ASSIGNMENT
1. First, choose two chapters of the book that are on specific forms of deviance, (homicide, property crimes, white-collar crime, illicit drug use, or sexual offending.
Then, looking at the end of the chapters where they provide the theoretical explanations for these form of crime/deviance, choose at least three of the theoretical explanations they give at the end of both chapters.
2. Compare and contrast the three theoretical explanations, and say which ones you think are a good explanation for this form of deviance , and which ones you disagree with, and why.
Comment on what you learned from seeing how these theories are applied to two separate forms of deviance.
3. Next, take three or more of the theoretical perspectives on deviance, and, considering all the topics we covered, write about which one you agree with the most in general (in other words as the best overall theory of criminal/deviant behavior) and why, or create your own composite theory out of a combination of more than one of the theoretical perspectives.
In doing this, discuss
1) if you think deviance is mostly genetic, innate and absolute and if you think deviance is mostly socially constructed and relative.
2) if you would say you are more conservative in your views of deviance or more liberal or radical in your views on deviance. As we discussed during the semester, some of these views can be seen as aligning in practice with more conservative policies (eg social control theory and routine activities theory) and Sam with more liberal and radical theories(eg labeling theory, conflict theory, feminist theory, critical race theory)
