M8D1: Entering Deviance and Early Intervention

Upon successful completion of this activity, students will be able to:

• Identify ethical problems faced by individuals or communities and identify effective solutions
• Acquire a basic understanding of how to apply theories of deviance to their own personal and professional experiences
• Explain and critically evaluate contemporary literature in the field of criminal justice

As you read Part VIII of the textbook, listen to the podcast, and watch the YouTube video, think about how people first become deviant. Consider what could prevent them from going down these paths. Think about times when you were tempted to commit a crime, binge and purge, take illegal drugs, drop out of school or engage in a dangerous behavior – what stopped you? If you didn’t stop, why not? If you did engage in some of these behaviors, how did you keep them from becoming your identity? How does a person go from one act to a “career” in deviance?

After reading Part VIII of your textbook, listening to the podcast, and watching the YouTube Video, discuss what strategies you think parents, lawmakers and social movements could use to intervene before or during the time that folks are becoming deviant. For example, who could have done what to prevent Iceberg Slim from being a pimp? What could be done to prevent a person from committing his or her first burglary? What is your suggestion about advertising campaigns, social movements, education or parenting to prevent children from becoming obese adults? Use at least one of the articles or the podcast to discuss your ideas for identifying “at risk” groups and preventing members of these groups from entering into deviant careers.