Chapter 6 Flashcards
(108 cards)
1
Q
Deviance
A
A behaviour that strays from what is “normal”
– Does not mean bad, criminal, perverted, “sick”, or inferior in any way
– It is different from the norm, the usual.
– Is a category that changes with time, place, and culture.
– Definitions of deviance often reflect power.
2
Q
Characteristics of Deviance:
A
Overt characteristics
Covert characteristics
3
Q
Covert characteristics
A
the unstated qualities that might make a group a target for sanctions
– e.g., age, ethnic background, “race” and sexual orientation, sex, and physical and mental ability
4
Q
Overt characteristics
A
actions or qualities taken as explicitly violating the cultural norm
5
Q
Deviance Is Contested across Cultures
A
– Deviance differs from culture to culture.
– Deviance changes over time
• e.g. Tattooing was a respectable practice for generations before becoming a cultural taboo and then over time, being more acceptable
– Deviance is contested
6
Q
Deviance Is Contested within Cultures:
A
– Definitions of deviance differ not only across but within
cultures
– Deviance is a social or cultural construct – Deviance can be contested
7
Q
Conflict Deviance
A
is a disagreement among groups over whether or not something is deviant.
– e.g. legalization of marijuana
8
Q
• Social constructionism
A
proposes that certain elements of social life, such as deviance, are not natural are created by a society or culture
9
Q
Essentialism
A
argues that there is something natural, true, universal, and therefore objectively determined about these characteristics.
– When we look at certain social phenomena, we can see that each of these two viewpoints applies to some degree
• e.g. Alcoholism
10
Q
• Goffman’s study on stigma and deviance, (1963)
A
illustrates the interplay of essentialism and social constructionism. He identified three types of stigmata (the plural of stigma):
Bodily
Moral
Tribal
11
Q
Stigma
A
: human attribute that is seen to discredit an individual’s social identity
12
Q
– Bodily stigmata:
A
physical deformities
13
Q
– Moral stigmata:
A
blemishes of individual character
14
Q
Tribal stigmata:
A
transmitted through group association
15
Q
The Other
A
An image constructed by the dominant culture to characterize subcultures
• Can be depicted as mysterious, mystical, or mildly dangerous, but somehow it is ultimately cast as inferior
16
Q
The Other
e.g. Edward Said’s Orientalism/ Canadians and indigenous
A
discussion how the dominant West constructed the Middle East as Other
• Dominant Canadian culture defines “Indigenous” as Other
17
Q
Deviant behaviour and otherness
A
Deviant behaviour, once it has been associated with Otherness, is often subject to negative sanctions or punishment. The ‘Other’ label can be difficult to erase.
18
Q
Moral panic
A
is a campaign designed to arouse concern over an issue or group
e.g racialized deviance and illegal drugs
19
Q
Moral entrepreneur
A
ading…
– According to Becker (1963), a person who tries to convince others of the need to take action around a social problem that they have defined
• e.g., Zoot-suiters, niqab debate in Canada
20
Q
What does racializing deviance refer to?
A
Linking particular ethnic groups, especially visible minorities, with certain forms of deviance.
21
Q
How does racializing deviance affect perceptions of ethnic groups?
A
It makes ethnic background a covert characteristic of deviance, leading to differential treatment of these groups.
22
Q
Can you provide an example of racializing deviance?
A
Muslims wearing a niqab may be seen as deviant due to their covered faces, which can lead to stereotypes and discrimination.
23
Q
What does Canada’s formal subscription to multiculturalism entail?
A
It includes a set of policies and practices designed to encourage respect for cultural differences.
24
Q
What pressure do racialized minorities face in Canada?
A
They often face pressure to assimilate, becoming culturally similar to the dominant culture.
25
How can the refusal to assimilate be perceived?
Not assimilating can be viewed as deviant, leading to social stigma and discrimination against those who maintain their cultural identities.
26
How is deviance racialized through racial profiling?
Through actions taken for safety or security that are based on stereotypes about race, color, ethnicity, religion, and other factors, rather than on reasonable suspicion.
27
What are visible characteristics used for in the context of racial profiling?
They are used to predict illegal activity, often unfairly associating those characteristics with deviance.
28
How does a person's "otherness" affect their treatment in society?
: A person’s otherness can be used as grounds for differential treatment, leading to discrimination in various sectors.
