Deviance & Control
The problem with “Deviance”:
It undermines predictability – the
foundation of social life
Deviance is a:
behavior
trait
or belief
that. . .
 departs from the norm and. . .

generates a
negative reaction!
So it is. . .
A socially constructed reality – it is
relative!!
It is linked to:
 Time!
 Cultural values!
For example. . .
Followers of the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria (ISIS) are considering by the U.S.
as:
TERRORISTS!!
But by some of their countrymen, they
are considered:
HEROES!!
Q: Which were we during the War of
Independence from Britain?
A few Fallacies about Crime:
The murder Drama fallacy:
murders are happening all over!
The reality:
Murders are less than 1% of the crimes
reported
“Most murders are the result of a stupid little
quarrel . . .
 The path toward murder is not much different
than that of an ordinary fight. . .
 Murder has two central features:
a gun too near and a hospital too far.” - Felson

The “NOT ME” fallacy:
Criminals are “Those people”
The reality:
Crime is committed by everyone – and most
“Criminals” are not much different than us!
Sir Winston Churchill
(to Lady Astor):
Lady Astor:
Sir Winston:
Lady Astor:
Sir Winston:
Would you sleep with me
for five million dollars?
Well, I suppose I would.
Well, would you sleep
with me for five dollars?
What do you think I am?
We’ve already
established that;
we’re merely haggling
over price.
What’s our price?
Hirschi: do not ask yourself, “why did he do it?”
But rather ask, “why doesn’t everybody engage in crime?”
The “innocent Youth” fallacy:
Children are often innocent bystanders
Reality:
Children are way overrepresented as
offenders
The ingenuity fallacy:
Crime is committed by clever people in
ingenious ways!
Reality:
Most crime is simple and most criminals are
unskilled
Many thefts take less than 10 seconds
 Burglaries are often committed in less than
5 minutes
 More and more crimes take place as a
result of opportunity – quick and easy

Random crime fallacy:
Crime is likely to happen anywhere,
anytime, to anyone – you are likely to be
a victim!
Reality:
Crime is both predictable and preventable
Crime follows a pattern in space and time
Ex:
 Bar fights are usually late at night (so are
convenience store robberies)
 residential crime occurs during the day
 Most victims are young males, and
single/divorced people
 Crimes cluster geographically, with a large
amount in relatively few addresses.
Who is deviant? (crime-wise)

Young people: Crime is a young
person’s game!
Age?
age is inversely related to criminality
 Younger people much more often
commit crimes

Porque? (why do younger people
commit more crimes?)
They often discount the future (which
will be a limitation of the “rationalchoice” theory)
 Increased desire for adult privileges,
often with a reduction in supervision
 Have fewer social bonds (marriage,
children, job responsibilities, etc.).

Aging out. . .
People commit fewer crimes as they
mature
Question:

Are older people who commit crimes
immature?
“The view that involvement in crime
diminishes with age is one of the oldest and
most widely accepted in criminology” –
(Steffensmeier and Allan, 2000).
Social class. . .
“Crime is a lower-class phenomenon”
Why?
 They have more of an incentive to commit
crimes of two types:
 Instrumental – to improve their condition
 Expressive – to vent rage, anger, or
frustration
Gender. . .
One of the key correlates of criminal
behavior is gender
Males: overwhelmingly more likely to
commit crimes!
UCR arrest stats:
 Men are arrested 4 times more than
women
 Murder: 8 to 1
Why?






Socialization experiences for males vs. females
in gender roles
Girls are often more closely monitored
Girls are more closely bonded with parents and
more likely to value their norms and values
Girls are better with verbal skills and can talk
versus fighting
Girls have fewer associations with delinquent
peers
Reluctance in the past to arrest females
Race. . .

In terms of numbers. . .
The typical criminal is. . .
White!




70% of all arrests
59% of violent crime arrests
68% of property crime arrests
66% of all arrests for drug abuse, vandalism,
drunkenness, forgery, counterfeiting, fraud
In terms of percentage. . .
African-Americans more likely to be
arrested
 1/3 of males born in 2001 will one day go
to prison
 Less than 6% of white males will be
imprisoned

Why more crime for African-American
Males?
Family structure? (absent fathers)
 Violent subculture? (A culture that approves of




violence)
But. . . Research has been inconclusive
Type of crime? Street Crime (although whites
numerically commit more of these)
White collar crime is much more likely to be
committed by White offenders
Hispanics: why a lower rate than
African-Americans?
Higher number of immigrants (which leads to
lower rates)
 Higher number of them own or work in many
small businesses in neighborhoods
 Those neighborhoods have stronger social
institutions (church, schools)

First gen. immigrants – there is a Crime-reducing
effect
Theories of Deviance:
1. Sociobiology. . .
We all have inborn urges to:
Survive! via:


aggression
reproduction
Caesar Lombroso. . .
People are born criminals! (reo nato)
1. Atavism – a person is a throwback to an
earlier stage of evolution
How can you tell?
Stigmatas! Visible tell-tale markers!






