Deviance and Social Norms Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is deviance?

Behavior that departs from societal or group norms.

What is negative deviance?

Involves behavior that under-conforms to accepted norms.

What is positive deviance?

Involves behavior that over-conforms to social expectations.

Who is considered a deviant?

A person who breaks significant societal or group norms. Signup and view all the answers

What is social control?

Ways to encourage conformity to society's norms. Signup and view all the answers

What are social sanctions?

Rewards or punishments that encourage conformity to social norms. Signup and view all the answers

What does anomie refer to?

A social condition in which norms are weak, conflicting, or absent. Signup and view all the answers

What is strain theory?

Theory that deviance is more likely to occur when a gap exists between cultural goals and the ability to achieve these goals by legitimate means. Signup and view all the answers

What is control theory?

Theory that compliance with social norms requires strong bonds between individuals and society. Signup and view all the answers

What does differential association theory state?

Individuals learn deviance in proportion to the number of deviant acts they are exposed to. Signup and view all the answers

What is labeling theory?

Theory that society creates deviance by identifying particular members as deviant. Signup and view all the answers

What is primary deviance?

Deviance involving occasional breaking of norms that is not a part of a person's lifestyle or self-concept. Signup and view all the answers

What is secondary deviance?

Deviance in which an individual's life and identity are organized around breaking society's norms. Signup and view all the answers

What is stigma?

An undesirable trait or label that is used to characterize an individual. Signup and view all the answers

What is victim discounting?

Process of reducing the seriousness of the crimes that injure people of lower status. Signup and view all the answers

What is white-collar crime?

Job-related crimes committed by high-status individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes a crime?

Acts committed in violation of the law. Signup and view all the answers

What is the criminal justice system?

System comprising institutions and processes responsible for enforcing criminal statutes. Signup and view all the answers

What is deterrence?

Discouraging criminal acts by threatening punishment. Signup and view all the answers

What does retribution mean?

Punishment intended to make criminals pay compensation for their acts. Signup and view all the answers

What is incarceration?

A method of protecting society from criminals by keeping them in prisons. Signup and view all the answers

What is rehabilitation?

Process of changing or reforming a criminal through socialization. Signup and view all the answers

What is recidivism?

A repetition of or return to criminal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is internal control?

Lies within the individual, developed during socialization, happens when a person does something because it's the right thing to do. Signup and view all the answers

What is external control?

Based on social sanctions, rewards and punishments, formal and informal sanctions. Signup and view all the answers

What are crimes of the street?

Crimes committed by lower-class people, usually more publicized. Signup and view all the answers

What are crimes of the suites?

Crimes committed by high-class people (like white-collar crimes), usually less publicized. Signup and view all the answers

What is innovation in the context of deviance?

Accepts the goals of success but uses illegal means to achieve it. Signup and view all the answers

What is ritualism?

An individual rejects a goal of success but continues to use legitimate means. Signup and view all the answers

What is retreatism?

Both goals and means are rejected. Signup and view all the answers

What is rebellion?

People reject both success and legitimate means. Signup and view all the answers

What does conflict theory illustrate?

White-collar crime, the rich and powerful determine which acts are deviant and how to punish deviants. Signup and view all the answers

What is symbolic interactionism?

Labeling theory, people act the way they do because of how they were treated by members of the society. Signup and view all the answers

What does functionalism emphasize?

Anomie, people will find a way to success if they can't get there the normal way. Signup and view all the answers

What are uniform crime reports?

Measures the report in crime of only crimes that were reported to the police. Signup and view all the answers

What does the national crime victim survey find?

Finds out about unreported crimes by asking people if they've ever been a victim of a crime. Signup and view all the answers

What are the basic elements of social bonds?

Attachment, commitment, involvement, belief. Signup and view all the answers

How does industrial society defend itself against deviants?

Critics (those who challenge economic, political, and social bases), those who will not work, those who threaten private property, and those who show a lack of respect for authority are all considered deviants. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Deviance Concepts

Deviance: Behavior that deviates from societal or group norms.
Negative Deviance: Actions that fall short of accepted norms.
Positive Deviance: Actions that exceed social expectations.

Deviant: An individual who violates significant societal norms.
Social Control: Mechanisms to promote adherence to societal norms.
Social Sanctions: Mechanisms of reward or punishment to reinforce conformity.

Theoretical Frameworks

Anomie: A state where societal norms are weak or absent.
Strain Theory: Suggests deviance arises from gaps between cultural goals and the means to achieve them.
Control Theory: Proposes that strong social bonds are necessary for compliance with norms.
Differential Association Theory: Deviance is learned through exposure to deviant behavior.

Labeling and Identity

Labeling Theory: Society defines deviance by labeling certain individuals as deviant.
Primary Deviance: Occasional norm breaking not integrated into one's self-concept.
Secondary Deviance: Deviance becomes central to an individual’s identity.

Stigmas and Crime

Stigma: Negative labels that define and characterize individuals.
Victim Discounting: Minimizing the seriousness of crimes against lower-status individuals.
White-Collar Crime: Crimes committed by individuals of high status in their professional life.

Criminal Justice System

Crime: Acts that violate legal statutes.
Criminal Justice System: Institutions and processes that enforce laws and manage crime.
Deterrence: Strategy aimed at discouraging criminal acts through fear of punishment.
Retribution: Punishment aimed at making offenders compensate for their actions.

Correction and Recidivism

Incarceration: Keeping criminals in prison to protect society.
Rehabilitation: Process aimed at reforming offenders through socialization.
Recidivism: The tendency for former offenders to relapse into criminal behavior.

Control Mechanisms

Internal Control: Moral compass developed during socialization, leading to actions done for their inherent rightness.
External Control: Governs behavior through sanctions, rewards, and punishments.

Crime Types

Crimes of Street: Offenses typically committed by lower-class individuals, often highlighted in media.
Crimes of Suites: Offenses by higher-status individuals, like white-collar crimes, usually underreported.

Adaptive Strategies

Innovation: Accepts success goals while using illegal means to achieve them.
Ritualism: Disregards success goals but continues with legitimate actions.
Retreatism: Rejects both societal goals and means to achieve them.
Rebellion: Rejects both success and the legitimate methods of achievement.

Sociological Perspectives

Conflict Theory: Contends that powerful groups define deviance and establish penalties for it.
Symbolic Interactionism: Explores how societal treatment influences individual behavior.
Functionalism: Suggests that individuals will seek success through alternative means in the absence of traditional pathways.

Crime Measurement

Uniform Crime Reports: Data generated only from crimes reported to law enforcement.
National Crime Victim Survey: Collects data on unreported crimes through direct inquiries to individuals.

Basic Elements of Social Bonds: Includes attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief, which help regulate behavior within society.

Industrial Society and Deviance

Societal Defense Mechanisms: Industrial society identifies and discourages criticism, noncompliance, threats to property, and challenges to authority, labeling such behaviors as deviant.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts related to deviance, including definitions and types such as negative and positive deviance. Additionally, it explores various theoretical frameworks that explain deviant behavior and the role of social control. Test your understanding of how society labels deviance and the impact of social sanctions.