Deviance and Social Control

The idea that deviant behavior can be controlled by punishment is the main topic of this paper. Ideas on how and why the different examples of punishment work are do not work will be given. The four types of punishment in relation to the deviant behavior is discussed.

To begin, let us discuss each of the four different types of punishment in general. The first type of punishment to describe is retribution. “Retribution is the act of moral vengeance by which society makes the offender suffer as much as the suffering caused by the crime.” ( John J Macionis, Society: The Basics, pg 188) Many times the courts offer a monetary retribution for such deviance as minor crimes. These could include theft, drug use or passion, verbal abuse, and damages caused by deviant behavior. This is a small part of how retribution works.

When a person is caught in a deviant act that is punishable by law, then the law will decide what type of retribution is needed in relation to the crime.

Enemy Within, live art performance by Danny C. Sil...

Deviant ID

The Deviant Strain

This punishment can work on most minor deviance such as driving ticket. If one gets a ticket a fine is then given. The knowledge that one will receive a fine for speeding in most cases deters people from driving above the speeding limit. This is an affective way to deter the deviant behavior of speeding.

Retribution can come in many forms other than just monetary means. Any form of punishment would be a form of retribution for a deviant behavior. In major crimes that involve such crimes as serial murder, and genocide the death penalty is often the retribution required. “Supporters of capital punishment contend that a punishment should be in some sense proportionate to the offense; opponents reply that such retribution, and the “judicial murder”...