Understanding Deviance, Crime, Social Control, and Mass Media: The Construction of Social Order

By Sebahattin Ziyanak

In Understanding Deviance, Crime, Social Control, and Mass Media: The Construction of Social Order Sebahattin Ziyanak examines parental responsibility for their children’s development. Contributors to the volume summarize the functionalist perspective of deviance, the function of crimes, and how these perspectives have influenced the development of Emile Durkheim’s work like anomie and then turn their attention to fear of crime in regard to social order. An in-depth examination of how the Tennessean newspaper The City Paper and its readers’ comments frame the coverage of the Kurdish Pride Gang. Contributions to the volume also provide insight into pluralism and politicized religion. Ziyanak assess and compares the theories of differential association, low self-control, and Black’s theory of social control for explaining deviance. Focus on fear and risk perceptions of terrorism are touched upon as well the account of communication media technology and how it influences culture, control, as well as deviance. Contributors also address how the development of technology has affected the nature of deviance and social control and what is the impact of media use among the young children. Lastly examined is how the sociological imagination of the individuals living in southeastern Turkey is constructed through the movie, The Bliss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RowmanLittlefield
• Release date: Mar 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9780761873150

Book preview

Introduction

Social Control

Sebahattin Ziyanak and Dian Jordan

Explaining deviance is problematic. Numerous theories of deviance and crime attempt to explain general theories of deviance, crime or social control. As with other normative theories, accounts of social learning theory probe the question Why do they do it? In other words, Why don’t we do it? In this book, the efforts of examining deviance and criminology theories are evaluated with regards to developing a general theory of deviance (and/or social control). Some theories, such as the differential association, low self-control, and Donald Black’s theory of social control provide valid generalizable statements about deviant attitudes and behaviors. Drawing on their proposed ideas, perspectives, and postulates, this paper assesses and compares the theories of differential association, low self-control, and Black’s theory of social control for explaining deviance. Further, the success of these efforts is detailed, and Black’s view on violence and terrorism as applied to the case of Turkey and beyond is addressed.

Researchers explore how the development of technology has affected the nature of deviance and the nature of social control (Bryant, 1984; Holt, 2009; Howe & Monaghan, 2018; Quinn & Forsyth, 2005; Weber, 2017). For example, technology has been adapted by criminals to rapidly exchange information and is thus a scientific and technological innovation that can foster criminality and create a new subculture of deviance. In other instances, prostitutes and drug dealers use cellular phones to communicate with their clients. While video calling boyfriend number two, she was busy texting other people on her phone (Lucas, 2005; Jacobs, 1999; Van Boven & Verver, 2020, p. 8). Car thieves have been adapting these new devices to increase their success rates, and hate groups continuously use technology to communicate hate messages online across great distances (Copes & Cherbonneau, 2006). Even the game of international espionage cannot escape the appeal and convenience of technology Actors want nothing more than to make profits off their activities but do not want to get caught doing so (acceptable risk); hence, they must deceive their actions by using specific software to obscure their identities" (Hayes, 2018, p. 21).

This book will address how the development of technology has affected the nature of deviance and social control and what is the impact of media use among young children. In this regard, this study will identify and discuss three technological issues, including the development of the Internet, the effect of electronic surveillance, and the development of mass media, all of which have impacted rates of deviance or control in some way.

The concerns about media use and the possible later effects on children’s development, parent-child interaction and relationship, and current research related to media use and its effects become extremely important. Due to the controversial nature of this issue, this book will report the possible benefits and negative cognitive developmental effects of media use for children. The implications for media use and possible future research ideas will also be discussed.

In designing the study, why terrorism is targeting social order is also a crucial topic to include. This book signifies studying the fear of terrorism in regard to social order can have direct negative impacts by destroying of property and lives. This book attempts to address the following questions: "What is the confidence level of American college students in local, state, and federal governments? Is gun violence perceived as a more important threat to the U.S. than terrorism? Do the September 11 attacks still have negative effects on American society?

