Ateneo - UPO

After an introduction to the sociology of deviance, the first part of the course will cover the main sociological theories on deviance and crime. In the monographic section, the following topics will be analyzed: the biological explanation and the medicalization of deviance; feminist criminologies; the green perspective in criminology; and the prison system.

Scarscelli, Vidoni, Altopiedi (2025), La devianza. Teorie e politiche di controllo, Nuova edizione, Carocci, Roma. Vianello (2019), Il carcere, Carocci, Roma.

The course introduces students to sociological perspectives on deviant and criminal behaviour. The objective is to develop the students' ability to think sociologically about deviance and crime in society.

DIRITTO COSTITUZIONALE
DIRITTO PENALE

To pursue the educational goals of the course, the presentation of the sociological theories adopted to explain the deviance and crime will be integrated, even with the help of audiovisual material and literature pieces, from exercises in which the students will have the opportunity to apply the theories learned to specific cases.
The frequency is therefore recommended.

The educational material used during the lessons will be made available to students on the DIR online platform.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

At the end of the first part of the course (the institutional one), there will be a test (not rated) to verify the learning of sociological theories on deviance. The final exam consists of a written test. This test includes a series of open answers: some answers about the institutional part of the course (the reference text is Scarscelli, Vidoni, Altopiedi, La Devianza) and a answer on the text of Vianello, Il carcere. The final test duration is 2 and a half hours.

The course is divided into two parts: an institutional part and a monographic part. In the institutional part, the main sociological theories on deviance and crime will be presented: the Classical School and rational choice theories; social control theories; strain theory; subcultural theories; differential association theory; neutralization theory; and labeling theory. In the monographic part, the following topics will be analyzed: the biological explanation and the medicalization of deviance; feminist criminologies; the green perspective in criminology; the prison system and its impact on the life course of incarcerated individuals (an attempt will be made to answer the question: Does prison rehabilitate?, bearing in mind that, according to our Constitution, punishments must not consist of treatments contrary to human dignity and should aim at the rehabilitation of the convicted person). Obligatory texts: Scarscelli, Vidoni, Altopiedi (2025), La devianza. Teorie e politiche di controllo, Carocci, Roma (excluding the third paragraph "Applicazione delle teorie ai casi" of the first five chapters) Vianello (2019), Il carcere, Carocci, Roma. Examination program for students who have not attended lectures Obligatory texts: Scarscelli, Vidoni, Altopiedi (2025), La devianza. Teorie e politiche di controllo, Carocci, Roma Vianello (2019), Il carcere, Carocci, Roma. Students in Social Work who wish to take the Criminology exam as an elective course will be required to study the following texts: Scarscelli (2022), Controllo e autodeterminazione nel lavoro sociale: una prospettiva anti-oppressiva, Meltemi, Milano; Caniglia (2018), Neurodiversità. Per una sociologia dell'autismo, dell'ADHD e dei disturbi dell'apprendimento, Meltemi, Milano.

The students must demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge of the main sociological theories on deviance and be able to recognize the implications of social and penal policy of each theory. As regards, instead, the verification of the learning of the monographic part, the students will have to demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge of the most significant contents.