Sociology
Chapter 8
Deviance and Social Control
Preview
Section 1: Deviance
Section 2: Crime
Chapter Wrap-Up
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 1: Deviance
Read to Discover
• What are the nature and social functions
of deviance?
• How do the theories that have been
proposed to explain deviance compare?
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 1: Deviance
Nature of Deviance
Deviance: Behavior that violates significant
social norms
• Because there are so many norms governing
behavior, occasional violations are unavoidable.
• What is considered deviant varies from society
to society, from time period to time period, and
from situation to situation.
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 1: Deviance
Labeling Deviance
1. Person must be detected committing a serious
deviant act (such as murder) or a series of
minor deviant acts (such as speeding); labeling
only occurs if the behavior is known to other
people
2. Social stigmatization must occur, the
application of a mark of social disgrace that
sets the deviant apart from the rest of society
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 1: Deviance
Social Functions of Deviance
• Clarifying Norms—defines the boundaries of
acceptable behavior; punishment of norm
violators warns others that certain behaviors will
not be tolerated
• Unifying the Group—serves to draw the line
between conforming members of society and
“outsiders”—the nonconforming members
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 1: Deviance
Social Functions of Deviance
• Diffusing Tension—minor acts of deviance allow
individuals to relieve tension without disrupting
the basic fabric of society
• Promoting Social Change—can help prompt
social change by identifying problem areas
• Providing Jobs—monitoring and punishing
deviance provides legitimate jobs for a wide
range of people
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 1: Deviance
Question
What theories have been proposed to
explain deviance?
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 1: Deviance
• Functionalists—natural outgrowth of the
values, norms, and structures of society
• Conflict Theorists—result of competition and
social inequality
• Interactionists—either natural in people with
weak ties to the community (control theory),
a learned behavior (cultural transmission
theory), or a consequence of labeling
(labeling theory)
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 1: Deviance
Perspective
Theory
Questions
Functionalist
Strain
How do individuals respond to culturally approved
goals and the legitimate means of achieving them?
(conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism,
rebellion)
Conflict
Conflict
What is the result of competition and social
inequality? (deviance) Who decides what is
deviant? (ruling classes)
Interactionist
Control
Why do people conform to norms? (strength of
social ties determines conformity)
How do people learn conformity or deviance?
Cultural
Transmission (through socialization, or interaction with others)
Labeling
Where does this learning mainly occur? (primary
groups)
How do people become identified as deviant?
(through secondary deviance, or being detected
as deviant)
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 2: Crime
Read to Discover
• What are the principal types of crime in the
United States?
• What are the characteristics of the
American criminal-justice system?
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 2: Crime
Principal Types of Crime in the U.S.
• Violent Crime—includes murder, robbery; most
victims are African Americans
• Crime Against Property—includes burglary,
larceny, vehicle theft; more common than violent
crimes
• Victimless Crime—includes prostitution,
gambling, illegal drug use; offender is the only
victim
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 2: Crime
Principal Types of Crime in the U.S.
• White Collar Crime—committed by high-status
individuals in the course of their professions;
includes fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement
• Organized Crime—the pursuit of crime by a
large-scale organization as a big business
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 2: Crime
Question
What are some characteristics of the
American criminal-justice system?
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 2: Crime
AMERICAN CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM
Police
Have the most control
over who is
arrested for crimes
Courts
Determine the accused’s
guilt or innocence in
a court trial and then
assign a punishment
Corrections
Sanctions used to punish
those found guilty of
crimes
Juvenile-Justice
System
Applies to offenders
younger than 18
Sociology
Chapter 8
Section 2: Crime
• Police—have most immediate control over who is
arrested for a criminal act; use police discretion, which
has raised the controversial issue of racial profiling
• Courts—determine the guilt or innocence of an accused
person by means of a trial and assign some form of
punishment if there is a guilty finding; actually settle 90
percent of cases through plea bargaining
• Corrections—sanctions include probation, imprisonment,
parole; serve four functions—retribution, deterrence,
rehabilitation, and social protection
• Juvenile-Justice System—used to punish offenders
younger than age 18; guarantees juvenile defendants the
same legal rights and privileges as adults; often provides
more services
Sociology
Chapter 8
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas
1. What are the functions of deviance?
2. How does labeling theory differ from other theories
of deviance?
3. Describe the five general categories of crime. Be
sure to list the types of crime in each category.
4. What purposes does the corrections system fulfill?
How does the juvenile-justice system meet these
same purposes?