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Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
Common Sense View
This view stresses that deviants are
very different from the rest of us.
Deviants are bad, mad or both - serial
killers like Fred and Rosemary West
are insane and deserve punishment
Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
Biological Explanations Of Deviance
Lombroso 1836-1909
an Italian army doctor
found clear physical differences in criminals
large skulls, extra toes, fingers and nipples!
Primitive throwbacks
Seen as rather crude and dated now
Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
Psychological Explanations Of Deviance
• It is impossible to do justice to
psychological approaches here but in
general they tend to emphasise the
different mental characteristics of
deviants. They look at such things as
levels of intelligence and personalities
Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
Psychotics
Commit serious offences - e.g. murder
without awareness that it is wrong
Psychopaths
More dangerous and harder to catch
no conscience and will lie and blame others
Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
Sociologists criticise such approaches
for ignoring the social context which
locates deviance
The Problem Of Order
• Jock Young (1988) says that biological
approaches have 'medicalised' crime prevention the 'chemical straight jacket' of tranquillizing
drugs has helped control prisoners
• And Young points out the fact that more
'counselling' in an attempt to correct bad
behaviour reflects the success of psychological
approaches at the expense of social ones such as
poverty and deprivation
Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
• Sociological explanations focus on the 'social'
aspects of deviance.
• However, there is an appreciation that individuals
can behave in different ways even when faced
with similar circumstances.
• E.g. there is a correlation between unemployment
and crime - however not all unemployed people
break the law.
Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
Functionalism
1. Deviance is functionally necessary - it reinforces ideas
about right and wrong
Durkheim saw it as a measuring stick
Sets the boundaries of acceptable/unacceptable behaviour
Wrong doers are punished
If there is too much crime then society breaks down ‘anomie’
The New Right are concerned with society slipping into
such a state
Some deviance is good - change only occurs when some
individuals are prepared to go against the norm
Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
Functionalism
2. Deviance provides work
Crime prevention is multi million £ industry
Employs Police, Probation Officers, Judges etc.
Also burglar alarms, car security etc. etc.
Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
• Some crimes surely do not have a positive
function - e.g. Dunblane.
• Such horrific crimes could be said to be
socially destructive.
• However, others argue that the
aftermath of such events, public grieving,
church services, collecting money for
victims families etc. do show the power of
the collective sentiments