Asymmetry of the face
Monkey-like ears
Twisted nose
Long-arms
Extra fingers or toes
Sloping forehead
Men – 5 or more
Women – 3 or more
2. Structural Theory:
Children grow up with:
Poor schools
 Poor neighborhoods
 Broken families

Crime is linked to ecology:
Highly transient, mixed-use properties
 Changing neighborhoods
 Services are lacking (schools, health
care, jobs, etc.)
 People have little interest in community
matters

What’s in the “hood”?







Trash
Graffiti
Abandoned buildings
Burned-out buildings
Alcoholics/Drug users
Prostitutes
Noise
What do people think and feel?





powerlessness
Angry
Mistrusting and suspicious
Fear
Cynicism
What’s the neighborhood like?
Large numbers of single-parent
families
 Large numbers of unrelated
people living together


The breakdown of social institutions (Family,
schools) leads to:
the breakdown of traditional values
 Lack of social control

The environment is ripe for:
GANGS!!
The peer group replaces family and other
institutions
Concentric Zone Theory:
Concentric Zone Theory:
Inner-city “transition” zone:
Poorest people live
 Neighborhoods are disintegrating
 Crime is a constant fixture
 “the melting pot of poor, immigrant, destitute, and
criminal”
Zones farthest away from the center:

Also have the least crime!
“Broken Window” theory:
Places that look run-down invite crime
Bars on the windows, doors, another
clue!
The limitation of this theory:
People make choices too!
Experiences can alter
trajectories!
New situations:
that change opportunities for identity
transformation
 that separate the past from the present
 That provide supervision and monitoring
 That change routine activities
Examples: Military, marriage, moving, work,
moving (a new “hood”)

3. Control Theory
we can’t resist temptation!!
Therefore, we need strong external forces
to keep us in line.
Criminality results from:
Weakened social bonds (forces)
4 crucial bonds to prevent deviance:
Attachment –
to others who conform
Commitments – don’t want to risk loss
of status or reputation
Involvements – into positive activities
Moral Beliefs – that certain things are
right/wrong
A limitation of this theory:
Differential Association:
We learn deviance from those we run with.
We may have all those bonds, but. . . they are
to a deviant group!
“evil companions corrupt good morals”
Just as societal norms are learned via social
interaction. . .people can learn the thought
processes of crime, as well as the techniques, from:
Family!
Friends!
The bottom line: Crime is learned!
Modalities of associations with others:
 Frequency – How often?
 Duration – How long?
 Priority – How early in life?
 Intensity – How strong?

Romantic partners
who engage in
antisocial behavior
may influence their
partner’s behavior!
Adolescents learn. . .
Techniques!
 Motives!
 Rationalizations!

From peer we learn beliefs favorable to
crime!

If your group generally approves of crime,
you may wind up adopting those beliefs as
well!
Curfew violation
 Alcohol use
 Bullying a fellow teen
 Fighting is sometimes okay to do

The effect of Peers. . .

“Other than one’s own prior delinquent behavior, the
best single predictor of the onset, continuance, or
desistance of crime and delinquency is differential
association with conforming or law-violating peers.”
Akers and Sellers (2013)

