Deviance o Behavior that violates the expected rules or norms o Usually has a negative connotation in everyday society Characteristics of deviance o Can be a trait belief or behavior obesity o Accompanied by social stigma a negative label that devalues a person and changes his or her self concept and social identity o Varies across situations o Can be formal or informal against the law or merely inappropriate o Perceptions change over time what was deviant in the past is no longer while other actions are now deviant Crime punishment Sources of crime statistics o A violation of the societal norms and rules written into public laws that is subject to o Official data uniform crime reports Includes crimes reported to the police and arrests Does not include federal offenses or unreported crimes o Victim surveys national crime victimization surveys Based on interviewing people about their experiences Does include some unreported crimes Controlling deviance and crime o Social control techniques and strategies that regulate behavior o Social control can be informal or formal o It includes positive rewards and negative punishments sanctions Functional Perspectives o Deviance and crime are normal parts of the social structure o Crime and deviance can be both functional and dysfunctional Dysfunctions of crime and deviance o Create tension and insecurity o Erode trust in relationships o Damage confidence in institutions o Cost society Functions of Crime and Deviance o Affirm cultural norms and values o Provide temporary safety valves o Create social unity o Improve the economy o Trigger social change Anomie conflicting or confusing social norms Merton s Concept of Social Strain o The condition in which people are unsure of how to behave because of absent o American society has culturally approved goals become wealthy and institutionalized means work hard and invest wisely o Strain theory People engage in deviance when there is strain or conflict between goals and means Modes of Adaptation to Strain o Conformity not deviant accept goals and means Work harder keep trying o Innovation accept goals but reject means Cheat in order to pass an exam o Ritualism reject goals but accept means Continue going to a class after giving up on career goals o Retreatism reject goals and means Become an alcoholic o Rebellion replace goals and means Conflict Perspectives Paramilitary groups that oppose the government o Conflict theorists focus on why some acts are defined as deviant while others are not o Powerful groups control the law and its application o Behaviors that injure the economic interests or challenge the political power of the dominant class are punished Types of Crimes o White collar crime o Occupational crime Illegal activity committed by high status people in the course of their occupation Illegal activity committed in the course of their work usually in an individual s own personal interest Using a company credit card for personal purchases Illegal acts committed by executives to benefit themselves and their companies Price fixing failure to act on safety hazards o Corporate crimes o Cybercrime o Organized crime Illegal activities conducted online Stealing credit card numbers Activities of individuals and groups that supply illegal goods and services for profit Laundering money Differential Associations Theory o Suggests people learn deviance through interactions o People are more likely to engage in crime if they are exposed to deviant values early in life frequently over a long period of time and from important people Labeling theory o Holds that deviance depends on how others react The Criminal Justice System o Refers to the government agencies that are charges with enforcing laws passing judgment and correcting behavior o Includes police courts and prisons o Relies on preventions and intervention punishment and rehabilitation Prevention and intervention o Social service agencies and community outreach programs try to prevent crimes o Treatment for drug and alcohol abuse seems to have a positive effect o Police can head off some crimes or patrol high crime areas to reduce crime rates temporarily Punishing Crime o Crime control model Rehabilitation citizens release Emphasizes protecting society and getting a tough attitude o The view that appropriate treatment can change offenders into productive law abiding o Rehabilitation programs are particularly successful when they provide employment after Minority groups groups with less power and fewer life chances than members of the majority group Ethnic group individuals who share similar cultural characteristics Racial group individuals who share similar physical traits Social issues individuals with similar levels of income education and social prestige Social Stratification A hierarchical ranking of people who have different access to valued sources Closed stratification systems o Movement from one social position to another is limited due to ascribed statuses o Slavery Some people own others and have control over their lives o Caste systems Social category based on heredity Statuses ascribed at birth Open Stratification System o Social classes are based on fluidity o Based on achieved status o Wealth Wealth economic access o Prestige Respect recognition or regard Based on wealth family background fame occupations The ability of individuals to achieve goals control events and maintain influence over others despite opposition o The extent to which people have positive experience and can see good things in life Food housing good health education Life chances are a consequence of social stratification o Power Life Chances Upper Classes o Upper upper class o Lower upper class Middle Classes o Upper middle o Lower middle o Working class Lower Classes o Working poor o Underclass Poverty in America Defining poverty o Absolute poverty o Relative poverty Poverty line subsistence Enormous wealth inherited fortunes considerable economic and political power Engage in conspicuous consumption lavish spending to display status Lived in earned income professional and managerial occupations Non manual semiprofessional occupations rely on two incomes maintain comfortable lifestyle Skilled and semi skilled laborers possess high school education Work at least 27 weeks a year but live in poverty Persistently poor segregated residentially relatively isolated chronically unemployed lack skills and education o Poverty is increasing o More than 40 million people