29
Can you provide examples of areas where racial profiling may occur?
Racial profiling can occur in law enforcement, by employers, service providers, and landlords.
30
What characterizes a patriarchal society?
A patriarchal society is one dominated by men, where "male" is considered normal and "female" is treated as the Other, often seen as inherently deviant.
31
What does the term "misogyny" mean?
Misogyny literally means "hating women," reflecting deep-seated biases and negative attitudes toward women in society.
32
How are images of women constructed in patriarchal societies?
Images of women are often constructed in ways that contain and reflect misogyny, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and social norms.
33
What is a patriarchal construct?
A patriarchal construct refers to social conditions that favor boys/men over girls/women.
34
How are male values normalized in society?
Male values are normalized through customs, laws, and cultural production, reinforcing gender inequality.
35
Can you provide an example of a patriarchal construct in the workplace?
An example is that well-paying jobs are often dominated by men, reflecting gender disparities in employment and pay.
36
What is sexual deviance in the context of gender?
Sexual deviance is gendered, often reflecting a double standard that applies differently to male and female sexual activity.
37
What were Magdalene asylums?
Magdalene asylums were institutions where women were sent for being perceived as sexually deviant, often focusing on reforming "fallen women."
38
How did the Female Refuge Act impact women in Ontario?
Between 1913 and 1964, thousands of women in Ontario were placed in reformatories under the Female Refuge Act for being sexually active outside of marriage, branded as "incorrigible."
39
What does the term "incorrigible" signify in this context?
The term "incorrigible" was used to label women who engaged in sexual activity outside of marriage, reflecting societal views of female sexuality as deviant.
40
How can poverty be viewed in relation to deviance?
Poverty can be considered a covert characteristic of deviance, influencing how behaviors are perceived based on socio-economic status.
41
How is drug or alcohol use viewed differently based on socio-economic status?
Drug or alcohol use is often considered deviant among poor people but is viewed less negatively among wealthy individuals.
42
What did Reiman (1998) suggest about the criminal justice system?
Reiman argued that the criminal justice system has a distinct class bias, favoring the interests of the wealthy while punishing the poor more severely.
43
What does research predominantly focus on regarding crime?
Research often focuses predominantly on the poor and the crimes they commit, reinforcing stereotypes about poverty and criminality.
44
How are behaviors associated with poverty viewed in society?
Behaviors associated with poverty and criminality often become synonymous, leading to stigma against the poor.
45
Who introduced the concept of white-collar crime?
Edwin Sutherland introduced the concept of white-collar crime in 1939.
46
What is white-collar crime?
White-collar crime is defined as a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation.
47
What did Clinard and Quinney (1973) contribute to the concept of white-collar crime?
Clinard and Quinney refined Sutherland’s concept by distinguishing two types of white-collar crime: occupational crimes and corporate crimes.
48
What are occupational crimes?
Occupational crimes are crimes that benefit the individual at the expense of other individuals who work for the company, such as sexual harassment.
49
What are corporate crimes?
Corporate crimes are crimes that benefit the corporation and its executives at the expense of other companies and the general public, such as the Enron scandal.
50
How do occupational and corporate crimes differ?
Occupational crimes benefit individuals within a company, while corporate crimes benefit the corporation as a whole, often harming competitors or the public.
51
What is the schools-to-prison hypothesis?
The schools-to-prison hypothesis suggests that biased application of zero-tolerance policies in schools contributes to higher incarceration rates among students, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.
52
How do zero-tolerance policies impact students in low-income neighborhoods?
Zero-tolerance policies are often applied more stringently in poor schools located in racialized neighborhoods, leading to increased discipline and legal actions against students.
53
What role does surveillance play in the schools-to-prison pipeline?
Constant surveillance in schools, combined with bias in the criminal justice system, can lead to disproportionately higher incarceration rates for students from low-income and racialized communities.
54
How is class bias reflected in the criminal justice system?
Class bias in the criminal justice system is reflected in how laws and policies are enforced, often resulting in harsher penalties for individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
55
How is the lower class represented in criminal statistics?
The lower class is over-represented in statistics on criminal convictions and admissions to prison.
56
What are some reasons for higher crime rates in low-income communities?
Reasons for higher crime rates include a lack of social resources, such as knowledge of the law, social connections, and the ability to afford legal representation.