“No characteristic of individuals known to criminologists
is a better predictor of criminal behavior than the
number of delinquent friends an individual has.” – Mark
Warr (2002).
4. Conflict Theory:
Capitalism pits people against one
another in a struggle for stuff!!
a. The dominant & wealthy: make the laws
The behavior of the less powerful/wealthy
more likely to be criminalized.
b. The CJS is: Unfair, unjust, biased.
“psychoactive drugs” of alcohol and
marijuana:
Why is one legal and the other illegal? Which
one causes more social harm?
c. Social Class: Funnels some
into the CJS, and others away
from it.
Q: Which costs more $ - White collar
crime or Blue collar crime?
White collar crime!!
“Crime in the suites is worse
than crime in the streets”
Limitations of this theory:
1. It doesn’t explain acts that are
almost universally condemned
(Murder, theft)
2. Doesn’t explain individual reasons
for crimes
(fun, pleasure, thrill, greed, etc.)
What’s the purpose of imprisonment?
1. To siphon off surplus population!
The surplus is a threat to capitalists because. . .
They could organize. . .
mobilize. . .
and start a revolution!
Unemployed minorities are “racial dynamite!”
2. Imprisonment also regulates the
availability and cost of labor!
During recession and high unemployment. . .
imprisonment is higher.
3.
3. It’s a source of revenue!
Crime control is an industry for profit!
People who make $ off of:
Building prisons (materials, concrete, security,
etc.)
 Handcuffs
 Tasers
 Uniforms
 Providing guards

5. Social Reaction theory (Labeling
Theory - Symbolic Interaction view)
A Label can become a: Master Status!
(they define the whole person!)
Labels can stigmatize a person!
Basic Premise. . .
The application of socially stigmatizing labels is an
independent cause of criminal and delinquent
behavior.
A Label CAN cause deviance:
Self-fulfilling prophecy
One is labeled as a deviant – and locked out of
contact with “conforming others”

So, who am I gonna run with?
Other deviants!
So. . .
We need to be cautious about the
labels that we hang on kids!!
A person may move from:
Primary Deviance:


the act that got them the label in the first
place
The person doesn’t see themselves as
deviant
to. . .
 Secondary Deviance – a deviant


identity/persona.
The person accepts the deviant label/status
This is a means of defense, attacks, or
adaptation to the problems caused by the
reaction to the primary deviance behavior.
“You think I’m a ______________,
I’ll show you!”
Deviance Amplification. . .


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The effect of “Labeling” that:
escalates a negative self-appraisal
increases a deviant self-identity
increases criminal behavior
“One of the most crucial steps in the process of building
a stable pattern of deviant behavior is likely to be the
experience of being caught and publicly labeled as a
deviant.” Becker, (1963).
Neutralization Theory. . .
We have to learn how to neutralize society’s
norms!
 This allows us to “drift” . . .
 We have to leave conventional behavior and beliefs
to engage in antisocial behaviors.


Q: How can we do that and not be blamed?
Techniques of Neutralization!
1. Denial of: Responsibility
“I didn’t do it!!”
“I didn’t have a choice!”
“I was drunk/high!”
2. Denial of: Injury
“You’re not hurt!!”
“They are rich and have a lot
of money”
“They are just getting high –
they aren’t really hurt by drugs”
3. Denial of: Victim
“He had it coming!!”
“She wanted it!!”
4. Condemnation of: The condemners
“She started it!!”
“Everybody cheats on their taxes - why
pick on me?”
“The government is corrupt! The cops
are crooked!”
5. Appeals to: a higher loyalty
“Mom said I could. . .”
“I am obeying God.” – Terrorists!
“I was just obeying orders.” Ex. Nazi Guards
But, do all criminals really neutralize?

Some offenders are “guilt free!”

Some offenders are proud of what they do!
Some may self-label as a deviant
The good: You can correct your behavior!
“I’m an alcoholic”
“I’m a sinner. . .”
The bad: You can live down to the deviant
label and act out your deviance!
Self-handicap and avoid failure!
“I’m not smart!”
Limitations of this theory:
1. It doesn’t explain:
The 1st deviant act that got them
the label in the first place
2. It doesn’t explain:
all crimes. Again, some are done
for pleasure, gain, etc.
For example:
Gaetano Sivieri - 2007, Italy
Hid his 91 year old dead father
in freezer for over 2 years so. . .
He could collect dad’s pension!!
Collected about $120,000 from
dad’s pension fund.
His son was showing the house
to a prospective buyer, and
thought there was chicken in
the freezer.
He opened the lid, and found a
pajama and the hand of a man
– it was grandpa!!
Or. . . Ella Orko
86 year old “career shoplifter”
arrested in August for:
 Stealing anti-wrinkle cream!!
 This is her 61st arrest!!

