12078 - Sociology of Deviance

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the sociological study of deviance and delinquency. By the end of the course students will be able to appraise the contribution of the theoretical frameworks analysed to our understanding of crime and deviance.

Course contents

The first part of the program concerns the relationships between the sociology of deviance and the other human sciences putting into evidence the existence of different and sometimes opposing paradigms. Afterwards we will examine the historical and developing aspect of this discipline in order to focus our attention on the specific theoretical contributions which have fostered a debate in the criminological field.

Within this historical excursus, some aspects about the crime dynamics will be illustrated with a particular reference to the interaction between the offender and the victim.

Readings/Bibliography

Balloni A., Bisi R., Sette R., Criminologia e psicopatologia forense, Wolters Kluwer, Milano, 2019.

Students have to study all the articles published in:
Rivista di Criminologia, Vittimologia e Sicurezza, Anno 12, n. 1, January-April 2018 (available on the website: www.vittimologia.it/rivista)

Teaching methods

Lectures, videos and class group presentation.

Despite the fact that it is not compulsory, course attendance is highly recommended.

Given that an active involvement of students is required during lessons, course attendance (certified on the basis of a minimum 70% of presence) is necessary in order to take the exam for regular attendees.

Assessment methods

The final exam aims to verify the achievement of the following goals:

1) knowledge of the main criminological theories;

2) the ability to use these theories in order to analyze crime.

For not attendees students, the exam will consist in a written text followed by an oral examination.

For attendees students there will be two written exams: the first one after the first part of the lessons, and the second one at the end of the lessons. After having passed the written examinations, attendees students have access to oral interview.

Teaching tools

PC and videoprojector. Web resources.

During lectures, the professor will use Power Point presentations that will be published on the website: https://iol.unibo.it

These documents do not substitute the compulsory reading materials, but they are supplementary and constitute a study guide to help gain a better understanding of the course contents.

Office hours

See the website of Sandra Sicurella