Sociology: Paper 2 - Crime and deviance

crime definition

an action that results in breaking a written, formal rule in society e.g. murder

deviant definition

behaviour that doesnt conform to the dominant norms of society e.g. sitting next to a stranger on an empty bus

what can change whether something is deviant or criminal

• time period - past/present - homosexuality

• place - killing in the army vs society

• culture - arranged marriages

• social situation - drinking at 8am in public vs airport

anomie definition

society lacks clear norms and values which leads to a break down in social order and more crime - CHAOS

what do functionalists think about crime and deviant behaviour

• it is a necessary part of society as it serves to define and reinforce social norms and values

• provides a clear boundary by whats right and wrong

• society needs a form of punishment to maintain social order

Merton

• strain theory

• people use illegitimate means to achieve their goals because they dont have the means to do it without criminal behaviour

• functionalist

Cohen f

• status frustration

• people e.g. working class dont have the position they want in society and turn to other methods to get it e.g. a gang

• functionalist

what do marxists think if crime and deviant behaviour

• crime happens because of the way the bourgeoisie exploit and control the working class

• capitalism is the driving force behind crime

• prison reinforces the power and wealth of ruling class

• its a result of working class oppression

what do marxists think about the laws and legal system

they arent neutral and are shaped by the interests of those who hold power in society and are used to maintain their dominance over marginalised groups

what do marxists think about capitalism

it promotes criminogenic values such as greed which results in the working class resorting to crime

what do feminists think about crime and deviant behaviour

• its created by the power dynamics in society

• its a result of the way men use their power to exploit and control women

Hiedensohn

• social control

• women are less likely to commit crime because of their socialisation and expectation placed on them by society: triple shift

• women are treated more harshly than men because it isnt expected

• feminist

where does hiedensohn say women are controlled

• at home - their time is taken up with domestic chores

• in public - women are controlled by the threat of male violence e.g. cant go out at night

• at work - the glass ceiling

• controlled by fathers brothers and husbands

what do interactionists think of crime and deviant behaviour

• they are a product of certain actions in society

• they focus on how people in power e.g. media are who decide what is criminal and deviant

• this behaviour is a result of the way people are labelled

what is a victim survey

a survey reporting a crime from the victim

what is a problem with victim surveys

they might be able to fill it in due to risk of being harmed e.g. domestic violence

what is the dark figure of crime

crimes go unreported, unnoticed e.g. white collar crime

what is a self report study

a survey that is submitted by the offender of the crime but they arent reliable bc not many crinals admit to what they do

who are the mods and rockers

• example of moral panic

• they would fight on streets of south england which led to widespread fear about “youths” undermining laws

• subcultures

the mods

• rode scooters

• listens to R&B

• wore suits

the rockers

• rode motorcycles

• listened to rock music

• wore leather jackets

an example of socially constructed deviance

teenagers walking around in big groups at night

what do marxists say about the law

it is made by people in the ruling class to exploit the proletariat

practical issues of OCS

• cost

• access

• time

ethical issues of OCS

• confidential

• right to withdraaw

• anonymous

• protection from harm

• informed consent

strength of OCS

• useful to see trends

• easy to analyse

• free

• easy access

weakness of OCS

• not detail

• no one can withdrw

strength of a victim survey

people may not be as scared

weakness of a victime survey

• people can lie on them

• many people wont be able to

biological factors that people commit crime because of

• 50% of female crimes are when they are on their menstrual cycle

• high cheek bones

• curly hair

psycological factors that make people commit crime

maternal deprivation - they lacked attention and so commit crime to make up for that

how does socialisation affect ciminal bahviour

charles murray (New right) says that one parent household lead to children being inadequately socialised

how does labelling affect criminal behaviour

• class

• age

• gender

• ethnicity

• social class

how do subcultures affect criminal behaviour

being in a gang

how does gender socialisation result in different crime rates between men and women

• canalisation - girls taught to stay home and be safe and boys want to go out and act tough

• bedroom culture

who came up with the bedroom culture

McRobbie

how are different opportunities the reasn for crime rate gaps between men and women

• women have less opportunity to commit crime because of triple shift

• women also dont stay out as late

what is the chivalry thesis

• women are treated more leniently in the justie system because they are seen as “sad not bad”

• criticise - the justice system is no longer lenient

how does chivalry thesis lead to different crime rates between men and women

women are treated more leniently and alway asked if a man made them commit the crime - they arent puncished as often

Carlen

• feminist

• class deal - offers women material rewards - wage

• gender deal - family offers emotional rewards with the husband

what are the 4 factors carlen identified to show women break the law

• more women in poverty - lack of class deal

• more women in residential care - no gender deal

• more women doing drugs - not in right frame of mind

• women in search of more entertainment -

ladette culture

• women are becoming more like men in their actions

• drinking and fighting

• joining gangs

• reflects a change in social behaviour

stephen lawrence

• police is instiutionally racist

• only tried to solve it when nelson mandlla came in

• took at least a week

marginalisation

individuals or groups are forced to stay away from main sector of society - mainly BAME people

• they miss out on the desired staus and so commit crime

moral panics

• a widespread far where a person or group is going to threaten society or a community

over representation in OCS

• BAME people are over represented because white collar crimes go undetected

examples of formal social control

• writen laws

• houses of parliament

• judges

• prison

examples of informal social control

• family members

• peers

• teachers

• work collegues

broken window theory

• sociologists bleive broken windows are a symbol of crime in society

• provides places for crimes to happen

hypodermic needle theory

• the media injects views and attitudes on to the public

• public passivly agree with them

hypodermic needle criticism

• assumes audience dont have their own views

• little evidence that the media has such a large effect

who came up with the theory of moral panics and folk devils

• cohen

• interactionist

whats an example of a folk devil

• Manson

what is a folk devil

a person of group of people who are portrayed as outsiders and deviant by the media

what is deviancy amplification

• when crime of deviant behaviour is icreased by the media

what do marxists argue about the media

• ruling class benefit from moral panic

• they distract people from problems in society e.g. inequality

• also creates profit

does the media create crime - AGREE

• yes - moral panics (mods and rockers) to take the attention away from themselves

• anti societal subcultures are made when people disagree with the media

does the media create crime - DISAGREE

• no mods and rockers only created £200 worth of damage

• no they just use it to distarct people from themselves

• status frustration

• strain theory

• carlen