SOCA02H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: White-Collar Crime, Social Stigma, Predatory Lending
Document Summary
Deviance: deviance is defined in accordance to norms. Thus, no act is inherently deviant or normal. Deviance involves breaking a norm and evoking a negative reaction from others (p. 167) Crime is deviance that breaks a law (p. 167). A law is a norm stipulated and enforced by government bodies (p. 167) Laws are reactionary, what is legal today may become illegal tomorrow and vice versa. Punishment and sanctions: there are gradations of grievances. It can include a mandated prison sentence or community service. Types of deviance and crime vary in terms of the severity of the social responseperceived harmfulness [and] degree of public agreement (p. 168, emphasis in original) Four types of deviance and crimes: social diversions, social deviation. Minor acts of deviance including being perceived as out of the norm or weird. responses can include amusement or disdain. Non-criminal departures from norms that are nonetheless subject to official control.
