Ateneo - UPO

This module provides an introduction to the sociological study of deviance and crime, covering the fundamental concepts, key analytical and methodological approaches, and theoretical paradigms required to critically understand deviant phenomena and the associated control policies.

The course is divided into two closely integrated parts. The first focuses on the concepts, theories and methods of the sociology of deviance; the second explores certain phenomena and contexts in contemporary society, including forms of social marginalisation, juvenile deviance, the mafia and organised crime, white-collar crime and environmental crime. Specific topics will be analysed through the application of the theoretical models introduced progressively, with a focus on the processes of social definition of deviance, public representations, the dynamics of criminalisation, and control policies and practices.

Attention will be paid to the gender dimension, considered across the board in relation to the processes of defining and categorising deviance, asymmetries in systems of social and criminal control, and forms of bodily control. The relationship between social control, power and social work will also be explored in depth, with the aim of developing a critical perspective on the professional practice of social workers.

Teaching methods include lectures, classroom discussions, guided exercises, group work, seminars with external guests and field trips. These activities aim to foster not only the acquisition of subject-specific knowledge, but also the ability to use sociological terminology, apply theories to the analysis of concrete cases, recognise stereotypes and typifications, and reflect on the implications of institutional and professional choices.

Assessment of learning consists of a written examination with open-ended questions, designed to assess knowledge and understanding of the course content, the ability to link concepts, theories and real-life cases, the appropriate use of disciplinary language, and the capacity for critical and independent argumentation. The assessment takes into account accuracy, completeness, clarity of presentation, appropriate use of terminology, the ability to apply concepts, and reflection on the social, institutional and professional implications of the topics covered.

Syllabus for 9 CFU:

F. PRINA, Devianza e criminalità. Concetti, metodi di ricerca, cause, politiche, Carocci, 2019 (Chapters 1 and 2)

D. SCARSCELLI, O. VIDONI GUIDONI, R. ALTOPIEDI, La devianza. Teorie e politiche di controllo. Nuova edizione, Carocci, 2025

D. SCARSCELLI, Controllo sociale e potere nell'ambito del lavoro sociale: una prospettiva critica, in Dino, Rinaldi (a cura di) Sociologia della devianza e del crimine, Capitolo 26, Mondadori, 2021

Syllabus for 6 CFU:

F. PRINA, Devianza e criminalità. Concetti, metodi di ricerca, cause, politiche, Carocci, 2019 (Chapters 1)

D. SCARSCELLI, O. VIDONI GUIDONI, R. ALTOPIEDI, La devianza. Teorie e politiche di controllo. Nuova edizione, Carocci, 2025 (Chapters 1-6)

D. SCARSCELLI, Controllo sociale e potere nell'ambito del lavoro sociale: una prospettiva critica, in Dino, Rinaldi (a cura di) Sociologia della devianza e del crimine, Capitolo 26, Mondadori, 2021

The course content and structure are the same for both attending and non-attending students. However, attending students have the opportunity to take part in group seminars and mid-term assessments; passing these will allow them to sit the final exam based entirely on the book by D. SCARSCELLI, O. VIDONI GUIDONI and R. ALTOPIEDI, La devianza. Teorie e politiche di controllo. Nuova edizione, Carocci, 2025 (Chapters 1-6). Students following the 9-credit programme must supplement the exemption examination with a report on one of the seminars scheduled during the course, in accordance with arrangements to be agreed with the lecturer.

Students are considered to have attended the course if they have been present and participated in the activities of at least 8 lectures (+ one seminar for the 9-credit programme)

For Erasmus students there is the possibility of taking the final exam in English. Those who study in Erasmus are invited to contact the teacher

The module aims to provide students with the conceptual and theoretical tools to understand and critically analyse the phenomena of deviance and crime, their sociological interpretations, and policies relating to social and criminal control.
In line with the interdisciplinary structure of the Social Work degree programme, the course contributes to building the professional knowledge required to understand the social phenomena relevant to the work of a social worker and to develop the ability to critically analyse representations of deviance and intervention policies.

The specific learning objectives of the course are:

— the acquisition of tools for the critical analysis of deviant behaviour and of social and criminal control policies, with particular attention to the implications for the social work profession and for work within services and institutions;

— the ability to identify stereotypes and categorisations of behaviour, and to recognise their consequences for the processes of the social construction of deviance;

— the ability to identify implications and links between interpretative theories, representations of deviant phenomena and intervention policies, in order to consciously guide one’s professional practice.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

— be familiar with and understand the main concepts and theoretical paradigms of the sociology of deviance;
— critically analyse phenomena of deviance and policies of social and criminal control;
— identify stereotypes and typifications of deviant behaviour;
— recognise the links between interpretative theories, representations of deviant phenomena and policies on prevention, control and treatment;
— understand the implications of different interpretative models for policy directions and for the interventions of professionals working in services and institutions, with particular reference to the social work profession.

Students must have sat the Sociology exam.
It is essential to have sat the General Sociology examination.

