Crime & Deviance - not done Flashcards
What are the key studies for Crime and Deviance?
What is a crime?
A crime is defined as an illegal act punishable by law that, if detected, can result in criminal proceedings
- Crime involves acts such as robbery, shoplifting, identity theft, terrorism and human trafficking
- Crime is a controversial topic that is covered by the media and politicians
- Sociologists are interested in both the role of deviance in society and criminal behaviour
What is deviance?
- Deviance refers to behaviour that does not conform to society’s rules and norms
- It is disapproved of by most people and, if detected, can result in negative sanctions
- Deviant behaviour includes both legal and illegal activities
- Legal deviance is behaviour considered ‘abnormal’ in some way but not punishable by law
What are examples of deviance?
- parking on double yellow lines
- cycling on the pavement
- sitting next to a stranger on an empty train or bus
- drinking or smoking while pregnant
- extreme body modification, e.g. plastic surgery, face tattoos
- talking in the cinema
- wearing the incorrect uniform to school
- stealing food due to food poverty
What are examples of the social construction of criminal and deviant behaviour to do with time?
- It was acceptable to smoke in public places until it became illegal in 2007
- Suicide was considered a crime until 1961
- In the 1950s, extramarital births were viewed as a social stigma
- Homosexuality was a crime until 1967
What are examples of the social construction of criminal and deviant behaviour to do with place?
- Smoking in a public place is illegal
- Smoking in your own home is acceptable
- Smoking in someone else’s home could be considered deviant
- Wearing swimwear on a beach is socially acceptable but deviant in the workplace or classroom
What are examples of the social construction of criminal and deviant behaviour to do with culture?
- In some Arab states, using cannabis is legal but drinking alcohol is not
- Eating guinea pig is a tradition in parts of South America but would be considered deviant in the UK
What are examples of the social construction of criminal and deviant behaviour to do with age?
- The legal age of consent is 16
- The legal age to drink alcohol and buy a scratch card in the UK is 18
- The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10 years old
What are functionalists overall views on crime and deviance?
Since some groups in society experience strain due to the social structure, crime is a socially constructed phenomenon.
What are marxists overall views on crime and deviance?
Due to the criminal justice system’s bias in favour of the wealthy and powerful, crime is socially constructed.
What are feminists overall views on crime and deviance?
Crime is socially constructed by a patriarchal society that applies double standards and is prejudiced against women.
What are interactionists overall views on crime and deviance?
Only the way others respond to and label the act makes it criminal or deviant. People’s perceptions of the events they witness vary.
What is the Consensus approach to social order?
- Functionalism argues that modern society is based on value consensus, which arises from the socialisation process.
- The majority of people support and conform to the rules, which helps to maintain social order over time.
What are the 2 main approaches to explaining social order?
Two main approaches to explaining social order are the consensus and conflict approaches
What is the conflict approach to social order?
- The Marxist approach sees capitalist society as based on conflicting interests between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
- Because the bourgeoisie can influence laws and enforce order, social order is sustained over time.
