance
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Many public officials abuse their power in a
variety of ways
Official deviance: abuse of power by
governmental officials or politicians running for
office
Political corruption: abuse of power for
personal gain
Election improprieties include the illegal or
unethical means used to win elections
Official violence against citizens has a long
history
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Global Perspective: Official
Corruption
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Official corruption is very common
around the world, and especially in
poorer countries, where corruption of
public officials is seen as normal
Causes of official corruption:
poverty
large populations
lack of democracy
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Official Ways of Neutralizing
Deviance
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Official deviants practice “the ritual of
wiggle”
Continually deny that wrongdoing has
occurred
Ignore the deviance
Accusing the accuser
Promising an investigation
Claim the action was necessary
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010
Causes of Governmental
Deviance
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Abundance of ambiguous laws
Complex nature of the government; lack
of information (greater complexity leads
to greater confusion and diminished
awareness that deviance is being
committed) and responsibility
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010