SOC 225 Chapter 6 Cultural Deviance

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Questions and Answers

What is Canada's definition of a gang?

A group composed of three or more persons that has as one of its main purposes or main activities the facilitation or commission of one or more serious offences.

What are contemporary gangs?

Gangs that are less common in Canada than in the U.S., with connections to American gangs, influenced by media, and show regional differences.

What are the general ideas of gangs in Canada?

In 2002, Canada had an estimated 434 youth gangs with about 7,071 members, with regional variations in gang activity and demographics.

What are female delinquent subcultures?

Female gangs may suffer from marginalization and exploitation, often serving roles as drug runners or sexual property within mixed-gender gangs. Signup and view all the answers

What is middle-class delinquency?

Criminal behavior exhibited by affluent youth, including membership in gangs categorized as street gangs or hate gangs. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Adam Ellis?

A criminologist with firsthand experience in gangs, advocating for systemic change to address the root causes of gang involvement. Signup and view all the answers

What is the summary of chapter 6?

Society consists of various subcultures, and gang influence can vary by region, impacted by notions of masculinity and femininity in gang dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

What is described about the drug ring in the context provided?

The drug ring operates like a business, focused on maximizing profit and often sees prisons as a school for learning crime. Signup and view all the answers

What is discussed regarding media's role and drug usage?

Media sensationalizes gangster life, with more drug business occurring online than on the street. Signup and view all the answers

What are Cultural Deviance Theories?

Attribute crime to a set of values that exist in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Signup and view all the answers

What is Sutherland's Differential Association Theory?

Crime is learned through social interaction. Signup and view all the answers

What are the policy implications of Differential Association Theory?

Big brother, big sister program, need better representatives. Signup and view all the answers

What is Cultural Transmission in Sutherland's Differential Association Theory?

The process whereby values, beliefs, and behaviors are passed from generation to generation through socialization. Signup and view all the answers

Sutherland's Nine propositions state that criminal behavior is _____.

learned Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of Sutherland's Nine Propositions?

Criminal behavior occurs in solitude. Signup and view all the answers

What are the critiques of Sutherland's Theory?

Does not explain all types of crime and does not account for non-social variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is Sellin's Culture Conflict Theory?

Focuses on the source of criminal norms and attitudes that regulate daily life. Signup and view all the answers

What are Conduct Norms?

Norms that regulate our daily lives. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Conduct Norms?

To define appropriate or normal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

There are _____ types of conflict according to Sellin's Culture Conflict Theory.

two Signup and view all the answers

What are Subcultural Theories?

Subdivisions within the dominant culture that have their own norms, beliefs, and values. Signup and view all the answers

What is Wolfgang and Ferracuti's Subculture of Violence?

The value systems of some subcultures demand the use of violence in certain social situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Blue Code: Police Subculture?

An unwritten rule among police officers to remain silent about fellow officers' wrongdoing. Signup and view all the answers

What is Hegemonic Masculinity?

A cultural ideal of manliness that values dominance, control, and independence. Signup and view all the answers

What are Miller's Focal Concerns?

Trouble, toughness, smartness, excitement, luck, and autonomy. Signup and view all the answers

What are some critiques of Miller's Theory?

Assumption that lower-class lifestyle is focused on illegal activity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cultural Deviance Theories

Attribute crime to values found in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Recognizes different norms between lower-class individuals and middle-class society.
Deviance is behavior defined by social groups as violating their norms; not inherently negative, just distinct.
Major theories include Differential Association Theory and Culture Conflict Theory.

Sutherland's Differential Association Theory

Crime is learned through social interactions and socialization.
Exposure to criminal values can increase the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior.
The ratio of definitions favorable to law violations versus those unfavorable influences criminal behavior.

Policy Implications of Differential Association Theory

Suggests programs like big brother/sister initiatives and court diversion programs could help divert youth from crime.
Emphasizes the need for community engagement and support services.

Cultural Transmission

Describes the generational transfer of values, beliefs, and behaviors through socialization.

Sutherland's Nine Propositions

Criminal behavior is learned through interaction and communication.
Learning occurs significantly within intimate groups like family and friends.
Includes both techniques of crime and associated motivations.
The learning process is similar to acquiring any other behavior and is influenced by frequency, duration, priority, and intensity of associations.
Non-criminal behavior can stem from similar needs and values as criminal acts.

Critiques of Sutherland's Theory

Fails to explain all crime types, particularly crimes of passion or proactive crimes.
Prolonged exposure to crime does not always lead to becoming a criminal.
Ignores non-social factors like socioeconomic status and how criminal patterns initially arise.

Sellin's Culture Conflict Theory

Focuses on the norms and attitudes that generate criminal behavior, termed conduct norms.
Conduct norms govern appropriate versus inappropriate behaviors and differ across cultural groups.

Types of Conflict in Culture Conflict Theory

Primary Conflict: Clash between the norms of two cultures, often occurring at cultural boundaries.
Secondary Conflict: Emerges within a single culture evolving into distinct groups with differing norms.

Subcultural Theories

Subcultures consist of groups within the dominant culture with unique values and norms, often arising among marginalized communities.
Delinquent subcultures develop as responses to issues specific to those communities.

