Sociology - Deviance, Crime, and Social Control - Quick Guides | Sociology

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Study GuideSociology–Deviance, Crime, and Social Control1. Defining CrimeTo fully understanddeviance, we also need to talk aboutcrime.Acrimeis any act that violates awritten criminal law. In simple terms, if something is clearlyagainstthe law, it is a crime.Most crimes—such asrobbery, assault, battery, rape, murder, burglary, and embezzlement—arealso considereddeviantbecause society strongly disapproves of them. However, not all crimes areseen as deviant. For example, breaking a law that bans selling certain items on Sundays may beillegal, but many people do not view it as socially unacceptable.At the same time,not all deviant behavior is criminal. A person who hears voices that are notactually there is behaving in a way that is considered deviant, but they have not broken any law. Thisshows that crime and deviance overlap, but they are not the same thing.When crimes seriously disrupt society and interfere with everyday life, thecriminal justice systemsteps in. Its role is to punish crimes and help maintain social order.1.1 Limitations of Criminal StatisticsTo understand crime patterns, researchers often rely on official data. In the United States, theFBI’sUniform Crime Report (UCR)provides annual crime statistics. While this report is widely used, it hasseveral important limitations. These issues affect how accurate and useful the data really are.Here are some key problems to keep in mind:•Many crimes are never reported.A large number of crimes in the U.S. go unreported, which means official statistics cannot capturethe full picture of crime.•Victims may not cooperate with authorities.Some victims are afraid, embarrassed, or distrustful of the police, so they choose not to comeforward.•Complaints do not always become official reports.

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Study GuideEven when victims contact the police, their complaints may not be recorded in the Uniform CrimeReport.•Criminal statistics are often misunderstood.Many people struggle to interpret social science data correctly. A common mistake is assumingthat correlation proves cause and effect, which is not always true.•White-collar crime is underreported.Crimes committed by high-status individuals during business activities—such asembezzlement,bribery, price-fixing, insurance fraud, and Medicare theft—often do not appear in theUCR.•Statistics can be manipulated for political reasons.Some officials exaggerate or minimize crime numbers to serve their goals. For example, apolitician may claim crime is decreasing during an election campaign, while a social serviceagency may report higher crime rates to justify requests for funding.Because of these issues, criminal statistics should always be read carefully and critically.1.2 Types of CrimeCrimes come in many forms, just like the people who commit them. Despite this variety, most crimesfall intotwo main categories:•Crimes against people•Crimes against propertyThese categories help sociologists and criminal justice professionals organize and better understanddifferent kinds of criminal behavior.2. Crimes Against PeopleCrimes against peopleare offenses that directly harm another person. This category includesserious acts such asmurder, rape, assault, child abuse, and sexual harassment. These crimesare often violent and deeply personal.

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Study GuideIn the United States, violent crimes reported to the police occurabout once every 20 to 30 seconds.This means the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is, unfortunately, quite high. Understandingthese crimes helps us see why they are such an important social concern.2.1 Murder (Homicide)Murder, also calledhomicide, is one of the most feared crimes. In the U.S., it occurs to roughlyoneout of every 10,000 people.Many people imagine murder as random or committed by strangers, but research shows a differentpicture. Most murders happen duringeveryday activitiesand usually involvesome form of socialinteractionbetween the victim and the offender. In fact, murders often occur withinfamilies or closerelationships, and victims frequently know the person who kills them.In some cases, the victim unintentionally contributes to the situation. This is known asvictim-precipitated murder, where the victim may have made threats, started a physical fight, or tried to usea weapon first.Despite media portrayals,most murderers are not psychotic or mentally unstable. Highlypublicized cases involving serial killers—such as the “Son of Sam”—make up only avery smallpercentageof all murders.Research on murder reveals several important patterns:•Menare far more likely than women to commit murder and to be murdered.•Murders occur more often inlarge urban areas.•Murders are more common inDecember, July, and August, and they tend to happen onweekend nights and early mornings.•Alcoholis involved in nearlytwo-thirds of all murders.2.2 Capital Punishment and MurderSociologists have long debated whethercapital punishment(the death penalty) prevents murder.Most social science research showsno clear linkbetween the death penalty and lower homiciderates. Some scholars describe the findings asinconclusive, but there is little evidence that capitalpunishment effectively deters murder.