Chapter One The Roles of (In)Sufficient Parental Activity and Family Structure on Adolescent Substance Use focuses on adolescent substance use behavior in terms of possible effects of parental activity (i.e., parental monitoring, parental caring, and parental disapproval) and family structure (i.e., single-parent family and two-parent family households). The relationship between active parental caring, parental monitoring, and parental disapproval with the likelihood of peer association with friends who use alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana is statistically significant in this study. Findings suggest that lack of active parental caring, parental monitoring, and parental disapproval leads to a higher likelihood of peer association with friends who use alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes, controlling the presence of mother and father. Moreover, the higher levels of alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana use is more likely to happen in the single-parent family rather than the two-parent family. Finally, parental disapproval for adolescent substance use is more likely to reduce the likelihood of adolescent use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana.

Chapter Two summarizes the functionalist perspective of deviance, the function of crimes, and how these perspectives have influenced the development of Emile Durkheim’s work, anomie, for example. In this regard, this chapter covers the contributions of important functionalist thinkers such as Durkheim and Robert K. Merton, by providing a brief historical discussion that highlights their contributions to deviance and crime research. Further, the authors are also primarily interested in how the functionalist tradition has influenced contemporary works. This chapter focuses on the most relevant theories related to sources of strain including Merton’s structural strain theory, Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld’s institutional anomie and Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin’s "differential opportunity theory. This chapter presents these contemporary thinker’s views and presents a detailed discussion of their major studies published since 2000.

Chapter Three Fear of Crime in the United States emphasizes that fear of crime has become one of the significant effects of crime on people. The chapter highlights that socioeconomic characteristics of urban areas have become a significant determinant of fear of crime. This chapter finds that having a low profile of socio-economic conditions and living in problematic areas of the cities, other racial groups are more likely to identify as having a fear of crime.

Chapter Four Kurdish Pride Gang in Nashville Tennessee examines how the Tennessean newspaper The City Paper and its readers’ comments frame the coverage of the Kurdish Pride Gang (KPG). This study observes how news coverage regarding the KPG influences readers’ opinions in Nashville, Tennessee. This chapter focuses on how readers vary in their interpretation of news coverage of the KPG in the newspaper. A single article can generate many unique interpretations. This chapter does not suggest that the news coverage directly causes racist attitudes. Conversely, this chapter examines the trigger effects of news coverage, including the construction of readers’ interpretation of the news. Moreover, this chapter tests how news coverage about the KPG is constructed in media coverage. The theory of symbolic interactionism is applied to the study of the interpretation of media coverage among individuals. A content analysis technique is employed to analyze data. Coding and frame techniques are also used to interpret the data.

Chapter Five Social Order: Secularization and Modernity is a descriptive analysis towards creating an understanding of social order through the secularization and counter secularization processes in order to describe past and ongoing dramatic changes in the world’s religious scene. This chapter provides an insight into pluralism and politicized religion. In addition to that, a discussion on the distribution of power that stems from politicized religion and Church-State relations is addressed with a focus on the countries of France, Turkey, and the United States.

Chapter Six addresses general theories of deviance, crime, and social control including differential association and low self-control. Drawing on theories of Black view on terrorism, Chapter Six proves Black’s pure sociological approach is grounded in a need to expound the premise of human behavior linked to its social geometry. This chapter also provides in-depth insight regarding Black’s view on terrorism in Turkey. The chapter finds that Black’s view on terrorism in Turkey does not clearly explain the emergence of the Kurdish Worker Party (PKK) terrorism acts in the southeastern region of Turkey.

Chapter Seven Fear and Risk Perceptions of College Students Regarding Terrorism focuses on fear and risk perceptions of terrorism among college students. Terrorism is a continually evolving threat and has a significant influence on society and individuals. Tragic events such as the September 11 attacks intensely affect generations, keeping the fear and risk perceptions ongoing. Perceived risk and fear are generally designed by past experiences (e.g., victimizations) and media coverages. Nevertheless, new generations might perceive terrorism threats differently due to the varying level of exposure to terrorism threats (i.e.., September 11 vs. gun violence). The Chapter’s findings suggest that while almost ninety percent of the students stated that the September 11 attacks still have a negative impact on American society, college students’ risk perception ranking is not aligned with the mainstream. Results suggest more than half of the students (57%) perceive gun violence as the main threat to the U.S.; whereas only 11.5% think terrorism is the main threat. Surprisingly, college students give higher weights to cyber-terrorism threats compared to foreign terrorist attacks like ISIS (79% vs. 63.4% respectively). Concerning the covariates of fear and risk perceptions, the current study found that vicarious victimization, confidence in the government, political identity, media exposure, GPA, and academic standing are strong predictors of perceived fear and risk of terrorism.

