ipl-logo

Organized Crime And Deviance Essay

507 Words3 Pages

Deviance has many functions in society. Although deviance violates social norms, without it, we would not have rules, so it helps form, guide, and shape society’s norms and goals. Social norms are different from culture to culture. Norms that may be acceptable in one culture may be frowned upon in another. Emile Durkheim quotes that “deviance and deviant behavior is an integral part of all healthy societies (Adler, 2014, p74).” The Mafia and organized crime would be an example of deviance in society. Differential Association Theory and Social Structure sheds light on how individuals learn to become criminals, the conditions in social structures that lead to deviant behavior, and how both are similar. Members of the Mafia are influenced by their own set of norms and beliefs in their culture. Both, Differential Association Theory and Social Structure, are essential for a complete understanding of deviant behavior and why organized crime exists. The interaction between individuals in society develops attitudes, characteristics, behavior, and perceptions that may become beneficial to that specific group or organization. Social structures can cause deviant behavior that, in …show more content…

The Mafia, a subculture, was an organized crime group that consisted of criminals committing illegal activities for power, influence, financial gain, and property. They protected their activities by using corruption, exploitation, and violence. Committing crimes became a way to protect their society and families. The behavior displayed by this criminal organization undoubtedly resulted in criminal mentality. In my opinion, since committing a crime is a personal choice, differential association theory may fail at accurately explaining crime. Although individuals socialize with criminals, it doesn’t always imply that they will commit a

Show More
Related
1031 Words | 5 Pages

The differential association theory has become the most talked about learning theory of deviance. The theory focuses on how individuals can learn to become criminals. The theory does not have concern for why individuals become criminals. Criminology is the knowledge regarding crime and delinquency as a social issue.

Read More
2451 Words | 10 Pages

Differential association theory (2018) and social bonds theory (2001) address the role of relationships in promoting or preventing individuals’ involvement in crime. Sutherland (2018) emphasizes the impact of associations with deviant others who expose and instill an individual with motives and favorable attitudes towards offending. Hirischi (2001), in contrast, believes the strength of conventional social bonds acts as a preventative measure that mitigates the possibility of offending by instilling an individual with society’s norms and values to ensure conformity. Organized crime groups (OCGs) strongly rely on the relations between members to effectively operate (Ashton & Bussu, 2020; Calderoni et al., 2020). However, there is the question

Read More
1336 Words | 6 Pages

Social learning theory and social bonding theory are two theories that may be compared and contrasted because they both overlap and differ. Although these theories have their similarities and differences, one theory may prove to be more convincing in terms of applying the theory to the understanding of crime and delinquency. Social learning theory refers to Akers’ theory of crime and deviance. Akers attempted to specify the mechanism and processes through which criminal learning takes place by explaining crime and deviance; he did this in such a way that the likelihood of conforming or deviant behavior based on the influence of an individual’s history of learning was accounted for. This theory was based off Sutherland’s differential association theory, which had nine propositions outlining the process by which individuals acquire attitudes favorable to criminal or delinquent behavior with the basic idea that people tend to associate with others in which they come into contact.

Read More
856 Words | 4 Pages

The consequences of action and history are what make us who we are today. Functionalism, Feminism and conflict theory suggest us to perceive deviance as a whole, whereas symbolic interactionism view deviance individually. These perspectives very helpful not to understand culture differences, but also one’s own cultural norms in depth. There is no society without deviance. Positive and negative deviant behaviours are function

Read More
991 Words | 4 Pages

This process has nine components (Cullen, 2014). The first is criminal behavior is learned not inherited. Second, the Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication. Third, the principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups. Fourth, When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes (a) techniques of committing the crime, which is sometimes very complicated, sometimes simple; (b) the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes.

Read More
659 Words | 3 Pages

This can be seen when people begin to fear the gang so unite to want to put a strop to gangs and gang violence. 

