Module V

Module V Social Deviance
Meaning and Factors facilitating deviance; Theories of Deviant behavior with special reference to
Sutherland’s theory of differential association, Forms of crime: Juvenile Delinquency, White Collar
Crime, Corruption, Organized crime;
Social Conformity
 Conformity and deviance go hand in hand. Conformity is the obey and acceptance of rules. When the people
accept, follow and appreciate the rules and regulations they become “Conformist” but when they go against
the system of rules they become “deviants”.
 Conformity is a action that is oriented to a social norm or norms and falls within the range of behaviour
permitted by the norm. It implies behaving in accordance with the norms. Sometimes the approval is
consciously and sometimes unconsciously.
 The norms must not always be present in the mind of an individual on the contrary a lot of activities are done
in accordance with the norms without being sufficiently aware of the norms
 Causes-
Socialisation, Social Control, Ideology, Self Interest, Indoctrination(process of inculcating a person with ideas,
attitudes, cognitive strategies or professional methodologies), Habituation (respond to a stimulus that is
presented repeatedly ), Group Identification.
Meaning and Factors facilitating deviance
 Meaning
An act of going against the rules or norms. As Young and Mack pointed “No
norm is always obeyed, no individual always conforms “It is equally true that
most people follow or conform to most of the norms but at the same time
there are many people who do not like or want to conform to all the norms
always hence deviance or behaviour against the set norms is every where.
e.g.-deviant behaviour such as cheating, unfairness, crime, im-morality,
dishonesty, betrayal, corruption, wickedness, gambling and many more go
Meaning and Factors facilitating deviance
 Definition
-Horton and Hunt: “The term deviation is given to any failure to conform to the customary norms.
-Orville.G.Brim Jr.: Deviance can be defined as failure to conform to the exceptions of other persons.
-M.B Clinard- The term Deviance should be reserved for those situations in which behaviour is in a disapproved
direction, and of sufficient degree to exceed the tolerance limit of the society.
Finally deviance is an act of going against the group-shared expectations and norms.
Factors Facilitating Deviance
H.M Johnson had listed following factors that facilitate deviance
 Faulty Socialisation
 Weak Sanctions
 Poor Enforcement
 Ease of Rationalisation
 Poverty
 Lack of Education
 Disbelief in the agencies of Social Control.
Approach to understand Social Deviation
 The reason why some conduct is considered deviant and some not considered deviant is explained
through the group confliction approach to deviant behaviour. The approach is based on the idea
that diversity of modern society leads to conflicting beliefs and attitudes because the pursuits of
the interests by one group may interfere with the interests of the other group .There is a possibility
that the behaviour deemed deviant buy one group may be considered conforming by another
group.
 This approach assumes that there is a heterogeneity , diversity and lack of uniformity in modern
society. The societies are shaped by diversity and change.
Types of Deviance
 Deviant Drug Abuse.

 Drinking and Alcoholism.
 Sexual Deviance.
 Criminal Behaviour-White Collar Crime, Suicide, Mental Illness and
Depression.
Theories of Deviant Behaviour
 Theory of Deviant Behaviour-Differential Association Theory by Edwin Sutherland.

 Sutherland proposed this theory in 1939 an elaborated it in 1947.
 Initially he applied this theory to the systematic criminal behaviour but later on extend the preview to
all the criminal behaviour.
 He explained criminal behaviour by considering two perspectives:
a. Situational-Explains crime on the basis of situation that exists during the committing of crime.
b. Genetic/Historical-Explains crime on the basis of the criminal experience or the learnt behaviour
 In his theory he used the Genetic perspective to understand the criminal behaviour. According to him it
is not a situation which motivates a person to commit theft/crime it is his learnt attitude and beliefs
which provoke him to do so.
Key Points-Differential Association Theory by
Edwin Sutherland.
Sutherland proposed that individual in his life time encounters many

inharmonious and inconsistent social influences and become
consciously and unconsciously involved with the carriers of
criminalistics norms and as a consequences become criminals. This was
according to him was regarded as a “Differential Process” by
Sutherland.
Key Points-Differential Association Theory by
Edwin Sutherland.
 Criminal Behaviour is learnt.

