Internalization
The process by which a norm becomes a part of an individual's personality, thus conditioning that individual to conform to society's expectations
Sanctions
The rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to norms
Positive sanction
an action that rewards a particular kind of behavior
Negative sanction
A punishment or the threat of punishment used to enforce conformity.
Formal sanction
a reward or punishment given by a formal organization or regulatory body, such as a school, business, or government
Informal sanction
A spontaneous expression of approval or disapproval given by an individual or a group
Social control
Enforcing of norms through either internal or external means
Deviance
Behavior that violates significant social norms
Stigma
A mark of social disgrace that sets a deviant individual apart from the rest of society
Strain theory
A theory of deviant behavior that views deviance as the natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and the structure of society
Anomie
A situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear or are no longer applicable
Control theory
A theory of deviant behavior in which deviance is seen as a natural occurrence and conformity is seen as the result of social ties among individuals
Cultural transmission theory
A theory of deviant behavior that views deviance as a learned behavior transmitted through interaction with others
Differential association
A concept the refers to the frequency and closeness of associations as a person ha with deviant and non-deviant individuals
Labeling theory
A theory of deviant behavior that focuses on how individuals come to be labeled as deviant
Primary deviance
The occasional violation of norms; the individuals who commit it do not see themselves as deviant and neither does society
Secondary deviance
A lifestyle of deviance; results in the individuals who commit it being labeled as a deviant and accepting that label as true
Crime
Any act that is labeled as such by those in authority and is prohibited by law
White collar crime
Describes offenses committed by people of high social status
Crime syndicate
A large-scale organization of professional criminals that controls some vice or legitimate through violence
Criminal justice system
The system of police , courts, and corrections that has jurisdiction once a crime has been committed
Police discretion
The police have considerable power to decide who is actually arrested
Racial profiling
The practice of assuming that non-white Americans are more likely to commit a crime
Plea bargaining
The process of legal negotiation that allows an accused person to plead guilty to a lesser charge
Corrections
Sanctions used to punish criminals
Recidivism
The term for repeated criminal behavior