SOC 2700 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Feminist School Of Criminology, William Graham Sumner, Labeling Theory

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Stephanie Howells

Document Summary

Begins with the assumption that society is not held together by agreement and consensus but rather is a congeries of groups held together in a dynamic equilibrium or opposing group interests and efforts. Power is the principal determinant of the outcome of this conflict. Members of les powerful groups continue to act in accordance with their internal group norms, which means violating the law. Conflict theory offers both an explanation of law and criminal justice and an explanation of criminal and deviant behavior. Social control: consists of a normative system with rules about the way people should and should not behave and a system of formal and informal mechanisms. Informal social control: exists in the family, friends, churches, neighborhoods and other groups in the community. Formal social control: includes law and the criminal justice system in which the rules are officially promulgated and enforced by legally authorized agents.