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Chapter 7: Deviance and Crime |
Chapter seven focuses on the nature of deviance. Deviant behavior
is largely socially defined—it exists only in relation
to the prevailing norms in a given society. While deviant behavior
often seems to create problems in a society, sociologist Émile
Durkheim argued that it also serves several positive social
functions. To try to predict who will behave deviantly and who
will not, sociologists study four main factors: a person's nature,
the socialization he or she has experienced, aspects of social
structure that strain certain individuals, and insufficient
social control that affects certain people.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation divides crimes into two
major categories: crimes that cause serious harm to people
or property (murder, rape, assault, burglary, theft and arson),
crimes that are less serious (prostitution, drug abuse, illegal
weapons possession, sex offenses, gambling, vandalism, and
receiving stolen property). The criminal justice system in
America does not always function perfectly. At least one sociologist,
Elliott Currie, believes that the only way to reduce crime
is to attack its root causes—unemployment, social and
economic inequality, and family breakdown.
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