SOCI 1P80 Lecture Notes - Social Protection, Juvenile Delinquency, Homicide

• School: Brock University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCI 1P80
• Professor: Professor Cottrel

Document Summary

Deviance refers to behavior or characteristics that violate significant social norms and expectations and are negatively valued by large numbers of people as a result. Deviants are those who violate these shared expectations: conformity refers to behavior that is universally accepted, approved, or expected within society. Norms, which guide action and behavior, help to ensure conformity. Social controls: social controls are mechanisms for maintaining social norms. They may be either: informal (internal) social controls include significant others and relies on successful socialization. These are generally effective and inexpensive: formal (external) social controls include structures or institutions that enforce norms or laws of society (e. g. , police and courts). Four justifications of criminal punishment: retribution imposes a penalty on the offender. Retribution is based on the premise that the punishment should fit the crime: deterrence seeks to reduce criminal activity by instilling a fear of punishment.