SOC100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Labeling Theory, Erving Goffman, Differential Association
7 Mar 2016
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Social control: actions intended to punish or correct deviance. Deviance has variable definitions, as a behavior or characteristic that is; statistically rare, causes or has the potential to cause harm, or that is considered morally wrong. The term deviant is essentially a person, action, or quality that violates social norms. Deviance is a social construct, and is influenced by the social structure of power. High-consensus deviance is what the majority agrees is deviant, like theft, and low-consensus deviance is what only a minority actually believes to be genuinely deviant, like smoking pot. The law is therefore a tool for those powerful enough to influence laws to further their own interests and oppress the relatively powerless. The interactionist perspective states that legislation arises as a result of negotiations between powerful groups and lobbyist groups. Crimes are ranked according to their perceived seriousness. The crime rate is the number of reported crimes divided by the population.
