Key Terms

Question 1

Action theories

Answer 1

They see individuals has having free will and choice and the power to create society through their actions and interactions rather than being shaped by society interactionism is the best- known theory of this type.

Question 2

Alienation

Answer 2

Where an individual or group feels socially isolated and estranged because they lack the power to control their own lives and realise their true potential.

Question 3

Anomie

Answer 3

Normlessness. Durkheim suggested it was when rapid social change happens and existing social norms become unclear or outdated.
Merton strain theory argues individuals lack legitimate means of achieving culturally prescribed goals. it results in a strain to anomie.

Question 4

Asceticsim

Answer 4

Abstinence, self discipline self denial. linked to religion. This worldly and other worldly

Question 5

Chivalry thesis

Answer 5

The view that the CJS is biased in favour of women so they are less likely to be charged.

Question 6

Civil religion

Answer 6

A belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself and makes the nation state the object of religious or Quasi- religious worship. Seen as promoting social solidarity.

Question 7

Collective conscience

Answer 7

Terms referred to the shared norms values and beliefs and knowledge that makes cooperation and social life between individuals possible

Question 8

Comparative method

Answer 8

Compares 2 social groups that are alike but apart from one factor

Question 9

Critical criminology

Answer 9

Neo-marxist. Combined traditional Marxism and labeling theory to explain crime in capitalist society .It sees WC crime as a conscious and often political act of resistance to the exploitation and oppression that they suffer under capitalism.

Question 10

Cultural defence

Answer 10

When religion provides focal point for the defence of national,ethnic, local or other groups to identity in a struggle against external forces.

Question 11

Cultural transition

Answer 11

The process of moving from one country to another.

Question 12

Denominations

Answer 12

Broadly accept society’s values but not linked to state. impose restrictions of members but tolerant of other religions. Do not claim monopoly on truth

Question 13

Deviance amplification spiral

Answer 13

the process whereby attempts to control deviance actually increases deviance leading to greater attempts to control leading to higher levels of deviance

Question 14

Dramaturgical model

Answer 14

Gofffman- interactionist approach uses analogies with drama as framework fro analysing social interaction. Actors.

Question 15

Ethnomethodology

Answer 15

Interpretivist approach. Garfinkel. rejects the idea of an external social structure and sees society as a social construct

Question 16

Falsificationism

Answer 16

According to Popper, it is defining characteristics of scientific knowledge which consists of statements that can in principle be falsified by experiments or observation.

Question 17

Ideology

Answer 17

Marxist idea meaning a set of beliefs that serve the interests of a dominant group by justifying their privileged position

Question 18

Individualism

Answer 18

The idea that the individual is more important than the group

Question 19

Left realism

Answer 19

Reformist socialists

Question 20

Neutralisation techniques

Answer 20

Used by delinquents to justify their delinquent behaviour

Question 21

New Right

Answer 21

A conservative political perspective whose supporters believe in self-reliance and individual choice

Question 22

Paradigm

Answer 22

According to Kuhn, a paradigm is shared by members of the scientific community. It defines for them what normal science is by providing them with shared framework of basic assumptions within which to work. tells them what nature is like, which aspects to study and the methods to use.

Question 23

Phenomenology

Answer 23

An interpretivist approach developed by Schutz. He argues that we make sense of the world through shared concepts or categories called typification. meanings are potentially unclear and unstable but typifications clarify and stabilise them, allowing use to communicate and cooperate

Question 24

Pluralism

Answer 24

A pluralistic society is one with many different cultures, religions or political parties.

Question 25

Relativism

Answer 25

The view that knowledge claims are not absolutely true or false but true merely to those who believe them. The opposite to relativism is Absolutism

Question 26

Religious market theory( rational choice theory)

Answer 26

Compares religious organisations and businesses competing for customers.

Question 27

Triangulation

Answer 27

The use of two or more different methods or sources of data so that they complement each other. strengths countering weaknesses

Question 28

Zemiology

Answer 28

Literally means the study of harms. in criminology, it is concerns with why some harms come to be defined as crimes while other do not even when they cause more damage than other crimes do.(Pollution)