KENDALL: CHAPTER 7 - Deviance
(Remember: This is only the structure of my notes guided by the
text. I add other material as needed)
What is deviance?
"WHEN IN ROME, DO AS ROMANS DO!"
WHO IS A DEVIANT?
IN THIS CHAPTER WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
CONFORMITY, OBEDIENCE, DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL.
Or: Any behavior, belief, or condition that violates norms of society or
group where it occurs.
WHO DEFINES IT? Is it BEHAVIOR or NORM? (ie, from Kai Erikson: Not a property
of the peopledoing it, but of a meaning conferred upon it.
I. DEFINITIONS:
1. SOCIAL CONTROL: TECHNIQUES OR STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING
DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN ANY SOCIAL SYSTEM.
A) NORMATIVE SYSTEM
B) LAW
EXAMPLES INCLUDE SPEED LIMITS, DRESS CODES,
SEATING CHARTS, BOUNCERS
2. SANCTIONS: PENALTIES FOR REWARDS FOR CONDUCT
CONFORMING TO OR STRAYING FROM A SOCIAL NORM
EXAMPLES:
A) ALCOHOL AT PARTIES (CAN
BE "SANCTIONED," IE, ALLOWED
B) OR IMPOSE SANCTIONS:
1) NO PAY RAISE FOR SCREWY PROFS
2) CHEATING INVOKES RESPONSE
3. CONFORMITY: "GOING ALONG," "FOLLOWING," ETC:
See: ASCH'S STUDY OF CARDS WITH LINES.
4. OBEDIENCE: COMPLIANCE WITH HIGHER AUTHORITY IN A
HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
EXAMPLE: STANLEY MILGRAM.
5. INFORMAL/FORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL:
A) INFORMAL---"NON-OFFICIAL" SANCTIONS
B) FORMAL--FORMAL SANCTIONS--LAW, SCHOOL POLICIES
6. DEVIANCE: "BEHAVIOR THAT VIOLATES THE STANDARDS OR
CONDUCT OR EXPECTATIONS OF A GROUP OR SOCIETY
A) LATE FOR OR TALKING IN CLASS
B) WEARING CUT-OFFS TO A WEDDING
7. Crime: A behavior that violates criminal law and is punishable with
fines, jail terms, and other sanctions.
8. Juvenile Delinquency: A violation of law (or a status offense)
commited by minors (generally youth under age 18)
II. POINT FOR SOCIOLOGY IS HOW DO WE EXPLAIN IT?
A) WHY DO WE NEED TO
B) WHAT DO WE OBTAIN WHEN WE DO?
A. FUNCTIONALISM:
A) ANOMIE
B) BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE
C) IS "FUNCTIONAL" OR "NORMAL"
B. CULTURAL TRANSMISSION THEORY:
A) SUTHERLAND/CRIME-DELINQUENCY
B) LEARNING THEORY
C) DEPENDS (AS INDEPENDENT VARIABLES) ON
1) FREQUENCY 2)DURATION 3) PROXIMITY 4) IMPORTANCE
C. LABELLING THEORY:
D. NEUTRALIZATION THEORY (MATZA & SYKES): "DEVIANTS
(DELINQUENTS) DON'T HAVE DIFFERNT VALUES--JUST LIKE US
BUT IT'S EXPRESSED DIFFERENTLY.
STRATEGIES OF NEUTRALIZATION
1) DENYING RESPONSIBILITY
2) DENYING INJURY
3) BLAMING THE VICTIM
4) CONDEMNING THE AUTHORITIES
5) APPEALING TO HIGHER LOYALTY
E. CONFLICT THEORY: LAWS USED TO SUPPRESS ONE GROUP BY
OF ANOTHER---DOESN'TFOCUS ON "CAUSE" OF CRIME SO MUCH AS ON
GENESIS OF DEFINITIONS OF BEHAVIORAS A POWER CONFLICT
AND COMPETING DEFINITIONS OF APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.
F. Opportunity structures (Cloward and Ohlin): People are more likely
to commit crimes when opportunities exist
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III. SOCIAL RESPONSES TO CRIME
A. Informal sanctions (list them in lecture)
B. Formal responses: (List some(
C. PRISONS (a formal response)
1. Who goes to prison?
2. Do prisons work?
3. Is there a better way?
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