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Study Guide2.3 Rape and Personal AssaultLaws protecting people fromunwanted sexual behaviorare essential, especially when it comes torape. Rape is defined as theforced sexual violation of one person—usually a woman—byanother person—usually a man.Some view rape mainly as acrime of violence and aggression, while others see it as a crimeinvolvingboth violence and sex. Either way, it is a serious and traumatic offense.Rape is not a modern problem. In earlier societies, women were often treated as property, and sexualviolence against them was seen as a crime against their fathers or husbands—not against the womenthemselves. This thinking has changed in recent decades.For example, some states now recognizemarital rape, allowing a woman to charge her husband if he forces her into sexual activity.Even though reporting rape has become easier,winning a conviction remains difficult.2.4 Who Is Most at Risk?Rape affects people acrossall races, social classes, ages, and marital statuses. However:•Single, white women in their teens and 20sface the highest risk.•Most rapists aremen between the ages of 18 and 44.Reported cases of rape have increased in recent years. Experts believe this rise is mainly due tomore victims coming forward, not necessarily more rapes occurring.2.5 Why Many Rapes Go UnreportedDespite improvements in lawsand awareness, many victims still do not report rape. Common reasonsinclude:•Fear of beingvictimized again in court•Concern aboutsocial stigma or public attention•Awareness thatconvictions are hard to obtain•Feelingemotionally exhausted or traumatized•Feelings ofguilt or shame, often wrongly blaming themselves for what happened

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Study GuideBecause of these factors, the true number of rapes is difficult to know. One study estimates that15 to25 percent of women in the U.S.will experience rape at some point in their lives. Even if thesenumbers are not exact, they are deeply concerning.2.6 Types of RapeThere aresix main types of rape:1.Outsider (Stranger) RapeThis involves an attacker unknown to the victim. Although many people believe this is the mostcommon type, it is not. It is often themost violent, frequently involving weapons and seriousinjuries. These attacks are oftenplanned carefully.2.Gang RapeOccurs whentwo or more offenders—strangers or acquaintances—rape the same victim.3.Acquaintance RapeThe attacker is someone the victim knows. Studies show this is themost common type of rape.Among college women, as many as95 percentof victims know their attacker.4.Date RapeA specific form of acquaintance rape involving a dating partner. It can happen atany stage of arelationshipand often involvesalcohol or drugs, especially when one person ignores ormisinterprets a clear refusal.5.Marital RapeSome states still limit when marital rape is legally recognized. Studies suggest thatup to 14percent of married womenreport being raped by their husbands. Prosecution is rare, eventhough abuse is common.6.Statutory RapeInvolves sexual activity with someone who isbelow the legal age of consent, regardless ofapparent agreement.

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Study Guide2.7 Rape and PowerRape is not committed only against women.Men can also be raped, usually by other men. This isespecially common inprison settings, where it is used as a display ofpower and dominance.Outside prison, male rape is rarely reported or prosecuted.2.8 Child AbuseChild abuseinvolves the intentional causing ofpain, injury, or harmto a child. It includesphysical,emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and behaviors such as humiliation,rejection, isolation, and terrorization.Adults who were abused as children often experience long-lasting effects, including:•Anxiety, shame, guilt, and betrayal•Depression and emotional numbness•Difficulty forming healthy relationships•Anger, withdrawal, fear, and suicidal thoughtsA troubling pattern is thatmany abusers were themselves abused as children, creating anintergenerational cycle of abuse. Still, manysurvivors are able to acknowledge the harm and moveforward with their lives.2.9 Child Sexual Abuse and IncestChild sexual abuse, also calledchild molestation, occurs when an adult or older teenager forces orpersuades a child to engage in sexual activity. This abuse ranges from touching to sexual penetrationand is illegal throughout the United States.Experts estimate thatup to 25 percent of childrenin the U.S. experience sexual abuse each year.Adults who are sexually attracted to children are calledpedophiles.When the abuser is a family member, the abuse is consideredincest. This includes relatives bymarriage, which is why stepparents can be charged with incest. Not all states ban sexual activitybetween first cousins.Contrary to popular belief, children aremore often abused by someone outside the family, such asa teacher, coach, minister, or family friend. When incest does occur, the offender is usuallymale, andthe victim is typically agirl in middle childhood.

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