Deviance

Chapter 7
Deviance

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance

Concept
•Understand the Biological Context of Deviance
•Understand the Relationship between Personality and
Personality Disorder with Deviance

Application

In Socialization – will be able to identify potential trouble

maker, or monitor friends of your children

As crime investigator – use personality analysis as part of

crime investigation

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance

Guess who is the Drug Dealer?

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance

What is deviance?
Deviance -The recognized violation of cultural norms

Crime - The violation of a society’s formally enacted criminal law

How does society regulate the behavior of individuals?

Social Control - Attempts by society to regulate people’s thoughts

and behavior

Criminal Justice System - A formal response by police, courts,

and prison officials to alleged violations of the law

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Biological Context of Deviance

Physical Aspect of Criminals

Early interest in criminality focused on biological causes

Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)

•Theorized that criminals are physically different
•Low Forehead, Prominent Jaws and Cheekbones,
Protuding Ears, Hairy bodies and Long Arms

Sheldon, Glueck, and Glueck (1950)

•Suggested body structure might predict criminality
•Most common with Young Men with Muscular, Athletic Builds

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Biological Context of Deviance

Physical Aspect of Criminals

Research by Jeffrey M. Valla et al (2011) showed that it is possible to identify criminals from facial
features. Experiment on 36 Psychology Students. Women unable to spot a rapist

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Biological Context of Deviance

Physical Aspect of Criminals

Research by Jeffrey M. Valla et al (2011) showed that it is possible to identify criminals from facial
features. Experiment on 36 Psychology Students. Women unable to spot a rapist

1 Non-Criminal 2 Non-Criminal 3 Rapist 4 Assault 5 Arson 6 Non-Criminal

7 Non-Criminal 8 Drug Dealer 9 Non-Criminal 10 Arson 11 Drug Dealer 12 Non-Criminal

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Biological Context of Deviance

Brain System and Deviance

View Video Clip by Adriane Raine (2:30 mins)

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Biological Context of Deviance

Brain System and Deviance

Research by Adrian Raine (1994) - scans of 41 convicted killers

compared with "normal" control group of 41 people of similar profile
Murderers brains - Significant reduction in the development of the
prefrontal cortex
Antisocial personality disorder - Prefrontal cortexes had 11 per cent
less grey matter than those without the disorder
Offenders have impairments in their autonomic nervous system,
(system responsible for the edgy, nervous feeling that can come with
emotional arousal). This leads to a fearless, risk-taking personality,
perhaps to compensate for chronic under-arousal.
One physical indicator is low heart beat (Normal is between 60 and
100 heartbeats a minute). What is yours?

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Biological Context of Deviance

Inherited from Biological Parents

According to Sarnoff Mednick (1982), psychologist at University of

California at Santa Barbara, a child whose biological parents are
criminals is more likely than other children to begin a criminal
career himself even if his adopted parents are law abiding.

Biological factors such as:

a.Nervous system characteristic
b.Low intelligence
c.Predisposition to alcoholism

might be pass on to next generation based on study of 14,427

Danish children who were adopted from birth.

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Biological Context of Deviance

Inherited from Biological Parents

Gang Violence - Kevin Beaver et al (2009) showed that Monoamine
oxidase A genotype is associated with gang membership and weapon
use. Research based on 1155 females and 1041 males from National
Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. In communities where gangs
are common, people with low MAOA activity could be slightly more likely
to join a gang than others

Sex Offenders - Seena Fazel et al (2015) on 21,566 men convicted of

sexual offences in Sweden between 1973 and 2009 concluded that
brothers and fathers of men convicted of sexual offences are up to five
times more likely to be convicted of sexual offences than men in the
general population. Around 2.5% of brothers or fathers of convicted sex
offenders are themselves convicted of sexual offences. Compare this
with 0.5% occurrence in the general population.

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance and Personality

Group Discussion

Based on your experience in secondary school,

recall the following:
a. Students who bully others
b. Students who was caught by prefects
c. Students who was caught stealing
d. Students who have problems with teachers

What kind of characters do they have?

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance and Personality

Containment Theory
Research by Reckless and Dinitz (1967). Teachers categorize
twelve-year-old male students as either likely or unlikely to get into
trouble with the law.
The investigators attributed staying out of trouble to a personality
that controlled deviant impulses.
Good boys displayed a strong conscience, could handle frustration,
and identified with conventional cultural norms and values.
The bad boys had:
1.a weaker conscience
2.displayed little tolerance of frustration, and
3. felt out of step with conventional culture.