57
What does a lack of social resources entail?
A lack of social resources refers to insufficient knowledge about the legal system, limited access to supportive social networks, and financial inability to hire a lawyer.
58
How does limited ability for impression management affect individuals in low-income communities?
Limited ability for impression management refers to the inability to control personal information flow, which can affect how others perceive and treat individuals, potentially leading to negative outcomes.
59
How is homosexuality viewed globally in terms of deviance?
Homosexuality is socially constructed as deviant to varying degrees around the globe, with different cultures applying different sanctions.
60
What are the types of sanctions against homosexuality?
Sanctions against homosexuality can be informal (e.g., social scrutiny) or formal (e.g., laws), with penalties ranging from flogging and imprisonment to death.
61
How is homosexuality informally sanctioned in Canada?
In Canada, informal sanctions against homosexuality include derogatory comments such as "Don't be so gay," which reflects societal attitudes towards non-heteronormative behaviors.
62
What is the ideology of fag, and how does it impact behavior?
The ideology of fag influences men to conform to traditional gender expectations, often leading to the informal sanctioning of homosexuality and reinforcing stereotypes about masculinity.
63
How do people with disabilities often experience negative sanctions in society?
People with disabilities often suffer negative sanctions through societal failure to accommodate differences in physical ability, leading to exclusion and punishment by omission.
64
What are some examples of societal omissions affecting people with disabilities?
Examples include inaccessible revolving doors, restricted sidewalks, and inadequate public transport that do not accommodate individuals with disabilities.
65
How are people with disabilities targeted because of their differences?
People with disabilities are often targeted due to their differences, leading to stigmatization and exclusion from various aspects of society.
66
What is an example of how the Deaf community may feel pressured to conform?
Members of the Deaf community may represent surgically implanted devices to be seen as "normal," reflecting societal pressures to conform to dominant standards of ability.
67
What is the focus of the politics of disabilities according to Lennard Davis?
The politics of disabilities involves promoting respect for difference rather than merely accepting "normal" and treating disabilities as problems to be solved.
68
How does society contribute to the social problem of disability?
The social problem of disability is created by able-bodied individuals who view and treat those with different abilities as “Other” instead of accepting their differences.
69
How does society contribute to the social problem of disability?
The social problem of disability is created by able-bodied individuals who view and treat those with different abilities as “Other” instead of accepting their differences.
70
What does Davis advocate for regarding perceptions of disability?
Davis advocates for a shift in perception that recognizes and respects the diversity of abilities rather than framing them as deficits or problems.
71
How does the treatment of disabilities relate to societal attitudes?
Societal attitudes that emphasize "normalcy" lead to the marginalization of individuals with disabilities, reinforcing the idea that their differences are something to be fixed rather than accepted.
72
What was the main belief underlying the eugenics movement?
The eugenics movement was based on the mistaken belief that intelligence can be easily measured and is directly inherited from one generation to the next.
73
What societal impact did the eugenics movement have in the early twentieth century?
The eugenics movement led to the sterilization of individuals labeled as "feeble-minded" to prevent them from reproducing.
74
What societal impact did the eugenics movement have in the early twentieth century?
The eugenics movement led to the sterilization of individuals labeled as "feeble-minded" to prevent them from reproducing.
75
What was Alberta’s Sexual Sterilization Act, and when was it in effect?
Alberta’s Sexual Sterilization Act, in effect from 1928 to 1972, authorized the sterilization of individuals deemed "unfit" to reproduce, reflecting eugenic policies.
76
Who was Henry Goddard, and what role did he play in the eugenics movement?
Henry Goddard was a psychologist who played a key role in promoting the eugenics movement, advocating for the idea that intelligence could be measured and was inherited.
77
What is the distinction between deviant behavior and criminal behavior?
Not all deviant behavior is criminal; deviance refers to behavior that violates societal norms, while crime specifically refers to behavior that breaks the law.
78
What are some key elements studied in relation to crime?
The study of crime includes elements such as causation, prevention, management or control, and statistical patterns of crime.
79
Why is it important to differentiate between deviance and crime?
Differentiating between deviance and crime helps in understanding social norms, addressing societal issues, and developing effective policies for prevention and management.
80
Theories of Criminal Deviance
Strain theory
Subcultural theory
Labelling theory
Social control theory
81
Who is Robert Merton, and what did he contribute to the understanding of criminal deviance?
