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SOC1023G Social Problems:
Unit 12
Problems of Violating Social
Norms: Crime and Violence
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
1
Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime
and Violence
References
Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C.
(1997). Understanding social problems.
Cincinnati, OH: Wadsworth.
Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C.
(2000). Understanding social problems
(2nd ed.). Cincinnati, OH: Wadsworth.
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
2
Devotions
Each of you should look not only to your own
interests, but also to the interest of others.
Philippians 2:4 (NIV)
“. . .You shall have the same law for the foreigner
as for the home-born citizen, for I am Jehovah
your God.”
God is speaking, Leviticus 24:22 (The Living Bible)
A just king gives stability to his nation, but one
who demands bribes destroys it.
Proverbs 29:4 (The Living Bible)
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime
and Violence
According to the general U.S.
population, CRIME is the worse
problem facing the country
today.
The majority of the U.S.
population are “truly desperate”
about PERSONAL SAFETY.
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Structural-Functionalist Perspective (Order
Paradigm)
According to Durkheim and other structuralfunctionalists, crime is functional for
society. One of the functions of crime and
other deviant behavior is that it
strengthens group cohesion:
The deviant individual violates rules of conduct
which the rest of the community holds in high
respect; and when these people come together to
express their outrage over the offense . . . they
develop a tighter bond of solidarity than existed
earlier.
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
5
Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Structural-Functionalist Perspective (Order
Paradigm)
There are some studies that indicate
that high crime rates produce social
isolation instead of social cohesion -in my opinion Durkheim would have
responded by saying crime
contributes to social cohesion when
the accused are given speedy trials
and the guilty are given swift and
appropriate punishment.
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Structural-Functionalist Perspective (Order
Paradigm)
Strain theory (Robert Merton)
Built on Durkheim’s concept of anomie or
normlessness
When legitimate means (for example, a job)
of acquiring culturally defined goals (for
example, money) are limited by the structure
of society, the resulting strain may lead to
crime
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
7
Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Structural-Functionalist Perspective (Order
Paradigm)
Merton’s Five Types of Adaptation
Culturally Defined
Goals
1. Conformity
2. Innovation
3. Ritualism
4. Retreatism
5. Rebellion
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
Structurally Defined
Means
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Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Structural-Functionalist Perspective (Order
Paradigm)
Subculture theories
Certain groups or subcultures in society have values
and attitudes that are conducive to crime and
violence
Elijah Anderson explains that many inner-city AfricanAmerican youth live by a survival code on the streets
that emphasizes gaining the respect of others
through violence--the tougher you are and the more
others fear you, the more respect you have in the
community
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
9
Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Structural-Functionalist Perspective (Order
Paradigm)
Control theory (Hirschi)
Built on Durkheim’s concept of social
solidarity--it is what keeps all members of
high risk groups from turning to crime
Built on four elements of social bonding
Attachment to significant others
Commitment to conventional goals
Involvement in conventional activities
Belief in the moral standards of society
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
10
Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
(Pluralist Paradigm)
Labeling theory (Howard Becker)
Social groups create deviance by making rules whose
infractions constitute deviance, and by applying those
rules to particular people and labeling them as
outsiders. From this point of view, deviance is not a
quality of the act a person commits, but rather a
consequence of the application by others of rules and
sanctions to an “offender.” The deviant is one to
whom the label has successfully been applied;
deviant behavior is behavior that people so label.
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
(Pluralist Paradigm)
Primary deviance
Deviant behavior committed before a person is
caught and labeled as an offender
Secondary deviance
Deviance that results from being caught and
labeled
• Stigmatized as a criminal
• Deviant label dominates social identity of individual
• Primary basis on which the person is defined by others
(master status)
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
(Pluralist Paradigm)
Differential Association theory (Edwin
Sutherland)
Through interactions with others, individuals learn
the values and attitudes associated with crime as well
as the techniques and motivations for criminal
behavior
Children who see their parents benefit from crime, or
who live in high crime neighborhoods where success
is associated with illegal behavior, are more likely to
engage in criminal behavior
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
13
Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
(Pluralist Paradigm)
Do your parents regularly
exceed the interstate speed
limit by 10 + miles per hour?
Do you imitate the same
behavior on a regular basis?
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Conflict Perspective (Conflict Paradigm)
Those in power define what is criminal
and what is not, and these
definitions reflect the interests of the
ruling class. Laws against vagrancy,
for example, penalize individuals
who do not contribute to the
capitalist system of work and
consumerism.
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Conflict Perspective (Conflict Paradigm)
Conflict theorists argue that law
enforcement is applied
differentially, penalizing those
without power and benefiting
those with power. For example,
female prostitutes are more
likely to be arrested than are the
men who seek their services.
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Unit 12:
Problems of Violating Social Norms: Crime and
Violence: Conflict Perspective (Conflict Paradigm)
“There are two criminal justice
systems in this country. There is
a whole different system for
poor people. It’s the same
courthouse--it’s not separate-but it’s not equal.”
Paul Petterson
Public defender
Wednesday, May 24,
2017
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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