Chapter Eight The Impact of Technology on Deviance and Social Control focuses on the Internet, deviant behaviors, and social control. This chapter can be helpful in enhancing our understanding of the role(s) that the Internet plays in supporting or encouraging deviant behaviors. In addition, this chapters enlightens the account of communication media technology and how it influences culture, control, as well as deviance. Finally, this chapter finds that labeling is habitually grounded upon stereotypes and can either be optimistic or (in most cases) damaging.

Chapter Nine Media Viewing, Child Development and Policy Implications: The Impact of Covid-19 focuses on the issue of media use among young children, including the effects of media exposure and an underlying parental guilt about the excessive amount of time spent with media use. Chapter Nine proves that media use and the possible later effects on children’s development, parent-child interaction and relationship is important. This chapter of the book turns our attention to parental responsibility for their children’s development. This chapter also reviews the impact of Covid-19 on children’s lives. This chapter proposes that social isolations have generated problems, risks, and unintended consequences within children’s development.

Chapter Ten The Portrayal of the Kurds in the Turkish Media examines how the sociological imagination of the individuals living in southeastern Turkey is constructed through the movie, The Bliss. Traditional and modern forms of life are symbolically constructed.. The framework of honor killing, masculinity in southeastern Turkey, cultural deficiency, and othering will be analyzed to explicate how stereotypical southeastern Turkish characters are reproduced. Content analysis techniques are applied to interpret apparent and latent contents, contexts, and aspects. Developed categories are revisited through Ibn Khaldun’s Typology, cultural deficiency theory, Tonnies’ theory, Durkheim’s view on society, and Goffman’s framing process.

References

Bryant, C. D. (1984). Odum’s concept of the technic ways: Some reflections on an underdeveloped sociological notion. Sociological Spectrum, 4, 115–42.

Copes, H., & Cherbonneau, M. (2006). The key to auto theft: Emerging methods of auto theft from the offenders’ perspective. The British Journal of Criminology, 46(5), 917–34.

Holt, J. T. (2009). Examining the role technology in the formation of deviant subcultures. Social Science Computer Review, 1–16. Doi:10.1177/0894439309351344.

Jacobs, B. (1999). Dealing crack: The social world of street corner selling. Northeastern University Press.

Lucas, A. M. (2005). The work of sex work: Elite prostitutes’ vocational orientations and experiences. Deviant Behavior, 26, 513–46.

Hayes, A. D. (2018). The trusted insider: Motives, behaviors, fictions, and digital age norms. American Intelligence Journal, 35(2), 17–25.

Howe, M., & Monaghan, J. (2018). Strategic incapacitation of indigenous dissent: Crowd theories, risk management, and settler colonial policing. The Canadian Journal of Sociology / Cahiers Canadiens De Sociologie, 43(4), 325–48. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26573404.

Quinn, J. F., & Forsyth, C. J. (2005). Describing sexual behavior in the era of the Internet: A typology for empirical research. Deviant Behavior, 26, 291–7.

Van Boven, M., & Verver, M. (2020). Between Vice and virtue: Sex work, stigma, and transactional relationships in Phenom Penh’s hostess bar scene. Etnofoor, 32(2), 99–118. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26964290.

Weber, F. (2017). Towards a digital architecture of reflexive ethnographic data. Ethnography, 18(3), 287–94. https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy.utpb.edu/stable/26359182.

Ziyanak, S. (2015). Analyzing delinquency among Kurdish adolescents: A test of Hirschi’s social bonding theory. Lexington Books.

Chapter 1

The Role of (In)Sufficient Parental Activity and Family Structure on Adolescent Substance Use‌‌

Gonca Feyza Soyer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2010) has determined six critical risk behaviors, which are alcohol and drug use, injury and violence, tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity, and sexual risk behaviors. In 2009, high school students reported that 19.5% smoked cigarettes, 41.8% consumed alcohol, and 20.8% used marijuana in the past month (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). In the latest report, these numbers are reported as the following: 10.8% smoked cigarettes, 32.8% consumed alcohol, and 21.7% used marijuana 30 days prior to the survey (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Although smoking and alcohol consumption had decreased over time, marijuana use has slightly increased since the report had been