20 03 2013 11 33 00 Florida State University Sociology Department SYG1000 Introduction to Sociology Dr Gloria T Lessan Spring 2012 Study Guide Questions 3 CAVEAT The following questions are a guide to help you study the material for the 3rd Midterm exam It is not a contract that defines the exam 1 Elaborate on the definitions of deviance What research questions are suggested by each definition Deviance Modes of action that do not conform to the norms or values held by most members of a group or society another o Variable as the norms and values that distinguish different cultures and subcultures from one o Forms of behavior that are highly esteemed by one group are regarded negatively by others Deviance as behavior that deviates from the shifting norm alleged norm violators o Research Question Who violated the norms and why Why do people engage in deviance Deviance as behavior that elicits a social reaction questions the process of defining norms and laws o Research Questions Who reacts about who and about what Why are some individuals or groups more likely to be identified or defined as Why are some behaviors more likely to be defined as crimes and enforced as more deviants criminals serious crimes deviant acts 2 Briefly describe the myths about deviance Some behaviors acts are inherently deviant Only the deviants do deviance Deviance involves willfulness Deviance is atypical and infrequent behavior Deviance is performed by specific populations 3 According to Durkheim deviance is normal and functional What did he mean by it Are there problems in this conceptualization Deviance is important in a well ordered society because by defining what is deviant we become aware of the standards we share as members of society o Anomie in modern societies traditional norms and standards becomes undermined thus strain emerges because the increase in individual choices o Adaptive Function introduces new ideas and social challenges brings about change o Boundary Maintenance heightens group solidarity and clarifies norms Deviance is inevitable and necessary We should aim to keep deviance within acceptable limits Functionalist crime and deviance result from structural tensions and lack of moral regulation within society Functions of deviance Cultural Universal o Reminder of shared values o Positive self evaluation o Integrates society via punishment of deviant o Clarifies moral boundaries o Brings about social change 4 What is the relationship between social control and deviance How does this relationship affect the likelihood of norm violation We follow social norms because of socialization Types of control o Direct external punishment is threatened by authority figures if norms are violated Sanction a mode of reward or punishment that reinforces socially expected forms of behavior Positive reward Negative punishment Formal applied by a specific group or agency to ensure that a particular set of Informal less organized and more spontaneous reactions to non conformity norms are followed Laws rules of behavior established by a political authority and backed by state power o Internal refrain from delinquency because of conscience guilt same low self esteem o Indirect by identification with those who influence behavior through need satisfaction We interact with people who obey laws and learn self control and decreases likelihood of norm violation 5 Define the following concepts deviance crime delinquency crime rate Type I and II crimes street crimes Uniform Crime Reports Victimization surveys self reports on deviance white collar crime victimless crime organized crime hate crimes dark area of crime criminal recidivism plea bargain medicalization of deviance Deviance Modes of action that do not conform to the norms or values held by most members of a group or society Crime Any actions that contravene the laws established by a political authority Delinquency criminal and other deviant behavior committed by children and adolescents who are not yet considered adults Crime Rate data collected by governments for the reporting of incidents of criminal activity Not a perfect view of crime because only includes reported crimes Crimes reported to or detected by the police 100 000 population Type I Crimes used to calculate crime rate o Two Types Crimes against the person or violent crimes crimes against people that involves violence or the three of violence murder rape aggravated assault and robbery Crimes against property property crimes crimes that involve theft of property belonging to others Type II Crimes Not calculated in crime rate and comprised the Dark Area included white collar organizes state victimless and hate crimes Street Crimes criminal activity that happens in a public place usually in a town or city Uniform Crime Reports annually compiled by the FBI which contains official crime statistics drawn throughout the United States Victimization Surveys asks a sample of people which crimes have been committed against them over a fixed period of time and whether or not they have been reported to the police Self Reports on Deviance surveys of the population which ask them to confess to crime through have committed but for which they have not been caught White Collar Crime criminal activities carried out by those in white collar or professional jobs o i e embezzlement forgery Victimless Crime violations of law in which there are no readily apparent victims also known as vices ex Gambling prostitution and illegal use of drugs but do have victims victim and perpetrator are the same person Organized Crime criminal activities carried out by organization established as businesses Hate Crimes criminal act motivated by racial or other bias Dark Area of Crime describes the amount of unreported or undiscovered crime which calls into question the reliability of official crime statistics Criminal Recidivism subsequent offenses by people previously convicted of crimes Plea Bargain refers to a legal negation in which the state reduces a defendant s charge in exchange for a guilty plea Saves time and money but may undercut the rights of the defendants Medicalization of Deviance related to the transformation of moral and legal issues into medical matters Ex Recent view of alcoholism 6 According to official statistics which crimes are most frequent What problems are found with the official picture of crime Include in your answer reference to the nature size and content of the dark area of crime Official Crime Rates
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