SOC 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Differential Association, Labeling Theory, Attachment Theory

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1100
• Professor: Deanna Behnke- Cook

Document Summary

Crime: the violation of a society"s formally enacted criminal law. Social control: attempts by society to regulate people"s thought and behaviour. Criminal justice system: a formal response by police, courts, and prison officials to alleged violations of the law. Early studies showed relationship of criminal behaviour with head shape (lombroso) and body size (sheldon), but they were faulty. Now studies show people"s overall genetic composition in combination with social influences account for variation in criminality. Containment theory: individual factors like the ability to cope with frustration and identifying positively with cultural norms and values are related to fewer problems with police. Critical review: the most serious crimes are committed by those whose psychological profiles are normal. Deviance varies according to cultural norms across canada and internationally. People become deviant as others define them that way. Both norms and the way people define rule breaking involve social power.