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance and Personality

Support of Containment Theory

Moffitt et al (2011) followed 500 non-identical twin boys from

birth until they reached the age of thirty-two.

Observing the boys when they were young, parents, teachers,

and the researchers assessed their level of self-control,
ability to withstand frustration, and ability to delay
gratification.

The brother who had lower scores on these measures in

childhood almost always went on to get into more trouble,
including criminal activity

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance and Personality

Application of Theory in Selecting Partners

Candidate A Candidate B

High Self Control Low Self Control

Able to Withstand Frustration Quick Temper and Impulsive

Ability to Delay Gratification Unable to resist temptations

Which candidate do you prefer?

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance and Personality Disorder

Self-Centred Person or Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance and Personality Disorder

Million 14 Personality Disorder

Schizoid Apathetic, indifferent, remote, solitary. Neither desires nor need human
attachments. Minimal awareness of feelings of self or others. Few drives or
ambitions, if any.
Depressive Somber, discouraged, pessimistic, brooding, fatalistic. Presents self as vulnerable
and abandoned. Feels valueless, guilty, and impotent. Judges self as worthy only
of criticism and contempt.
Dependent Helpless, incompetent, submissive, immature. Withdraws from adult
responsibilities. Sees self as weak or fragile. Seeks constant reassurance from
stronger figures.
Histrionic Dramatic, seductive, shallow, stimulus-seeking, vain. Over reacts to minor events.
Exhibitionistic as a means of securing attention and favors. Sees self as attractive
and charming.
Narcissistic Egotistical, arrogant, grandiose, insouciant. Preoccupied with fantasies of
success, beauty, or achievement. Sees self as admirable and superior, and
therefore entitled to special treatment.
Anti-Social Impulsive, irresponsible, deviant, unruly. Acts without due consideration. Meets
social obligations only when self-serving. Disrespects societal customs, rules, and
standards. Sees self as free and independent.

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

 Deviance and Personality Disorder

Sadistic Explosively hostile, abrasive, cruel, dogmatic. Liable to sudden outbursts of rage.
Feels self satisfied through dominating, intimidating and humiliating others. Is
opinionated and close minded.
Obsessive- Restrained, conscientious, respectful, rigid. Maintains a rule-bound lifestyle.
Compulsive Adheres closely to social conventions. Sees the world in terms of regulations and
hierarchies. Sees self as devoted, reliable, efficient, and productive.
Negativistic Resentful, contrary, skeptical, discontented. Resist fulfilling others’ expectations.
Deliberately inefficient. Vents anger indirectly by undermining others’ goals.
Alternately moody and irritable, then sullen and withdrawn.
Masochistic Deferential, pleasure-phobic, servile, blameful, self-effacing. Encourages others
to take advantage. Deliberately defeats own achievements. Seeks condemning
or mistreat partners.
Paranoid Guarded, defensive, distrustful and suspiciousness. Hyper vigilant to the motives
of others to undermine or do harm. Always seeking confirmatory evidence of
hidden schemes. Feels righteous, but persecuted.
Schizotypal Eccentric, self-estranged, bizarre, absent. Exhibits peculiar mannerisms and
behaviors. Thinks can read thoughts of others. Preoccupied with odd daydreams
and beliefs. Blurs line between reality and fantasy.
Borderline Unpredictable, manipulative, unstable. Frantically fears abandonment and
isolation. Experiences rapidly fluctuating moods. Shifts rapidly between loving
and hating. Sees self and others alternatively as all-good and all-bad
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang
 Deviance and Personality Disorder

Types of Personality Disorder Linked with Violent Crime

A strong linkage between personality disorder and violent crime
(Michael Stone 2007). Less likely for Avoidant. The most common
personality disorder linked with violent crime are:

Antisocial, Psychopathy, Sadistic, Paranoid and Narcissistic.

Spousal Murders are strongly associated with Narcissistic

Personality Disorder
Serial Sexual Killers shows Psychopathy, Sadistic and Schizoid
Mass Murderers usually show strong Paranoid traits.

Animal torture before adulthood is an important predictor of future

violent

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang

Deviance

THE END

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE // Lectures by Sean Ang