Topic 2 Deviant

• Genetic theories and research projects dealing with crime

  Can be found mainly in Italy in the 19th century, in German history until 1945, but occasionally in the present day
• Cesare Lombroso


  The founder and main representative of the anthropological theory of crime
• Lombroso published the results of his investigations in his main work "L'Uomo Delinquente" (The Criminal Man), first published in 1876
• Certain body characteristics and skull shapes are associated with certain types of criminals and crimes
• Biological Explanations


  Antisocial behavior to specific physical anomalies, body chemistry compositions or heredity characteristics
• Rowe (1994)


  Genetic and environments influences on behaviors
• Testosterone


  Male sex hormone
• High blood levels of testosterone

  Increased male aggressiveness
• High testosterone levels


  Combined with low brain levels of serotonin
• Changes in testosterone levels in women


  May also be linked to personality changes
• Androgen-related male traits


  • Aggressive behavior, sensation seeking, impulsivity, dominance, and reduced verbal skills
• Hormonal change


  Also related to mood and behavior
• Adolescence experience more intense mood swings, anxiety, and restlessness then their elders, explaining in part the high violence rates found among teenage males
• Women with severe premenstrual syndrome show a higher incidence of personality disorders and most people with premenstrual syndrome are likely to get dramatic personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality, anxiety, and panic
• Biological Theories of Crime - Diet


  Improper diet can cause chemical and mineral imbalance and can lead to cognitive and learning deficits and problems
• Research shows that undersupply of chemicals (sodium, mercury, potassium, calcium, amino acid, and iron) can lead to depression, hyperactivity, cognitive problems, memory lose or abnormal sexual activity
• People whose diet lack of polyunsaturated fats, minerals, vitamins and too much saturated fats seem to be at higher risk of developing psychological disturbance, such as schizophrenia, that directly related to anti social behavior
• Kids with faulty diet tend to be starved for attention that may led to school failure
• Psychiatric Explanation


  Deviants as patients with psychological illnesses, e.g. personal disorganizations of a "maladjusted" personality - emotional insecurity, immaturity, feelings of inadequacy, inability to display affection and aggression
• Psychoanalytic Model


  Psychiatric methods-individual unconscious mind. Id, Ego and Superego - normal personality develops through a series of stages
• Psychological


  Many tests to develop various tests to identify personality traits that distinguish deviants from non deviants
• Example of Deviant Test


  • Bennet & Robinson.(2000). Development of a measure of workplace deviance. PubMed
• Example of Deviant Test

  • Dullas Angelo Reyes, Yncierto Kristine Danielle, Labiano Mariel A., Marcelo Jerome C.Front. Psychol., 05 May 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645126
• Eysenck


  Claims criminal behavior results from a combination environmental and inherited personality traits, e.g. Poverty, poor education, unemployment - Psychopath or psychopathic personality
• Rational Choice Theories


  Developed by Cesare Beccaria in the 18th century. The key elements are individual preferences, beliefs, and constraints
• The deviant might decide over a long period of time or at the moment to engage in particular activity depending on the circumstances
• Contemporary rational choice theories begin to explain crime with an assumption that offenders seek to benefit themselves by their criminal behavior
• A good example of rational choice theory

  • White-collar crime - An investment banker decides to skim money from his clients' accounts and hides the loss, and then personally takes the money to fund his/her lavish lifestyle
• Social Structure Theory


  Social structure is created by the distribution of wealth, power and prestige. Social classes are segments of the population with similar portions of material goods, sharing attitudes, values, norms and lifestyle
• About 20% of the U.S. population lives in poverty. Problems include inadequate housing and health care, disrupted family life, unemployment, lowered motivation, and despair
• Social Structure Theory


  The core idea that elements in society's structure promote deviance by making deviant behavior a viable adaptation to living in the society
• Anomie / Strain Theory


  Began with Emile Durkheim - 19th century concept of anomie, the lack of normal ethical or social standards. Anomie occurs during and follows periods of drastic and rapid changes to the social, economic, or political structures of society
• Anomie / Strain Theory


  Sociologist Robert Merton - Anomie is the social conditions that results from emphasizing success goals much more strongly that the acceptable means by which people might achieve them
• Merton's 5 Modes of Adaption

  • Conformity
  • Ritualism
  • Innovation
  • Retreatism
  • Rebellion
• Anomie theory explains delinquency as a result of the disparity between goals that society leads lower-class youth want to and their available opportunities
• Sociologists of the 20th century are influenced by Durkheim and argued that crime is symptomatic of a problem, of "strains" in a society, particularly where there is a lack of consensus
• Merton thought that the idea of an equal chance at the American Dream is a myth--some are far more advantaged than others
• Cohen and Strain


  When lower class boys are frustrated by the failure to achieve middle class success, they join gangs. Poor children, upon entry to school, are judged against the standards of middle class teachers and found lacking, leading to frustration
• Differential Opportunity Theory


  Developed by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin. Agrees with Merton that not everyone has equal access to social rewards, producing strain. However, suggests there is also an "illegitimate" opportunity structure with differential opportunities there as well. Failure to succeed in either the legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structure results in "double failure"