80 likes | 109 Vues
Explore the definition, nature, labeling, and social functions of deviant behavior, including its role in social change, with insights into crime types such as violent, property, victimless, white-collar, and organized crimes.
E N D
Definition • Individuals do not always internalize every norm of a society • There are always individuals who break rules of their society or group • Behavior that violates significant social norms is called deviance.
The Nature of Deviance • Violation of norms is often unavoidable • Not all norm violations are considered deviant acts • Deviant behavior varies from cultures, time periods, and societies: • Murder is illegal, but is judged differently if a police officer kills someone in the line of duty • Divorce is legal in the United States but prohibited in the Philippines • All businesses used to be closed on Sunday, but now it has become more acceptable for businesses to be open.
Labeling Deviance To be considered a deviant an individual must: • Be detected committing a deviant act (known to other people) • Be stigmatized by society *A stigma is a mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society
Stigma • A stigma is a mark of social disgrace that is used as a form of social control • EX: Having a criminal record labels you to the working world that you are a criminal • A stigma can also be a negative social reaction that resultsfrom being a social deviant • EX: labeling someone as “spoiled rotten” or with a bad reputation
5 Social Functions of Deviance • Clarifies Norms: Sets the boundaries of acceptable behaviors • Unifies Groups: Determines who is a conforming member of society and who is not • Diffuses Tension: Allows individuals to relieve tension related to their unhappiness with society • Promotes Social Change: When large numbers of people violate norms, it is an indication that something in society needs to be changed • Provides Jobs: Judges, lawyers, police officers, prison workers, crime reporters are all required because social deviance exists
Crime • Crime affects everyone’s lives, either directly or indirectly • A crime is an act that is labeled as such by those in authority, is prohibited by law, and is punishable by the government.
Types of Crimes • Violent Crimes: murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault • Crime Against Property: burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson • Victimless Crime: prostitution, illegal gambling, illegal drug use, vagrancy • White Collar Crime: fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement, price fixing • Organized Crime: Crime syndicate large-scale organizations that control business through violence (mafia)