Deviance
© Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.
© Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.
What causes deviance?
Biological
 Psychological
 Sociological

What are the biological
explanations?
A real but small effect in
causing crime.
 Caesar Lombroso

 Genetically
destined to
become criminals

XYY Chromosome theory
What is the “medicalization of
deviance”?
Treating deviant behavior by medical
means
 Depo-provera for rape
 Methadone for heroin
 Redefining

as “compulsive disorder”
 Drinking as “alcoholism”
 Promiscuity as a “sexual addiction”
 Theft
What are the psychological
explanations?
Personality patterns
 Individual traits
 Majority of crimes are
committed by people with
normal personalities

Do you remember?
What are the biological explanations of
crime?
 What is the medicalization of crime?
 What are the psychological explanations
of crime?
 Are most criminals mentally ill?

What are the sociological
explanations?(Overview)
Strain theory
 Differential association
 Differential opportunity
 Labeling theory

What is the strain theory?
Robert Merton
 Conformist
 Innovator
(Al Capone)
 Ritualist
 Retreatist
 Rebellion

What is the differential
association explanation?
Edwin H. Sutherland
 Crime is learned in association with others
 Deviance is linked to the amount of
contact a person has with others who
encourage or discourage that behavior.

What is the differential opportunity
explanation?
Cloward & Ohlin
 Reflects both limited legitimate and
accessible illegitimate opportunities
 Reduce crime by reducing criminal
(illegitimate) opportunity

What is the labeling
theory explanation?

Deviance and conformity result not only
from what people do, but how others
respond to those actions.
 Reinforcement
 Labeling
 Retrospective

labeling
Interpreting someone’s past as consistent with
present deviance.
Do you remember?
What is the Strain theory?
 What is the Differential Association
theory?
 What is the Differential Opportunity
theory?
 What is the labeling theory?

What are the types of crime?
(overview)
Street crime
 White-collar crime
 Victimless crime

What is street crime?

Crimes against
persons
 E.g.

Murder
Crimes against
property
 E.g.
Burglary
What is white-collar crime?
Crimes committed by people of high social
standing as part of their occupation
 Little reaction from others
 Cases heard in civil court (rather than
criminal court)
 This is changing with the WorldCom,
Enron, and ponzi scheme problems.

What is victimless crime?

Prostitution

Drugs

Gambling
Do you remember?
What is street crime?
 What is White-collar crime?
 What is victimless crime?

How does the judicial system
operate?
What is plea
bargaining?
(Legal negotiation)
Most criminal cases in the courts are
resolved by plea bargaining.
 In exchange for a guilty plea, you get:

 Reduced
charge
 Reduced sentence
 Concurrent sentences
Why does society punish
offenders?

Retribution
 The
oldest reason
 “An eye for an eye”

Deterrence
 The
threat of punishment to discourage crime
Rehabilitation
 Removal from society

Criminal recidivism

Subsequent offenses by people convicted
of crimes
Do you remember?
 What
is plea bargaining?
 Why does society punish offenders?
 What is recidivism?