Sociological Theories of Deviance

Sociology 3305

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

UMD

Class Room: Cina 224 Professor: John Hamlin; Cina 104B
Time: 6:00-930 Phone: 726-6387
Office Hours: 500-600 & by appointment Email jhamlin@mail.d.umn.edu


Description:
Our conception of the crime "problem" and our response to crime, particularly in terms of policy and programs, is predicated on a number of basic assumptions. These assumptions are ordered in patterned ways referred to as theories. Theories in turn provide links between a variety of variables and crime/delinquency. We will be exploring a number of these theoretical frameworks in varying degrees of detail.
Objectives:
  1. To provide a basic understanding of social scientific theories to the problem of crime.
  2. To illustrate general and specific policy implications of leading theoretical approaches.
  3. To provoke a critical ability for analyzing both scientific theory and everyday explanations of crime and delinquency in the media.
Required Reading: Suggested Readings:


Evaluations:
There will be three exams during the term, each counting 33% of your grade. The test format will be essay. The last exam covers only the last third of the quarter. Consequently, you will only be given the sixty-five minutes to complete the exam. Grades are determined using a straight scale.


Special Facilities and/or Arrangements:
Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to inform the instructor at the start of the quarter. Adaptations of methods, materials, or testing may be made as required to provide for equitable participation.

Dates Topics Readings
Sept. 9, 1996 Introduction; What is to be
done with Bill
Sept. 9, 1996 Concepts
Sept. 9, 1996 Paradigms;
Classical School of Criminology 		C&R 1-21
Sept. 9, 1996 Positivist School of Criminology/ Biological C&R pgs. 22-24
Diana H. Fishbein Biological Perspectives in Criminology; T&L pgs. 435-485 C&R ch. 2-3
Sept. 16, 1996 Functionalism Emile Durkheim The Normal and the Pathological; T&L pg. 9-17
Kai Erikson On the Sociology of Deviance; T&L pg. 31-39
Sept. 23, 1996 Social Disorganization C&R 135-145
W.I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki The Concept of Social Disorganization; T&L pg. 53-59
Robert Park Social Change and Social Disorganization; T&L pgs. 60-63
Robert E. L. Faris and H. Warren Dunhamn Natural Areas of the City; T&L pgs. 63-71
Sept. 30, 1996First EXAM Review Questions for Exam One
Sept. 30-Oct. 7, 1996 Anomie C&R 146-174
Emile Durkheim Anomic Suicide; T&L pgs. 99-113
Robert Merton Social Structure and Anomie; T&L pgs. 114-148
Richard Cloward Illegitimate Means, Anomie, and Deviant Behavior; T&L pgs. 148-168
Oct. 14, 1996 Differential Association C&R 183-198
Edwin H. Sutherland and Donald R. Cressey; The Theory of Differential Association; T&L pgs. 185-195
C&R 212-226 Gresham M. Sykes and David Matza Techniques of Neutralization; T&L pgs. 203-213
Oct. 21, 1996 Control Theory C&R 198-212
F. Ivan Nye; Family Relationships and Delinquent Behavior; T&L pgs. 239-250
Travis Hirschi A Control Theory of Delinquency; T&L pgs. 250-267
Oct. 21, 1996 Labeling Theory C&R 226-238
Frank Tannenbaum The Dramatization of Evil; T&L pgs. 289-297
Edwin Lemert Primary and Secondary Deviation; T&L pgs. 298-303
Howard Becker Career Deviance; T&L pgs. 303-310
Oct. 28, 1996 Second EXAM Review Questions for Exam two
Oct. 28, 1996 New Criminology and
Conflict Theory 		C&R 24-32; Ch. 6
Oct. 28, 1996 Radical Criminology Alexander Liazos The Poverty of the Sociology of Deviance: Nuts, Sluts, and `Perverts,' T&L pgs. 372-395
Nov. 4, 1996 Marxist Criminology Steven Spitzer Toward a Marxian Theory of Deviance; T&L pgs. 395-413
Nov. 4, 1996 Marxist Criminology William Chambliss Contradictions and Conflicts in Law Creation
Nov. 11, 1996 Feminist Criminology Freda Adler The Interaction Between Women's Emancipation and Female Criminality: A Cross-Cultural Perspective.
Nov. 11, 1996 Anarchist Criminology Larry Tifft The Coming Redefinitions of Crime: An Anarchist Perspective.
Tolstoy
Nov. 18, 1996 Third Exam 10:00-11:05


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