6. Strain Theory
Not everyone has equal access!!
To what?
Institutionalized means of
achieving societal goals
Thus, people feel: ANOMIE Normlessness
We loosely refer to this as the. . .
One may also feel. . .
Relative Deprivation! (Judith and Peter
Blau)
 Envy of what other’s have
 Feeling as if one is a victim
 A belief that things are not fair or just in life
 A frustration and anger in life
Thus, a criminal may believe that they are
entitled to “get theirs!”
What am I gonna do?
Rebel – Go against society’s goals
Do Rituals! Go through the
motions, although I’ll never get the
goals! (3 jobs at once, but still
poor!)
Retreat! Give up and drown myself
in alcohol or tune-out with drugs!
Innovate! Find a way to get what I
want other than the socially
approved way –
Crime!
Some innovators. . .
Drug dealers
 Pimps
 Embezzlers
 Computer theft (ID theft)
 Other theft – auto, home, etc.

We socialize people into:
wanting cultural goals
But then deny them:
the access to reach them!
Reactions to strain peak during
adolescence, which is also linked to. . .
Weakened parental supervision
 Development of peer relationships
 Increasing expectations in life

Thus, adolescents are the most likely
to become innovators! (i.e. criminals!)
Limitation of this theory:

What about white-collar crime??
It doesn’t explain it!!
A quick Review of Theories:
1. Sociobiology Theory:
You are a criminal because: YOU are deviant!
You have biological traits of a criminal – Atavism!
2. Social Structure Theory
You are a criminal because: Your HOOD is deviant!
Example:
BROKEN – WINDOWS theory
Crime is linked to ECOLOGY (Where you live)
3. Control Theory:
You are a criminal because:
You have WEAK _SOCIAL_ __BONDS___!
So your urges to act out are not controlled!
4. Differential Association theory:
You are a criminal because:
your FRIENDS are deviant!
“Evil companions corrupt good morals!”
5. Conflict Theory:
You are a criminal because:
CAPITALISM is deviant!
The rich exploit the poor, and label poor people’s
behavior as “deviant”
6. Social Reaction (Labeling) Theory:
You are a criminal because:
you have been LABELED as a deviant!
That has caused you to act out that label.
7. Strain Theory:
You are a criminal because:
SOCIETY is deviant!
You have been denied the opportunity to get
ahead in life.
8. Functionalist theory:
Deviance is good!(functional)
a. It defines: The moral boundaries
– clarifies and reaffirms our norms
b. Promotes: social unity
c. Durkheim: it paves the way for:
social change – non-conforming
deviance can be productive!
Ex. of Rosa Parks and MLK
Positive Deviance:
A behavior that is uncommon
but leads to a positive
change!
Q: How do we control the deviance in
society?
1.
Internalization – Getting society’s
norms inside of you
This is growing a conscience!!
**This is: The most effective way of
socially controlling deviant
behavior
Why?
There is no way to forcibly monitor
all of society
The American Indians’ concept of a conscience:
A 3 –cornered stone that
turned in your chest and
cut you when you did
something wrong!
Shaming. . .
the attempt to invoke remorse in the offender
Stigmatizing is “disintegrative shaming” – no attempt is made
to reintegrate offender with society
 “Reintegrative shaming” - seeks to reconcile offender back
into the community via:
 Words or gestures of forgiveness
 Ceremonies to decertify the offender as deviant
Would work best in social settings where people are closely tied to
others (parents, neighbors, church, etc.)

In Cleveland:
Three factors:

Certainty:
If certainty of punishment increases, the crime
rate declines.

Severity:
Certainty seems to be more of a factor that
severity

Speed of Punishment:
The more closely it is related to the crime the
more it serves as a deterrent.
Why doesn’t this always work?


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Crime may be chosen by desperate people! (they don’t
feel as if they have a choice!)
Crime may be chosen by people who have mental issues
Crime may be committed under the influence of chemicals
(alcohol and other drugs)
Crime may be committed by teenagers who aren’t
thinking long-term!
Criminals appear to be more impulsive and have less selfcontrol than other people
2. Formal mechanisms of
social control (the CJS)
Like:
A driving offense could lead to:
Fines
Loss of privileges
incarceration
“Criminal law is the harshest,
most cumbersome, and most
expensive social control
mechanism. These qualities
limit the use of criminal law as a
tool for social control; it is a last
resort in the effort to prohibit,
and punish social harms.”
-Joel Samaha
4 reasons why we send people to jail:
a. Retribution –
Pay Back!
b. Deterrence –
Create Fear!
General: everyone!
Specific: the
criminal!
c. Rehabilitation – Resocialize them!
d. Incapacitation – Separate them,
and protect us!