Robert Merton (1938) explained that individuals may "choose" criminal deviance due to the strain created by the gap between culturally defined goals and the means to achieve them.
82
What is the American Dream according to Merton?
The American Dream posits that anyone can achieve success regardless of background or circumstances through hard work.
83
What does Merton mean by strain?
Strain refers to the disconnect between culturally defined goals (like success) and the uneven distribution of means (resources) available to achieve those goals, leading to feelings of anomie (Durkheim's concept).
84
How does strain lead to criminal deviance?
Individuals lacking the necessary resources to achieve culturally defined goals may turn to criminal deviance as an alternative means of achieving success.
85
Who is Albert Cohen, and what is his contribution to the understanding of criminal deviance?
Albert Cohen (1955) challenged and refined aspects of Merton's work by introducing the concept of status frustration among lower-class individuals.
86
What is status frustration according to Albert Cohen?
Status frustration occurs when individuals from lower-class backgrounds fail to succeed in middle-class institutions, leading to feelings of inadequacy.
87
How do individuals experiencing status frustration respond, according to Subcultural Theory?
They may become socialized into an oppositional subculture or delinquent subculture that develops values in opposition to mainstream society.
88
What type of crimes are associated with Cohen's delinquent subculture?
Non-utilitarian crimes committed to gain respect from the group rather than for material gain.
89
How does Cohen view delinquency?
Delinquency is seen as a learned behavior that is influenced by the values and norms of the oppositional subculture.
90
Who developed Labelling Theory, and what is its primary focus?
Howard Becker developed Labelling Theory to explain how subcultural values, beliefs, and practices are defined as deviant by mainstream society.
91
What does Labelling Theory illustrate about labels?
The theory illustrates how labels become internalized by both the majority and the individuals or groups that are labeled as deviant.
92
What is meant by a master status in Labelling Theory?
A master status is a label that dominates all other statuses an individual may hold, influencing how they are perceived and treated by society.
93
Can you provide an example of a master status as discussed in Labelling Theory?
An example is the label "Indian drunk," which can overshadow an individual's other identities and experiences.
94
How can Labelling Theory contribute to the understanding of social deviance?
It emphasizes the role of societal reaction in the construction of deviance, showing that deviance is not inherent to the act but is defined through social interactions and perceptions.
95
Who developed Social Control Theory, and what is its key focus?
Travis Hirschi developed Social Control Theory, which focuses on the importance of social bonding in preventing delinquent behavior.
96
According to Hirschi, what leads to delinquent acts?
Delinquent acts result when an individual’s bond to society is weak or broken.
97
What are the four elements of the "bond" in Social Control Theory?
Travis Hirschi
The bond encompasses attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
98
How does a strong bond to social institutions affect delinquent behavior?
If a child is bonded with social institutions such as family, religion, athletic teams, and school, they are less likely to engage in delinquent activities and are more likely to accept the positive social values of these institutions.
99
What role do social values play in Hirschi's Social Control Theory?
Accepted social values help prevent anti-social acts, reinforcing the idea that strong bonds lead to conformity and reduced delinquency.
100
What does the 2017 Ekos report reveal about Canadians' beliefs regarding crime rates?
Many Canadians believe the crime rate is rising, particularly driven by violent crime.
101
What demographic factor may contribute to Canadians' overestimation of crime rates?
Changes in population characteristics and distribution.
102
How does incarceration affect perceptions of crime rates in Canada?
Increased incarceration rates can create the perception that crime is more prevalent.
103
What historical period, referred to as the "Crack Years," influences current crime rate perceptions?
The "Crack Years" were a time of heightened drug-related violence, and their end may contribute to misperceptions of current crime rates.
104
Why might the number of crimes be under-reported in Canada?
Various factors, including social stigma and lack of trust in law enforcement, can lead to under-reporting of crimes.
105
What are the two positions from which deviance can be examined?
Essentialism and social constructionism.
106
How is deviance defined from a social constructionist perspective?
Deviance is socially constructed, artificial, and varies across cultures and time.
107
What element of power is involved in defining deviance?
Those in power get to define what is deviant and what is considered "normal."
108
What contradiction exists regarding crime rates and public perception in Canada?
The crime rate is dropping, yet people fear crime more than ever.
