Deviance
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The Nature of Deviance: Relative,
Perception, Social Definition, Relates to
Power, Functional
Theories of Deviance:
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1 Social Strain Theory
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a. Durkheim; anomie
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Crime and Deviance functional to society:
 1. Reaffirms cultural values
 2. Clarifies social boundaries
 3. Social unity
 4. Social Changes
Robert Merton’s Typology of Deviance
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2. Cultural Transmission Theory:
Edwin Sutherland’s theory of Differential
Association
 Delinquent Subculture
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3. Social Control Theory:
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Travis Hirschi –
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a. Attachment
b. Commitment
c. Involvement
d. Belief
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4. Labeling Theory:
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Primary Deviance
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Secondary Deviance
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Stigma, Deviant Career
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5. The Conflict Perspective of C and D
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A. Marxist View:
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Capitalist Oppression
B. Quinney’s Theory:
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Justice system serves the powerful
Law is the tool of the ruling class
Capitalists – corporate crime
Differential Treatment – class, race, ethnicity
Differential Social Control
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Types of Crimes:
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Violent Crimes – demographic characteristics:
Age
 Gender
 Race
 Ethnicity
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Property Crime
Occupational Crime/White Collar
Organization Crime/Corporate/Government
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Organized Crime
Nationwide conspiracy model
 Local ethnic group model
 Enterprise model
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Professional Crime
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Victimless Crime
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Index Crime
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Crime in U.S.A. – Reasons for falling
Reasons for high rates of violent crimes in
U.S.A. in comparison to other countries
Crime in Japan – Reasons for low rate of
crime
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Is the Death Penalty in the U.S.A.
justified?
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Premeditated Murders – v. small
No D.P. – homicide rate low
D.P. is not less expensive
Poor defense service with poor lawyers
Relationship between race and D.P.
D.P. reversals and DNA