Encouraging social change: 
The diverse range of deviancies allow competition between norms promoting social change and innovation. Deviance can encourage society to consider alternative norms and values. Society unites and encourages social change such as encouraging the

Read More
1040 Words | 5 Pages

Syed Raza SOC-101-001WB 6/6/2023 Deviance & Social Control Deviance is a behavior, belief, or trait that departs from a norm and generates a negative reaction in a particular social group. In other words deviance means the state of departing from acceptable standards. However because deviance is based on norms and beliefs something might be deviant in one culture but seem normal in another. Also because of that deviance should never be held against morals because norms and beliefs change all the time unlike morals.

Read More
141 Words | 1 Pages

In differential association, deviance occurs as a result of interactions from deviant elements. Specifically, this keys in with drugs and crime. Once the youth or teens start encountering the pressures

Read More
897 Words | 4 Pages

Retrieved November 14, 2015, from http://www.sparknotes.com/sociology/deviance/section1.rhtml). Norms dictate what is considered acceptable and unacceptable behavior across cultures. One category of deviance is crime, which occurs when someone violates a society's formal laws. Criminal deviance include a wide range of behavior, from minor traffic violations to arson to murder. For instance, a man robbing a store and someone driving over the speed limit, both fit into this category.

Read More
382 Words | 2 Pages

It is impossible to pinpoint one reason why people partake in deviant behavior. While a person’s own pathology may have some effect on whether a person will commit crime, I think that most acts of deviance are the result of their social environment. Different people react in their own way to different opportunities handed to them. Whether these responses to their environment are either “deviant” or “criminal” is determined by the society they are a part of. While Emile Durkheim discusses the effect of anomie on mental states, Robert K. Merton elaborates on the concept of anomie created by a society where success is based on material goods.

Read More
423 Words | 2 Pages

This theory explains that deviance is a learned behavior that results from continuous exposure to others who violate the norms and laws. It states that people commit crimes and deviant acts because they associate with other deviants. It is evident in the famous Albert Bandura “Bobo doll experiment”, that just the mere exposure to others is what teaches us what is acceptable behavior. The family home life is the foundation in which children learn attitudes and behaviors that influence their outcomes (Merrin, Hong, & Espelage, 2015).

Read More
554 Words | 3 Pages

The psychological explanations focus on the abnormalities within the individual, such as personality disorders. Psychological researcher found that some childhood experiences are likely to be linked to deviance. For example, some children who had bad toilet training experience, emotionally detached fathers and suffocating mothers tend to more likely become embezzlers. Psychological theories of deviance use a deviant’s psychology to explain someone’s want and urges to violate social norms. There are several fundamental assumptions that all psychological theories of deviance have in common.

Read More
1989 Words | 8 Pages

What is deviance? Deviance is the description of actions of behaviors that violate the social norms, or values of formally enacted rules in a current society or place. It is the extent that sociologists carry in the study of how the norms and values of deviance are created, and how they improve or decline over a period of time inside a society. Deviance is something that is already implemented into society, no matter what is done there will always be deviance towards the norms of that society. Looking into cultural values and norms we can affirm deviance, here we can truly see what values and norms are currently accepted into that society and what is not accepted.

Read More
896 Words | 4 Pages

Deviance is defined as “nonconformity to a given set of norms that are accepted by a significant number of people in a community or society” (Essentials of Sociology, page 159). In other words, it is actions or things that we, as people, do not find to be the norm with the majority of our society. Crime can be considered a deviance act. For example, if someone were to shoplift it would be considered a deviance act because normally a person does not shoplift when at a store. But why do people commit deviance acts?

Read More
1877 Words | 8 Pages

It is an area which many great sociologists have focused some of their work around, for example Durkheim and Marx. These sociologists are considered to be the ‘founding fathers’ of sociology. They were some of the first people to use the study of society and its interactions within as an academic study. Sociologists created such terms as ‘boundary maintenance’ – society exists in solidarity and conformity within a boundary. Outside such a boundary, there are incidences of crime and deviance.

Read More

More about Organized Crime And Deviance Essay

Open Document