Topics in Crime and Deviance

Fall ‘05 -- Dr. Jackie Eller

Deviance is the name given to those conditions that run counter to the moral meanings possessed by some groups. Between the thing held to be deviant and the assignment of the label are moral meanings. As a social creation, then, deviance is an expression of moral meaning.

Contents of This Page

Required Texts

Course Description

Student Responsibilities

Grading

Office/Office Hours

Course Outline

Required Texts

(1) Erikson, Kai T. (2005) Wayward Puritans: A Study in the Sociology of Deviance (new edition). Paperback, Allyn and Bacon

(2) Pfuhl, Erdwin H. and Stuart Henry (1993). The Deviance Process (3rd edition) Paperback, Hawthorne, NY: Aldine de Gruyter.

(3) Chesney-Lind, Meda and Lisa Pasko (2004) Girls, Women, and Crime: Selected Readings. Paperback, Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications

(4) Simon, David (2006) Elite Deviance, 8th ed. Paperback, Allyn and Bacon

(5) Dotter, Daniel (2004) Creating Deviance: An Interactionist Approach

Recommended

(6) Goffman, Erving (1963) Stigma Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity.  Paperback, New York: Simon & Schuster Inc.

(7) Traub, Stuart H. and Craig B. Little (1999) Theories of Deviance, 5th edition.  Paperback, Itasca, IL: F.E. Peacock Publishers.

Occasionally articles may be distributed in class or put on reserve to supplement the readings

Other invaluable sources for reviews, articles, references:
-- Deviant Behavior
-- Social Problems
-- Social Psychology Quarterly, major sociological social psychology journal from the ASA.
-- Annual Review of Sociology, especially since '92 or so
-- numerous other sociology journals
-- numerous criminology and criminal justice journals

Course Description

The main objectives of this course are to expand your knowledge of the sociological and social-psychological theories of deviant behavior, of historical perspectives of deviance as they relate to social change, to the ways in which deviance is constructed within a moral framework of society, and to further develop critical thinking skills concerning the process of deviance definition and control.

Student Responsibilities

  1. This is a graduate seminar. It is critical that you attend every class meeting, be prepared for discussion, discuss the readings, be professional in your presentations and interactions, and be on time for class. Being prepared for class implies more than a cursory reading of the material, it requires studying the material as if you were going to present a formal presentation on the material to colleagues. I expect this of you and will accept nothing less.
  2. This is a discussion only class which means there will be no formal lecture (with rare exception), but rather the organization of the class dictates extensive in-class discussion. Therefore, each of you is expected to contribute on a weekly basis. Contributing means being logical, substantive, and research informed. At least one member of the class will serve as a discussion leader every week. Each discussion leader is to consider doing the following: suggest and field questions, broaden the discussion with additional articles read that expand the scope of the readings, bring in research informed experience, and so on.
  3. This semester you are required to write three major papers, the second is a continuation of the first; however, the third paper is different and addresses a completely different topic.
    1. The first paper is a literature review paper. This paper is due at the beginning of class on October 24. Each of you will become an expert in some type of deviant behavior. The review of literature paper should be extensive, but try not to exceed 20 pages, excluding bibliography. Obviously appropriate citations must be included. If you are currently working on your thesis and have progressed beyond the proposal stage, your current topic of investigation is NOT an appropriate area for this paper. If however, you have not progressed to or beyond the proposal stage and you are planning on writing in the area of deviance, you may use this paper as a preliminary proposal that ultimately will become your thesis. This paper should clearly identify what we know about the phenomenon, what controversies are brewing in this area, and what are the key theoretical and substantive issues. Since each of you will be presenting your topic to the class, you are also required to provide a one page essential reading list so that each of us will be able to prepare for your presentation.
    2. This paper is an extension of the first paper. Obviously after having done an extensive literature review, you are now in a position to develop a research proposal to address some of the issues identified in your previous paper. Your proposal, or second paper, should have an introduction, statement of your research problem, literature review (focused and shortened to 8-10 pages) and methods section. Appropriate and relevant to the kind of research you wish to do, the methods section should include such things as sample, data gathering and analysis strategy – questionnaire, interview guide, etc. -  consent form, IRB proposal, and so on. The second paper “nearly final draft” is due November 21. The final draft is due December 5.
    3. The third and final paper is due December 12. This paper should not exceed ten pages excluding bibliography. The topic is “Is the Sociology of Deviance Dead?”

Grading

Paper #1 – 40 pts.; Paper #2 – 40 pts.; Paper #3 – 40 pts.; in class presentation – 40 pts.; class participation and discussion leadership – 40 pts. Final grades will be computed through a simple tally of points using the following scale:   

184 - 200 A
180 - 183 A-
176 - 179 B+
164 - 175 B
160 - 163 B-
156 - 159 C+
144 - 155 C
140 – 143 C-
< 140 F

Offices and Office Hours

Mon 2:30-4:30; Tues 1:00-3:00; Wed 9:00-11:00, 2:00-4:00; Thurs 1:00-3:00

Other times by appointment

e-mail: jaeller@mtsu.edu
webpage: http://www.mtsu.edu/~jaeller

1417 E. Main (Sociology and Anthropology Annex) 898-2125 FAX 904-8589

Course Outline

Aug 29 -- Orientation and assignment of discussion leaders      

 

Sep 5   Labor Day

 

12 -- Erikson – entire book

            Discussion leader à Eller

 

19 – Pfuhl and Henry – Chapters 1-4

            Discussion leaders à

 

26 – Dotter – Chapters 1-4

Discussion leaders à

 

Oct 3 – Pfuhl and Henry – Chapters 5-8

            Discussion leaders à

 

10 – Medicalization of deviance

            Readings to be distributed

            Discussion leaders à

 

17        Fall Break

 

24 -- Dotter – Chapters 5-8

            Discussion leaders à

            First paper due

 

31 – Chesney-Lind and Pasko – Part 1

            “Feminism and criminology” – Daly and Chesney-Lind (handout)

            Discussion leaders à

 

Nov 7 -- Chesney-Lind and Pasko – Part 3

            Discussion leaders à

 

14 – Chesney-Lind and Pasko – Part 4

Discussion leaders à

 

21 – Deviant emotion – readings TBA

            Discussion leader à Eller

Second paper “nearly final draft” due

 

28 – Simon – entire book

            Discussion leaders à

            Drafts returned for your consideration

 

Dec 5 -- First presentations

Second paper final draft due

 

12 -- Continue with presentations

            Third paper due

 

Final note – I do not accept late papers without penalty; therefore, it is in your best interest to anticipate all kind of problems to make sure that you are not so penalized. If it is late, I will deduct 5 pts. from your accumulated points for each day the paper is late. Please review your paper carefully for typo’s, misspelled words, grammar usage, etc., as these will be taken into account in determining the final grade you will receive on all submitted work.