It is therefore assumed that students have already acquired:

– familiarity with the main sociological theories and approaches;

– knowledge of the fundamentals and main research methods of the discipline;

– a command of basic sociological terminology;

– an understanding of the essential concepts of sociology and the ability to apply them to the analysis of social phenomena.

This knowledge forms the necessary foundation for studying deviance and crime from a strictly sociological perspective.

The course combines lecture-based teaching with interactive teaching, using a variety of methods designed to facilitate both the acquisition of theoretical content and its application to the analysis of real-world phenomena and situations.

Lecture-based teaching comprises:

– lectures dedicated to presenting the fundamental concepts, the main theoretical paradigms and the analytical tools of the sociology of deviance;

– contextualisation of the topics and phenomena addressed through reference to the examination texts and additional teaching materials;

– seminars with external guest speakers, aimed at exploring specific areas of deviance and crime in greater depth and at linking sociological approaches to experiences, practices and institutional and professional contexts.

Interactive teaching comprises:

– classroom discussions and debates on the content of lectures, texts, teaching materials and relevant current affairs;

– practical exercises and group work guided towards the application of theoretical concepts and models to the analysis of real-life cases;

– sessions for feedback and collective discussion of the outcomes of the practical exercises and work carried out;

– study visits, planned in line with the course topics, with the aim of fostering links between theoretical knowledge, institutional contexts and intervention practices.

The various activities will be organised in line with the course structure: lectures and seminars will provide the conceptual and theoretical tools, whilst discussions, practical exercises, group work and field trips will enable students to apply these critically to the analysis of deviance and crime, and the related control policies and practices.

Attendance is strongly recommended, particularly for participation in interactive activities, practical sessions, group work, seminars and study visits.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request specific services and resources designed for them by contacting the Career Development and Coordination and Student Services team and consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentesse-e-studenti-condizione-di-disabilit%C3%A0-e-dsa. Once they have made contact with the University staff, students with disabilities, SLDs or SEN may contact the lecturer responsible for the course to discuss the arrangements for examinations and teaching-related matters.

Assessment of learning takes the form of a written examination, comprising three open-ended questions on the content of the reference texts and the teaching materials presented during the course.

The examination is designed to assess:

– knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts of the sociology of deviance and of the main theoretical paradigms and their interpretative assumptions;

– the ability to use the discipline’s specific terminology correctly;

– the ability to apply theoretical models, concepts and theories to the analysis of phenomena of deviance and crime, presenting arguments independently, clearly and coherently;

Each piece of knowledge and skill acquired is awarded a mark out of thirty. The final mark is determined by the average of the marks achieved in the three answers.

The assessment takes the following criteria into account:

– accuracy of content and theoretical references, and completeness of the answer in relation to the question posed;

– clarity and appropriateness of presentation, with correct use of sociological terminology;

– ability to establish links between concepts, theories, phenomena and concrete cases, as well as the ability to undertake critical analysis and present independent arguments;

The pass mark corresponds to an answer that demonstrates an overall correct knowledge of the essential content, an understanding of the main concepts and theoretical models, and their application that is at least adequate for the analysis of the phenomena presented. Answers characterised by fragmentary or seriously incomplete knowledge, significant conceptual errors, or an inability to use concepts and theories to construct an argument will not achieve a pass.

Arrangements for attending students

For attending students, there will be tutorials designed to progressively assess their understanding of the concepts, theories and analytical tools covered, as well as a mid-term assessment.

The tutorials serve an educational purpose and do not directly contribute to the final mark. The mid-term test, on the other hand, will be marked and, if passed, will allow students to sit the final exam covering only the textbook by Scarscelli, Vidoni Guidoni and Altopiedi.

To be eligible for this option, a student is considered to be attending if they have attended at least 10 lectures.

The course is divided into two parts.

1. Concepts, theories and methods in the sociology of deviance;

2. In-depth analysis of deviance and crime in contemporary society;

The two parts are interwoven throughout the semester, so that the thematic analysis accompanies and underpins the theoretical examination. The specific topics of the second part will be addressed and revisited in relation to the theories, approaches and analytical tools progressively introduced in the first part.

Part One – Fundamental concepts, theoretical perspectives and analytical tools

The first part is devoted to the sociological framework of the phenomena of deviance and crime, through the analysis of fundamental concepts, key analytical issues and the categories used within the discipline.

Drawing on the contents of the textbook by F. PRINA, *Deviance and Crime: Concepts, Research Methods, Causes, Policies*, Carocci, 2019 (first two chapters), the following topics will be covered:

– definitions of deviance and crime;

– the relationship between social norms, transgression, sanctions and social control;

– the processes of social definition of deviant and criminal behaviour;

– the main methodological issues and challenges in the sociological study of deviance;

– the relationships between social representations, public discourse, policies and control practices;

– the implications of different ways of defining and interpreting these phenomena for prevention, treatment and social intervention.

