Deviance and Crime in Sociology

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the main functions of laws in society?

  • To resolve conflict and maintain social order (correct)
  • To limit the number of social interactions
  • To promote every individual's personal interests
  • To discourage cultural diversity

Which of the following statements is true regarding deviance?

  • Deviance is strictly defined by politicians.
  • Deviant actions are universally condemned across all cultures.
  • All deviant behaviors are considered criminal.
  • Deviance can sometimes align with social norms. (correct)

Who is implicated in defining what is considered deviant behavior?

  • Governments, scientists, and media (correct)
  • Only educational institutions
  • Students and children
  • Only legal authorities and police

What aspect of law does sociology focus on?

<p>Norms, social control, and power arrangements (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do classical theories explain crime causation?

<p>By examining individual choices and motivations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior is categorized as deviant in the given context?

<p>Smoking while pregnant (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of criminal behavior in the context of social control?

<p>It is codified within legal systems. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What theory attributes criminal behavior to supernatural forces?

<p>Demonology (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of felicific calculus relate to in terms of rational choice?

<p>Estimating pleasure and pain from actions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of biological determinism?

<p>Crime is a result of social structures (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does social disorganization theory emphasize as a major cause of crime?

<p>Breakdown of collective efficacy in neighborhoods (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to social process theories, what is the primary cause of learning criminal behavior?

<p>Socialization and interactions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant criticism of early biological theories of crime?

<p>They do not address environmental influences (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does conflict theory perceive the criminal justice system?

<p>As influenced by those in power to maintain control (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of labeling theory in the context of crime?

<p>The impact of primary and secondary labels on self-identity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinction is made between street crime and suit crime?

<p>Suit crimes often affect a larger number of victims (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that societal structure contributes to the frequency of crime?

<p>Social structure theories (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of labeling an individual as deviant in society?

<p>It can result in the adoption of a deviant self-image (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Deviance

Actions violating social norms. May or may not be a crime.

Crime

Behavior violating laws, requiring social intervention and codified in law.

Social Norms

Rules and expectations about acceptable behavior within a society.

Social Control

Methods used by society to encourage conformity to norms and laws.

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Defining Deviance

The process of identifying and labeling certain actions as deviant. Different societies or groups may have different ideas about what is considered deviant.

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Explaining Crime Causation

The study of what causes criminal behavior, the motivations behind it, and who is responsible.

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Classical Theories of Crime

Theories that attribute criminal behavior to a conscious rational choice. Focuses on free will and decision-making of the criminal.

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Demonology

Explaining crime by attributing it to supernatural forces (e.g., evil spirits, witchcraft).

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Felicific Calculus

A method for calculating the utility of an action by weighing the pleasure and pain it might produce. It involves considering the intensity, duration, certainty, etc., of the potential pleasure and pain.

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Jeremy Bentham

A philosopher who strongly advocated for utilitarianism. He developed the Felicific Calculus as a way to determine the moral value of actions based on their consequences.

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Biological Determinism

The view that human behavior, including criminal activity, is primarily determined by biological factors like genes, brain structure, or hormones.

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Phrenology

A pseudoscientific theory that claimed to determine a person's character and mental abilities by examining the shape and features of the skull.

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Atavistic Man

The concept proposed by Cesare Lombroso, suggesting that some criminals are biological throwbacks to primitive stages of human evolution.

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Somatotype

A classification of human body types, such as ectomorph (thin), mesomorph (muscular), or endomorph (round), which were once associated with certain behavioral tendencies.

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Social Disorganization

A breakdown of social control and community cohesion that can lead to increased crime rates. Features like poverty, residential instability, and lack of social interaction.

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Collective Efficacy

The ability of a community to work together to solve problems and maintain order. It's the willingness and capacity of residents to intervene and act for the common good.

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Labelling Theory

This theory states that individuals come to internalize the label they are given by society. It suggests that being labeled as deviant can lead to the adoption of a deviant self-identity.

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Conflict Theory

This theory emphasizes power and inequality in society. It argues that laws and justice systems reflect the interests of those in power and may be used to control and oppress marginalized groups.

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Study Notes

Deviance and Crime

  • Deviance encompasses actions violating social norms, encompassing appearance, relationships, sexuality, lifestyle choices, etc.
  • Crime is codified deviant behavior requiring social control and intervention.
  • Laws aim to resolve conflicts, maintain order, and provide a sense of quality/fairness.
  • Laws address values, interactions, patterns, and ideologies.
  • Sociology and law examines norms, social controls, human rights, and power structures.
  • Crime involves codified behavior requiring social control.
  • Murder, assault, and theft are examples of crimes.
  • Not all acts of deviance are considered criminal.
  • Deviance includes acts like smoking during pregnancy, relationships between colleagues with age gaps, and possession of weapons.

Defining Deviance

  • Howard Becker (1966) argued the act itself isn't deviant, but societal reaction to it makes it deviant.
  • Certain individuals, groups, or institutions (e.g., politicians, media, governments) define what is deviant.

Explaining Crime Causation

  • Theories of crime causation examine factors influencing criminal behavior, attributing it to factors like supernatural forces, social interactions, or individual differences.
  • Classical theories focus on free will and rational choice, suggesting criminals weigh the potential gains and losses of their actions, and crime results from conscious decisions.
  • Biological theories attribute criminality to physiological factors, innate predispositions, or genetic influences, but are considered flawed and largely discredited.
  • Sociological theories analyze crime from macro perspectives, focusing on group behaviors and social structures as causes of crime, including issues such as social disorganization, labeling, and conflict.

Types of Crime

  • Street crime: more likely to go undetected, affect a larger population, and have significant social impact, receiving less harsh sanctions in comparison.
  • "Suit crime" or white-collar crime: more likely to go unnoticed and affect a greater number of people, with greater economic and social impact and less harsh sanctions.

Key Theories of Crime

  • Social Disorganization Theory explores how neighborhood characteristics contribute to crime rates.
  • Social Process Theory examines how socialization and interactions shape criminal behavior.
  • Labeling Theory focuses on how societal reactions to deviance influence subsequent behavior.
  • Conflict Theory examines how the political and economic systems influence the administration of justice.

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Crime and Deviance Soc 101 PDF

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