OVERVIEW

The lectures aims to provide an overview of the main sociological theories of deviance and criminality, also with the support of case studies regarding the legal and social professions directly involved in the mechanisms of definition and government of the “abnormal”.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To know and to handle oneself in a critical way regarding the main paradigms of sociological description of deviance and criminality, as well as social control dispositives.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

In particular, the lectures aims to:

- reconstruct the main theories of deviance and criminality;

- investigate social control and marginalization devices of individuals;

- reflect on policies and intervention strategies.

Critical and gender perspectives will be privileged in all three directions.

At the end of the course, the students will acquire adequate knowledge and interpretative tools to critically analyze deviant phenomena and social exclusion, and to develop empirical research and interventions in this field.

TEACHING METHODS

- Frontal and remote synchronous lessons;

- Exercises/small groups activities;

- Classroom discussions on the topics dealt with, starting from the analysis of case studies.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs (BES) are invited to contact the teacher and the Department's disability liaison officer at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in accordance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning styles.

Working students are also encouraged to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in accordance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning styles.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Introduction: theories of deviance and criminality;
• The origins of criminal sociology: moral statistics and positivist criminology;
• The functionalist model: theories of anomie and of sub-cultures;
• Criticism of functionalism: learning theory and neutralization techniques;
• The social construction of deviance: the Chicago School, symbolic interactionism, ethnomethodology, labeling approach;
• The neo-classical and new-positivism paradigms;
• Critical and gender perspectives.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Textbooks and recommended reading materials for students attending:

• Notes made in the class;
• The reading materials indicated during the course;
• One of the following books by choice: I. Fanlo Cortés, D. Ferrari, a cura di, I soggetti vulnerabili nei processi migratori. La protezione internazionale tra teoria e prassi, Giappichelli, Collana del Corso di Laurea in Servizio sociale, Torino, 2019; F. Vianello, a cura di, Maternità in pena. L'esecuzione penale delle donne con figli minori, Meltemi, Milano, 2023.

Textbooks and recommended reading materials for not attending students:

- F. Prina, Devianza e criminalità. Concetti, metodi di ricerca, cause, politiche, Carocci, Roma, 2019;

- One of the following books by choice: I. Fanlo Cortés, D. Ferrari, a cura di, I soggetti vulnerabili nei processi migratori. La protezione internazionale tra teoria e prassi, Giappichelli, Collana del Corso di Laurea in Servizio sociale, Torino, 2019; F. Vianello, a cura di, Maternità in pena. L'esecuzione penale delle donne con figli minori, Meltemi, Milano, 2023.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course will be held in the second semester of the academic year 2025-2026. More precise information will be provided on Aulaweb, to which students are invited to register regardless of attendance.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination will be in oral form.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exercises, the small group activities, the classroom thematic discussions and finally the oral interview will aim at evaluating the learning and the reworking of the contents from the candidates, as well as their critical reasoning skills and their public speaking ability.

Students having a valid certification of disability or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) or BES may request the use of compensatory measures during the exams (e.g. additional time and/or concept maps), following the guidelines (p. 5) published here [1]. In any case, for further information, please contact the Department’s disability liaison: Isa.Fanlo@unige.it

FURTHER INFORMATION