Gang Aftermath Insights

Leaving gang life is fraught with challenges; many gang members come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Gangs offer a sense of power and solidarity but require strict adherence to their codes.
Female gang members often face objectification and strict roles.
Gang culture fosters chronic vigilance and can lead to identity loss.

Wolfgang and Ferracuti's Subculture of Violence

Some subcultures propagate violence as a normative response to conflict.
Violence is prevalent in daily life and can be perceived as a viable solution in certain situations.
This subculture reflects the values of lower-class communities and is sustained across generations.

The Blue Code: Police Subculture

"Blue Wall of Silence" prevents police officers from exposing misconduct among peers.
This subculture encompasses norms promoting loyalty, which can lead to harmful practices like corruption.

Hegemonic Masculinity

Defined as a cultural standard of manliness emphasizing dominance and control, often resulting in violent behavior.

Miller's Theory of Focal Concerns

Youth delinquency arises not from rejecting middle-class values but from unique lower-class cultural values.
Focus on six concerns: trouble, toughness, smartness, excitement, luck, and autonomy impacts delinquent behavior.

Critiques of Miller's Theory

Critics argue that lower-class individuals often conform to social norms, contradicting Miller's views on criminality.

Canada's Definition of a Gang

Bill C-24 defines a gang as organized groups of three or more involved in serious offenses for material gain.

Contemporary Gangs in Canada

Gangs are less prevalent than in the U.S. but vary regionally, influenced by American media.

General Idea of Gangs in Canada

Estimated in 2002 there were 434 youth gangs with over 7,000 members, with no official gang census.
Edmonton had the highest rate of gang-related homicides in 2018.

Female Delinquent Subcultures

Women's gang involvement is often linked to economic disadvantage and histories of abuse, participating in various criminal activities.### Hegemonic Masculinity and Female Gang Involvement
Hegemonic masculinity influences female roles in gangs, leading to added pressures regarding sexual activity and multiple partners.
Female gangs in the U.S. often affiliate with male gangs; they provide support to male members referred to as "homeboys."
Initiation for females may involve violent rituals ("jump-in, jump-out") or sexual exploitation ("sex-in, sex-out").
Women generally face more challenges in leaving gangs, often due to lack of alternatives and desire for familial bonds.

Roles of Women in Gangs

Interviews reveal that women primarily serve as sexual property and drug runners within gangs.
Male ex-gang members liken women in gangs to "pin cushions," underscoring their objectification.
A police gang unit officer notes that women are often viewed as "nominee" members, lacking full gang status while facilitating criminal activities.

Exploitation and Abuse of Women in Gangs

Women often fill lower-status roles, being used as "bait" for robberies or to lure rivals for assault.
Canadian research shows three types of gangs concerning female involvement: those that exploit girls, those involving non-sexual roles, and girl-only gangs — the latter being less prevalent in Canada.
Indigenous women's involvement in gangs often leads to marginalization and sexual exploitation, confirmed by testimonies from former gang members.

Gendered Nature of Gang Violence

Female gang members face expectations to comply with sexual demands and often suffer violence if they resist.
The "gang bang" ritual exemplifies the systemic violence against women, conditioning them to accept forced sexual situations.
Limited research highlights the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse faced by female gang members in Canada, reinforcing their subordinate role.

Middle-Class Delinquency and Gang Dynamics

Gangs are not solely associated with low-income neighborhoods; affluent youth also participate, engaging in various criminal activities for profit and social status.
Street gangs use symbols like dress codes, hand signals, and graffiti to mark their presence and assert territory.
Hate gangs focus on targeting specific racial/ethnic groups, justifying violence based on ideological beliefs.

Adam Ellis and Systemic Change

Adam Ellis, a criminologist with personal gang experience, emphasizes the need to address systemic issues such as poverty and discrimination to reduce gang violence.
Current interventions like after-school programs may not tackle root causes, allowing the cycle of gang involvement to continue.
Ellis compares trauma experiences of former gang members with combat veterans, advocating for long-term solutions addressing inequality and marginalization.

Summary of Chapter 6: Gangs and Subcultures

Society is composed of diverse groups with varying moral standards that lead to the formation of subcultures, particularly in isolated communities.
The subculture of violence thesis posits that some groups normalize violence as a core value.
Gender norms shape the dynamics within gangs, dictating the treatment of women and influencing the creation of female gangs as a reaction to male dominance.
Regional patterns in Canada reveal different gang types influenced by local values, with middle-class youth also engaging in delinquency to fulfill unmet needs.

The Business of Drug Rings

Drug operations function as capitalist enterprises, focusing on maximizing profits through clever, expansive strategies.
Gang practices often disregard the welfare of their communities, prioritizing financial gain.
Prisons are viewed not as deterrents but as training grounds for continued criminal activity.

Media Portrayal of Gangster Life

Media sensationalizes drug-related activities, affecting public perception and engagement.
The growing online drug trade reflects a shift from traditional street interactions to digital marketplaces, generating more business away from physical confrontations.

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Description

This flashcard quiz focuses on Cultural Deviance Theories as described in SOC 225 Chapter 6. It explores how crime is attributed to the conflicting values of disadvantaged neighborhoods compared to middle-class norms. Test your understanding of subcultures and the implications of these theories.