Chapter 7- Deviance & Crime


Deviance and Crime

"The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. Do not hit at all if it can be avoided; but never hit softly." Theodore Roosevelt
Chapter 7 introduces deviance and crime in society. I was interested in this chapter because I first thought of deviance and crime as the above picture and something you do to break the law. However, I learned that there is social reason for deviance and even suicide and terrorism have an explanation in the world of sociology.

This is an article, FBI ties security chief to organized crime, related to modern organized crime in America, and exactly what I thought I would be learning about in Chapter 7. Until I looked at the bigger picture of deviance in society and the differences between cultures. 

Functionalist theorists believe that deviance is functional because it creates social cohesion.
One case I found interesting in this chapter was by Emile Durkheim and his study of suicide.  Durkheim argued that causes of suicide were to be found in social factors, not individual personalities. One particular form of suicide he defines is altruistic suicide. This occurs when there is excessive regulation of individuals by social forces. As an examples he uses suicide bombers, who were so socially forced to be deviant for their society that they are willing to die. This video, "Into the mind of a suicide bomber," (2010) shows in how some societies things are considered deviant and in others the people who commit these acts are heroes. 
Here is a video of a 25  year old man preparing for suicide bombings:

Here is a link to a site that has an article, "Social Deviance:examples of social deviance," that tells of a form of deviance that is rare and non criminal.
 


Emile Durkheim information can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Durkheim


Refernces;

Roosevelt, T. (2011) [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/theodorero117934.html

 
Jim Dooley. (2006). FBI ties security chief to organized crime . Retrieved from http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/May/26/ln/FP605260337.html
 
"Into the mind of a suicide bomber." (2010, July, 24) [Video] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gcuAEvp3J8&feature=youtu.be



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