Constructing Deviance

Constructing Deviance

1. Differential Social Power: Different factors give certain groups greater social power

   • Labeling
     • Money: to campaign or lobby
     • Age: affects power
     • Race & Ethinicity : White population are the dominant group
     • Gender :Men dominant over women
   • Resisting Labeling
     • Same powerful groups avoid labels
       • Foster positive images
       • "Halo Effect"

2. Moral Enterprise: The process of constructing and applying definitions of deviance.

   • Moral Entrepreneurs: individuals drawing of the power and resources of: In
     • Rule Creators: Politicians, Parents, CEOs
       • Individual or Group
     • Rule Enforcers: Police, Judge, Court
     • Stages
       • Bring Moral Conversion: Convince others of their views
       • Generate awareness: Claims making
         • claim making: danger messages
           • Experts
           • case examples
           • Statistics
       • Form Alliances and coalitions: Long-term allies, or those who have mutual interests on single issuse
     • Create Moral Panic
       • Drug Scare
         • Temperance culture
         • Self-control
         • Vocabulary of attribution

3. Status Politics

   • Defiance is socially constructed
     • Dominanted by members of upper social strata

4. Legitimized suppression

   • Legitmized profiling
   • subsected gang members
   • Intelligent gatherings
   • Police misconduct: excessive force

5. Medical Crimes: Prescription violation, negligent care, unnecessary medial procedures

   • "Protective Cloak"
     • Doctors are shield from medical crimes
     • Self regulated
     • Image of good will