Crime & Deviance
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CRIME: An action that breaks the law and can lead to official punishments such as prison sentences.
DEVIANCE: An action that breaks the laws of society but leads to no formal punishment. |
CONTOLLING CRIME AND DEVIANCE:
Agents of social control fall into 2 categories...
Agents of social control fall into 2 categories...
- Informal control: Media/ school/ peer groups
- Formal control: The government/ police/ prisons/ religion
Explanations of crime and deviance:
Other:
- Inadequate socialisation within families
- Sub-cultural theories
- Relative deprivation
- Labelling theory
PATTERNS OF CRIME
:( - excludes hidden figures, socially constructed - not a true picture
:( - doesn't cover all crimes, homeless/ institutionalised people not included, lying?
Sociologists argue that crime stats are 'socially constructed' - outcome of decisions and choices made by the people!
Crime stats exclude 'hidden figures' - may be too trivial or unreported
- Official statistics of crimes recorded by the police
:( - excludes hidden figures, socially constructed - not a true picture
- Surveys of the public such as victim surveys and self-report studies
:( - doesn't cover all crimes, homeless/ institutionalised people not included, lying?
Sociologists argue that crime stats are 'socially constructed' - outcome of decisions and choices made by the people!
Crime stats exclude 'hidden figures' - may be too trivial or unreported
WHO?
Young people, males (although woman's crimes are increasing) , urban areas, black ethnicities and the working class (Marxism) are more likely to be involved in crime. Poverty? Expectations? Education?
Young people, males (although woman's crimes are increasing) , urban areas, black ethnicities and the working class (Marxism) are more likely to be involved in crime. Poverty? Expectations? Education?
STUDIES:
Ann Oakly (1981) - males more likely to offend (females raised to be passive and caring)
Cicourel (1976) - how young people present themselves influences likelihood of arrest and conviction
Paul Willis (1977) - working class boys = working class jobs - school irrelevant so didn't conform
Ann Oakly (1981) - males more likely to offend (females raised to be passive and caring)
Cicourel (1976) - how young people present themselves influences likelihood of arrest and conviction
Paul Willis (1977) - working class boys = working class jobs - school irrelevant so didn't conform