Lesson 1.3: Crime, Deviance, Norms and Social Control

Introduction

Welcome to Lesson 1.3 of Foundation Criminology! In this lesson, we will explore the concepts of crime and deviance, and how they relate to social norms and social control. The aim is to understand how society defines behavior as acceptable or unacceptable and the repercussions that come from crossing those boundaries. By the end of this lesson, you, students, will be able to:

Recognize deviance as a departure from social norms, understanding the distinction and overlap between crime and deviance.
Explain norms, values, sanctions, and the concept of social order.
Differentiate between formal and informal social control and identify the agencies responsible for enforcing each.
Understand the relativity of deviance, where the same act may be deemed deviant in one context and accepted in another.
Discuss Emile Durkheim's perspective that crime is normal, universal, and even functional for society.

Understanding Deviance and Crime

What is Deviance?

Deviance refers to behaviors, beliefs, or conditions that violate social norms. These norms dictate what is considered acceptable behavior in society. For example, wearing pajamas to school might be seen as deviant because it strays from expected dress codes. Deviance can range from minor infractions, like chewing gum in class, to severe violations like theft or vandalism.

Crime vs. Deviance

Not all deviant acts are considered crimes. For instance, while being late to class is deviant in an educational setting, it is not against the law. Conversely, a crime is a behavior that violates laws established by the state and is punishable by penalties like fines or imprisonment. A useful distinction is:

Deviance: departure from social norms (e.g., skipping school)
Crime: violation of laws (e.g., shoplifting)

To summarize: While all crimes are considered deviant, not all deviant acts are crimes!

Social Norms and Social Order

Social norms are expectations that guide behavior in society. These norms can be classified into:

Folkways: informal norms or everyday customs (e.g., personal space).
Mores: norms of morality that dictate right and wrong (e.g., cheating).
Laws: formally sanctioned rules (e.g., laws against stealing).

Values underpin these norms and help to maintain social order, providing guidelines for our behavior. Sanctions are the rewards or penalties for conforming to or deviating from norms. For example, students who show respect often receive praise (positive sanction), while those who break school rules may face detention (negative sanction).

Formal and Informal Social Control

Formal Social Control

Formal social control refers to laws and regulations enforced by institutions such as the police, courts, and government agencies. For instance, if someone commits theft, they can be arrested and charged based on formal legal statutes about property rights.

Informal Social Control

Conversely, informal social control relies on social norms and expectations facilitated by individuals and communities. This can be seen in peer pressure among teenagers, where friends influence each other to conform to accepted behaviors.

Both forms of control are essential to maintaining social order and regulating deviance in society.

The Relativity of Deviance

Context Matters!

One critical concept in criminology is the relativity of deviance. An action perceived as deviant in one society may be acceptable in another. For example, in some cultures, tattoos might be revered as art, while in others, they could be viewed as deviating from respectable norms. Let's look at an example:

Context: In a professional work environment, casual attire might be seen as deviant, while it’s perfectly acceptable at casual social gatherings.

Understanding this concept is vital for appreciating the diverse perceptions of what constitutes deviant behavior.

Crime as Normal and Functional

Emile Durkheim's Perspective

Emile Durkheim, a founding figure in sociology, claimed that crime is a normal part of society. He believed that crime can serve several essential functions:

Clarifying norms: By observing criminal behavior, society can reaffirm its values and norms.
Promoting social cohesion: A collective reaction to crime can unite community members in shared disapproval.
Encouraging social change: Deviant behavior can lead to social reform, challenging outdated norms and paving the way for progress.

In essence, according to Durkheim, without crime, society could stagnate, as norms would rarely evolve.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we explored the pivotal concepts of crime, deviance, norms, and social control. Understanding these elements is crucial for delving deeper into criminology and will serve as a strong foundation for your further studies. Remember that deviance is not a fixed concept, and what may be deemed deviant can vary based on cultural and social context.

Study Notes

Deviance: behaviors that strays from accepted social norms.
Crime: actions against established laws punishable by the state.
Social norms: expectations guiding behaviors in society.
Types of norms: folkways, mores, and laws.
Formal vs. informal social control: institutions vs. social interactions.
Relativity of deviance: context influences what is considered deviant.
Durkheim's view: crime is normal and necessary for societal functions.