Having socially acceptable means to reach those goals

having socially acceptable means to reach those goals
crime committed by average people against other people or organizations, usually in
public spaces
activities against the law, but that do not result in injury to any individual other
than the person who engages in them
crimes based on the use of force or the threat of force
Section Summary
7.1 Deviance and Control
Deviance is a violation of norms. Whether or not something is deviant depends on contextual
definitions, the situation, and people’s response to the behavior. Society seeks to limit deviance through
the use of sanctions that help maintain a system of social control.
7.2 Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance
The three major sociological paradigms offer different explanations for the motivation behind deviance
and crime. Functionalists point out that deviance is a social necessity since it reinforces norms by
reminding people of the consequences of violating them. Violating norms can open society’s eyes to
injustice in the system. Conflict theorists argue that crime stems from a system of inequality that keeps
those with power at the top and those without power at the bottom. Symbolic interactionists focus
CHAPTER 7 | DEVIANCE, CRIME, AND SOCIAL CONTROL 155

attention on the socially constructed nature of the labels related to deviance. Crime and deviance are
learned from the environment and enforced or discouraged by those around us.
7.3 Crime and the Law
Crime is established by legal codes and upheld by the criminal justice system. In the United States,
there are three branches of the justice system: police, courts, and corrections. Although crime rates
increased throughout most of the 20th century, they are now dropping.
Section Quiz
7.1 Deviance and Control
1. Which of the following best describes how deviance is defined?