13 Social Control & Deviance Flashcards
- What three factors make complex societies harder to control?
Large population size, significant cultural differentiation, and inequality
Explain the relationship between population size, differentiation, & inequality as it relates to social control.
As populations grow, mechanisms of social control are under more stress as all else equal, more people are harder to control than fewer people.
As populations grow, cultural differentiation (sub-cultures) begins to emerge. To the extent that people within a population differ significantly in terms of what they value and believe, social control becomes that much harder.
Large populations with significant cultural differentiation tend to promote some level of inequality. The more inequality that exists in a population, the harder it can be to exert social control, as inequality can promote anger and distrust.
Why is government necessary to maintain minimal control in a complex, highly populated society?
Even if we were to take an extreme libertarian stance and completely minimize the power and existence of formal government, we would still need a minimal form of government to make libertarianism the law of the land.
What are the two micro-level forces of social control?
Socialization and sanctioning
How does socialization contribute to social control?
Socialization creates consensus about what is right/wrong because we share some socialization experiences in a given culture.
Through socialization, we develop role-taking and role-making skills that allow interaction to flow smoothly and prevent misunderstandings.
Socialization shapes the “self” and thus to some degree, we don’t behave deviantly because we don’t consider ourselves to be deviant people. Would you murder someone if murder was legal?
How does sanctioning contribute to social control?
We sanction people that behave deviantly, reinforcing expected behavior (norms) in society. Sanctions can be anything from a frown to physical assault.
What are the four Meso-level forces of social control?
How does each of the four contribute to socialization
Total institutions - used to separate deviants from the rest of society. Theoretically will use the separation time to rehabilitate and resocialize deviants to prepare them to re-enter society. Example: prison
Reintegration structures - designed to rehabilitate deviants. Typically, someone is sent here if the deviance committed is less serious or if the deviant has a lot of resources. Example: rehab facilities
Safety valves - Organizations that are allowed to provide areas for deviant behavior as long as it is confined and separated from the rest of society. Example: casinos
Regular organizations - Norms exist in all organizations and social structures concerning proper behavior. Examples: schools, churches, the family, etc.
Distinguish between deviance and crime.
Is deviance universal?
Deviance: behavior that violates widely held cultural norms
Crime: behavior that violates a society’s formally enacted criminal law
Deviance is not universal because it is culturally defined. No behavior is deviant in all cultural contexts.
Explain Merton’s functionalist theory of structural strain (anomie theory).
The theory makes two assumptions. First, in a given culture, there are broad success goals that almost everyone desires. Second, there are legitimate pathways to pursue such goals.
Those who do not have access to the legitimate pathways to pursue success must turn to illegitimate ways to achieve success. Merton refers to these individuals as “innovators.” Thus, blocked opportunities are the cause of crime according to this theory.
What assumptions about crime and deviance do conflict theorists make?
What data did we see in class that supports their assumptions?
They assume that our criminal justice system is designed to benefit the wealthy and powerful. Further, they assume that to the extent everyone is aware of inequalities in our criminal justice system, people will be angry and be more likely to commit crimes.
We looked at average sentencing data comparing blue-collar and white-collar crimes. In general, white-collar crimes receive lighter sentences.
How does differential association theory (learning theory) explain crime?
Crime is learned behavior. Learning entails criminal skills and knowledge and the attitudes to support such behavior.
Criminal behaviors and attitudes are most likely to be learned among one’s primary groups. Overall, the more criminals in your primary groups, the more likely one is to become a criminal.
Define primary and secondary deviance.
Which type does labeling theory care most about?
Primary deviance - the first time someone behaves deviantly
Secondary deviance - continued deviance that results from a change in one’s self-image.
Labeling theory cares about secondary deviance.
Explain Devah Pager’s audit study.
What criticism of labeling theory does this study speak to?
Dr. Pager sent job applications to various employers that varied only by the race and criminal background of the applicant. The primary finding was that white criminals received more positive employer feedback than black non-criminals.
Dr. Pager’s study speaks to the criticism that the labeling process is not applied equally. Being labeled a criminal is generally more problematic for a black male than a white male.
What assumption does social control theory make about human behavior?
Social control theory assumes we are all born predisposed to be deviant.
How do we prevent people from behaving deviantly, according to social control theory?
What is meant by “stakes in conformity” according to Travis Hirschi, the creator of social control theory?
Society must create strong connections between individuals and society to prevent deviant behavior. The connections are often called the four bonds: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
Attachment - strong, positive, and emotional connections to other people
Commitment - strong connections to non-deviant activities
Involvement - time spent participating in non-deviant activities
Belief - a moral connection to society; the belief that society is just
If someone has strong connections to society, this gives them a strong motivation to conform to society’s norms because they have a lot to lose. This is what Hirshci refers to as “stakes in conformity.”