 It is learnt through interactions with the other individual through the process of communication.
 The principal part of the learning of criminal behaviour occurs within the intimate personal groups.
 A criminal behaviour usually includes-(a)The techniques of committing the crime which sometimes appear
complicated or simple. (b)The specific directions of motives, the desires and the attitude.
 The specific directions of motives and drives is learnt from the knowledge and occupancy of legal
methodology.
 A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favourable to the violation of law over the
definitions unfavourable to the violation of the law.
 According to the Differential Association Theory “as a learnt behaviour may vary in duration and priority.
The process of learning criminal behaviour involves associating with criminal and anti-criminal
patterns .Gaining Knowledge, learning all the mechanisms that are usually involved in the crime committed.
 The criminal behaviour is an expression of the basic needs and the values.

Social Issues: Forms of Crime
Organized crime
White Collar Crime
Corruption
Juvenile Delinquency
Organized Crime
 A crime based on a cooperative efforts like an organised business. Lindesmith has defined it as “crime that
involves the cooperation of several persons or groups for its successful execution.
 It involves :association of a small group of criminals for the execution of a certain type of crime; chalking
out plans by which detection may be avoided; development of a fund of money for organising criminal
activities and protection to the members ;maintaining political connections by which immunity may be
secured.
 Overall an enterprise organised for the purpose of making economic gain through illegal activities such as
Pick-Pocketing, Robbery, Burglary, Smuggling, Drug Trafficking, Prostitution and Gambling.
 Main Features-Team Work,Hierachhical Structure,Planning,Centralised Authority, Reserved Funds,
Specialisation, Division of Labour, Violence and Protective Measures.
White Collar Crime
 According to Edwin Sutherland-”A violation of the criminal law by a person of the upper socio-economic class in the
course of his occupational activities.
 According to Marshall “a violation of the law committed primarily by groups such as businessmen, professional men, and
politicians in connection with their occupations.
 Elements-
 It involves violation of legal rule and regulations.
 It take place directly or indirectly in connection with a legitimate occupation.
 Aims at gaining money.
 The organisation or individual engaged in white collar crime generally selects that crime which involves high stakes but
carries the most negligible danger detection and identification.
 The offender does not regards himself as a criminal but considers himself as a respectable citizen at the most he regards
himself as a ”A Law Breaker whose act has no victim”.
 The people who are engaged in illegal white collar occupational activities adopt a policy of fixing cases. It is not only the
law enforcement officers who are “fixed up” but the services of politicians, bureaucrats and influential people are also used
for protection.
Corruption
 The dictionary define "an inducement to wrong by bribery or other unlawful

means, a departure from what is pure and correct.
 C.B Mamoria-Corruption as an improper or selfish exercise of power and
influence attached to a public office or to a special position in public life.
 Corruption in Indian Public life is “all pervasive”
 Causes of Corruption-Economic Insecurity, High Rate of Income Tax, Emergence
of New Source of Wealth and Power,Black Money, Social and Economic
Modernisation.
Juvenile Delinquency
 When an Individual deviates from the course of normal social life, his behaviour
is called “delinquency". When a juvenile below an age specified under a age bar
exhibits behaviour which may prove to be dangerous to society and or to himself
he may be called as a “Juvenile Delinquent”
 According to Cyril Burt “delinquency” as occurring in a child when his
antisocial tendencies appear so grave that he becomes or ought to become the
subject of official action.
 Causes-Broken Homes, Poverty, Inappropriate Company,Beggary,School
Dissatisfaction, Films and Indecent Literature, Emotional Problems, Broken
Families, Poverty, Mental Retardants.
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Module V Social Deviance

H.M Johnson had listed following factors that facilitate deviance

 Deviant Drug Abuse.

 Theory of Deviant Behaviour-Differential Association Theory by Edwin Sutherland.

Sutherland proposed that individual in his life time encounters many

 Criminal Behaviour is learnt.

 The dictionary define "an inducement to wrong by bribery or other unlawful

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