SYG 2000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Motor Vehicle Theft, Differential Association, Labeling Theory
Document Summary
Deviance- behavior that is recognized as violating expected rules and norms: occurs in a social context, is not just individ. Behavior: culturally relative, the social rules are created or constructed; not just morally decided, the audience decides what is defined as deviant. Functionalists focus on how the behavior and the audience"s reactions contribute to the stability of society: eve(cid:374) dysfunctional behaviors such as prostitution & arson reinforce stability. Robert merton traces the origins of deviance to the tensions caused by the gap between cultural goals and the means people have available to achieve those goals. The conflict perspective argues that the economic structure of capitalism produces deviance and crime: elite deviance- the wrongdoing of wealthy and powerful individuals and organizations (white collar crime ) Differential association theory: sutherland believed people become criminals when they are more strongly socialized to break the law than to obey it.
