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Essential Question  In what ways does crime and deviance mold culture?

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Presentation on theme: "Essential Question  In what ways does crime and deviance mold culture?"— Presentation transcript:

1 Essential Question  In what ways does crime and deviance mold culture?

2 Crime and Deviance from the Symbolic Interactionist, Functionalist, and Conflict perspectives of sociology

3 Symbolic Interactionist  Differential Association Theory  Control Theory  Labeling Theory

4 Differential Association (SI)  Sutherland proclaims that deviation is learned through the different groups that we associate with…  Who we associate with gives us mixed messages about conformity and the end result may tilt us in the direction of deviation

5 Control Theory (SI)  Inner controls (morality) and Outer controls (people) influence us not to deviate  Attachments, Commitments, Involvements, and Beliefs (SELF-CONTROL) fosters strong inner controls  Continued interactions with various symbols that keep one from deviating should start early in childhood

6 Scenario for Control Theory  There is pressure to take drugs at a party  Most people at the party are taking drugs, and simple curiosity pushes you into the mind frame to participate as well  Inner conscience and parental influence and teacher influence (outer) alert you to danger  What to do? Follow the “pushes” or your inner and outer controls?

7 Labeling Theory (SI)  Focus on significance of labels that we are given which influence our self- concept….which, in turn, act as a diversion to deviance or sends us along a path of deviance  Most people do resist these labels even while being deviants (see techniques of neutralization handout)

8 The Functionalist Perspective - Durkheim states that crime contributes to the maintenance of social order  Deviance performs 4 functions –Clarifies Moral Boundaries –Affirms Norms –Promotes social unity –Promotes social change

9  One of the most fundamental social values is to train the most talented people to take over jobs in society, whether they are wealthy or impoverished, in order to keep up with modern society (Cloward and Ohlin, 1960)  Society therefore tries to motivate everyone to succeed therefore creating competition  Discontent is obtained (or a dissatisfaction of one’s self) creating the will to “better” himself……….this is called STRAIN (F)

10 As a result of this strain….  Goals or high status and wealth are desired  BUT…society withholds institutionalized means  Therefore STRAIN (F) or frustration turns into deviance

11 ? What happens when people experience unequal access to the institutionalized means necessary to succeed?

12 It begins with the myth… ALL AMERICANS CAN AFFORD MANY OF SOCIETY’S GOODS AND SERVICES (the American Dream)

13  Functionalists point out the fact that we socialize the poor into wanting to own things (through the media primarily) showing the middle class and others enjoying many luxuries  The poor begin their education but drop out when the middle class system does not match their cultural background

14 Therefore….  Pimping, drug dealing, gambling, even white collar crime ( DID YOU KNOW>>>>that white collar crime costs more (in dollars) than street crime?) or other illegitimate opportunities are taken to deal with the STRAIN, and/or achieve set goals

15 Merton’s Strain Theory (refer to the handout)  ANOMIE – a feeling of normlessness is felt by those that experiencing strain  Since working and getting and education do not get them close to pursuing the American Dream they cannot identify with the norms  Therefore, society’s norms seem illegitimate

16 Roger and Me and Social Strain Movie and Assessment paper

17 The Conflict Perspective and Deviance

18  Deviance is the struggle between those that own the means of production and those that do not  Main Social Conflict – social inequality and power

19 The power elite protects its power by passing laws that ensures that anyone that threatens the power goes to prison

20 Stratification within U.S. Society  Capitalists: buy labor and control the workers  Working Class: those who sell their labor  Marginal Working Class: those who have few skills and are subject to layoffs, have low pay for the labor they sell, are part-time or seasonal  This class supplies our prison system  Desperation leads to street crime, which leads to severe punishment because that crime comes in conflict with social order

21 Statistics 

22 Statistics 

23  Project begins that will help us answer our essential question

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