Sociological Perspectives Of Crime And Deviance - 1818 Words

Sociology is the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society, that is why sociology and the theories that go along with it can explain many of reasons people act the way they do in their societal context and situations. The most of what occurs in the film American Gangster can be explained by these theoretical perspectives of crime in sociology. The successes and failures pictured in the movie are explored more thoroughly by using theories such as differential opportunity, anomie, differential association, etc. Though he is eventually caught by Officer Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), the main character, is able to continue to be a successful drug kingpin for so long because of the aforementioned theories. In sociology, there are a few classical theories of crime and deviance that the rest of the theories fall under. Two of them include structural functionalist and symbolic interactionist. Structural functionalism attemp ts to explain why society functions the way it does by focusing on the relationships between the various social institutions that make up society (i.e. government, law, education, religion, etc.). Alternatively, symbolic interactionism explains that people act toward things based on the meaning those things have to them, and the meanings they are looking to are derived from social interaction. Theories such as anomie, differential association, differential opportunity and so on fall under oneShow MoreRelatedDeviance Theory Analysis Essay1564 Words   |  7 PagesDeviance Theory Analysis - Identify Deviance for situations and explain Within any given society, individuals are expected to behave and or conduct themselves in a given acceptable manner. However, there are instances when particular individuals act contrary to the set standards and violate the cultural norms. Such acts may include acts of crime, theft, defiance, breaking of rules, and truancy just to mention a few. Deviance could thus be viewed as the intentional or accidental violation of theRead MoreThe Theory Of Body Types, And The Y Chromosome Theory1194 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction to Sociology March 26, 2016 Deviance Many different theories exist regarding deviance. Biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives have applied their different thought processes to produce many theories. Some of these ideas have been discredited, however some remain significant today. Sociological theories differ from biological and psychological theories by looking at external factors rather than internal ones. Biological theories on deviance are the result of looking for answersRead MoreCity of God949 Words   |  4 Pagescorrelation that crime plays in association with poverty, social influence, and lack of law and order. Though my perspective vastly varies from that of sociological theorists, I think we can both conclude that this movie is an extreme representation as to what can occur when society shuns away disadvantaged youths to a place that lacks justice as well as ethical and moral responsibilities. Sociological perspectives regarding crime emphasize the interconnections between conformity and deviance in differentRead MoreCompare and contrast two main sociological theories of crime and deviance.1636 Words   |  7 Pagesmain sociological theories of crime and deviance. Deviance and crime are wide-ranging terms used by sociologists to refer to behavior that varies, in some way, from a social norm.  Cultural Norms are societys propensity towards certain ideals; their aversion from others; and their standard, ritualistic practices. Essentially the norm is a summation of typical activities and beliefs of group of people.  This essay will evaluate the sociological theories associated with crime and deviance and toRead MoreThe Causes Of Deviant Behavior, Psychological Approach And Sociological Approach1676 Words   |  7 PagesDeviance is a kind of behaviour which is contrary to the dominant norms and values of society. In reality, there are many different theories to explain the causes of deviant behaviour, including biological approach, psychological approach and sociological approach. This essay will be using two criminological perspectives which are the biological and sociological explanations to analyse the causes of crime in depth, and evaluat e the two perspectives and the related criminological evidence. SociologyRead MoreCritically Discuss Three Sociological Approaches to Explaining Crime1188 Words   |  5 PagesCritically discuss three sociological approaches to explaining crime? One of the most predominant areas of study in sociology is in the explanation of crime and deviance in society. Criminal acts are those which violate established formal laws, whereas deviance refers to the breaking of social norms. Crime and deviance are a social construct as they are decided by the people in a society and can vary greatly depending on the society in question, as well as the time period being studied. In theRead MoreCrime And Deviance1550 Words   |  7 PagesIn studying crimes and deviance, sociologists look to explain what types of behavior are defined as deviant as opposed to criminal, who defines deviant behaviors, why people become deviant, and how society deals with deviant behavior. Deviance is defined by sociologists are behavior that significantly goes against expected rules and norms. Criminal behavior is behavior that violates the law. Sociology studies groups as opposed to individuals, so when studying crime and deviance, sociologists areRead MoreWhat Deviance Is Today s Society Essay1081 Words   |  5 PagesWhat defines deviance in today’s society? Is it the abnormal things that people don’t usually do or is it just criminal behavior? Deviance has brought up many questions on what could be defined as it. Deviance is usually shaped by society. It can be defined as the violation of established contextual, cultural, or social norms, whether folkways, mores, or codified law (OpenStax 142). Sociologist want to see why deviance has so many different areas and how it effects a group in a society. For exampleRead MoreDefining Deviance1080 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Defining Deviance Deviance- doing something different from the normal Sociological Perspectives on Deviance   Formal Deviance- breaking a law or rule example: crime   Informal Deviance- doing something different from the customary Social groups create deviance by applying rules to certain people, making them â€Å"outsiders† Behavior that is deviant or normal depending on the situation Deviance stabilizes society Durkheim thinks that societies use deviance to create and point out the standard norms TheRead MoreSociology Is The Study Of Individuals In Groups In A Systematic Way1611 Words   |  7 Pagesthere are different sociological perspectives that hold valued theories in society. In this essay three perspectives will be assessed. How society operates in the view of these perspectives. Also, scrutinizing theories on the subject ‘crime and deviance’ aiming to outline how each perspective grasps the matter. Before one can observe society, one needs to take into account the ways in which it can be viewed. Perspectives that focus on social systems, are known as macro perspectives. Alternatively,