Reading the textbook by D. SCARSCELLI, O. VIDONI GUIDONI and R. ALTOPIEDI, *Deviance. Teorie e politiche di controllo, new edition, Carocci, 2025 will enable students to explore the main explanatory theories of deviance in depth, situating them within the sociological debate and highlighting their underlying assumptions, concepts, areas of application and implications for control policies. These theoretical perspectives will be applied to the analysis and interpretation of real-life cases, thereby developing the ability to link interpretative models, representations of phenomena and possible approaches to intervention.

Part Two – Application of theoretical approaches to specific phenomena and contexts

Part Two involves the application of conceptual and theoretical tools through the analysis of specific areas of deviance and crime. Reference materials include the slides and resources that will be progressively uploaded to the course’s DIR page:

– juvenile deviance and criminal phenomena involving minors;

– mafias and organised crime;

– white-collar crime and environmental crimes;

– immigration, processes of criminalisation and the social construction of deviance;

These topics will be addressed in connection with the theories and approaches presented in the course, without being treated as separate or necessarily sequential blocks. The aim is to demonstrate how different sociological perspectives can shape our understanding of these phenomena, the identification of their causes and the processes involved, the construction of social problems, and the definition of institutional responses.

The chapter by D. SCARSCELLI, ‘Social control and power in the field of social work: a critical perspective’, in Dino, Rinaldi (eds.),

Sociology of Deviance and Crime, Chapter 26, Mondadori, 2021, which is devoted to the relationship between social control, power and social work, will ultimately enable us to apply a critical approach to the sociology of deviance in social work practice, with particular attention to:

– the role of social services and professions in the processes of defining and controlling deviance;

– the power relations involved in professional and institutional practices;

– the risk of perpetuating stereotypes, stigmatisation and forms of oppression;

– the need to critically examine categories, assessments and intervention practices;

– the development of working methods that are anti-oppressive in nature and respectful of people’s rights, differences and self-determination.

Overall, the programme aims to provide theoretical knowledge and analytical tools for a critical understanding of the phenomena of deviance and crime, and to recognise their implications for social policies, institutions and the professional practice of social workers.

Integration of the gender dimension

The gender dimension is a cross-cutting theme throughout the entire course. Both in the first part, devoted to theoretical paradigms, and in the thematic studies, systematic reference will be made to gender as a relevant variable in the processes of defining and characterising deviance: how social and legal norms produce distinct categories of female and male deviance; how criminalisation processes operate asymmetrically with respect to gender; and how the control of bodies — particularly women’s bodies — is intertwined with criminal justice and social policies.

1. Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students should demonstrate that they have acquired:

— familiarity with the fundamental concepts of the sociology of deviance: norms, transgression, sanctions, social control, crime;

— knowledge of the main issues and methodological challenges in the sociological study of deviance;

— knowledge of the main theoretical paradigms for interpreting deviant and criminal behaviour, situated within their historical context and within contemporary sociological debate;

— an understanding of the processes through which behaviours are socially defined as deviant or criminal;

— an understanding of the relationships between sociological theories, social representations, control policies and institutional practices;

— knowledge of the specific characteristics of the main thematic areas covered in the course: juvenile deviance, the Mafia and organised crime, white-collar crime and environmental crime, immigration and the social construction of deviance;

— knowledge of the role of social services and professions in the processes of defining and controlling deviance, and of the power relations involved.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding

Students should be able to:

— correctly use the vocabulary and fundamental concepts of the sociology of deviance;

— critically analyse the way in which gender influences the definition of deviant behaviour, the construction of categories of female and male deviance, and control practices;

— critically navigate the various interpretative theoretical models and apply them to the analysis of concrete cases and specific phenomena of deviance and crime;

— recognise stereotypes and typifications in public and institutional discourses on deviant phenomena, and problematise their implications in terms of policy and professional intervention;

— link interpretative models, representations of phenomena and possible approaches to intervention;

— recognise gender asymmetries in systems of social control and in criminal justice policies, and take these into account in professional practice.

3. Independent judgement

Students should be able to:

— critically analyse definitions of deviance and crime, avoiding the assumption that these are neutral categories or ones that refer exclusively to the individual characteristics of those involved;

— critically interpret common-sense discourse on deviant phenomena and assess its influence on public discourse and political decisions;

— critically question categories, assessments and intervention practices, recognising the risk of reproducing forms of stigmatisation and oppression;

— guide their professional practice, particularly in the role of social worker, with a critical awareness of the implications of different theoretical perspectives and institutional choices.

4. Communication skills

Students must be able to present the subject matter clearly, accurately and in a well-reasoned manner, using the specific vocabulary of the sociology of deviance and demonstrating the ability to link concepts, theories and concrete cases.

5. Learning skills

Students must have developed the ability to:

— independently engage with specialist texts and materials in the field of the sociology of deviance and crime;

— link the sociological knowledge acquired with what has been learnt in other modules of the Social Work degree programme;

— apply the theoretical and analytical tools acquired to phenomena and situations not directly covered during the course;

— update and deepen their knowledge, whilst maintaining a reflective and critical attitude towards the categories used.