Sociology: Deviance and Social Control

Deviant Behavior

• Deviant behavior is a violation of existing social norms that is closely related to a particular culture and depends on the times.
• Deviant behavior can be exhibited by a minority or majority, and it's not inherited from biological structures.

Causes of Deviance

• Emile Durkheim attributed deviance to the weakening of social norms, rejection of social norms, and forecast changes in social structure.
• Robert Merton believed that social control cannot control strong biological impulses, and social order is getting weak.

Deviation and Biological Inheritance

• It is not possible to inherit deviant behavior because norms, which are directly related to deviance, cannot be inherited.
• Scientists have not found any biological structures that influence the direction of social behavior.

Symbolic Interactionism and Labeling Theory

• Deviance and conformity result from how others respond to actions, rather than the actions themselves.
• Labeling theory suggests that deviance is defined by society, and who is branded as deviant, and what people decide to do about deviance.

Deviant Subcultures

• Young people cut off from legitimate opportunities often form subcultures that are viewed as deviant.
• Gang subcultures provide a sense of belonging and respect denied by the larger culture.

Crime

• Crime is the violation of a society's enacted criminal law, spanning a wide range from traffic violations to physical abuse and murder.
• Crimes can be categorized into Crimes Against the Person (Violent Crimes), Crimes Against Property (Property Crimes), and Victimless Crimes (Crimes without complaint).

Types of Crime

• Crimes Against the Person include murder, robbery, and physical assault.
• Crimes Against Property include burglary, car theft, and theft of money or property.
• Victimless crimes include violations of law with no obvious victims.

White-Collar Crime, Corporate Crime, and Organized Crime

• White-collar crimes are committed by people of high social position in the course of their occupations, using their powerful offices illegally.
• Corporate crime involves illegal actions of a corporation or people acting on its behalf.
• Organized crime involves business supplying illegal goods or services.

Crime in Global Perspective

• The rate of violent crime is higher in the US than in Europe.
• Countries with low crime rates include India and Japan.
• Cities with rapid population growth and poverty show the highest crime rates.

Punishment in Global Perspective

• Capital punishment is highest in China, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the USA.

Social Control

• Social control is an attempt by society to regulate people's thoughts and behavior, often through informal means.
• Formal social control involves the criminal justice system, including police, courts, and prison officials, in response to alleged violations of the law.

Types of Social Control

• Informal social control involves unwritten rules and regulations characterized by informal authority.
• Formal social control involves the criminal justice system.