Criminology Unit 1: White-Collar Crime and Deviance

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational concepts of crime, deviance, victimisation, and the dark figure of crime from Criminology Unit 1.

Crime

An act that breaks the law and results in official punishment.

Deviance

Behaviour that breaks social norms or expectations, even if it is not illegal.

Criminal deviance

Behaviour that is both criminal and deviant, such as robbery.

Dark figure of crime

Crime that does not appear in official statistics because it is not reported or recorded.

White-collar crime

Crime that is often treated as less serious than equivalent street crimes.

Victimisation

The process or state of being victimised, shaped by vulnerability, opportunity, power, and social circumstances.

Victim responsibility

The principle that victims are never responsible for crimes committed against them.

Speeding above the limit

An example of a crime that is not universally deviant because it is illegal, but socially accepted by some people.

Nudity

An example of behaviour that is deviant but not criminal, breaking social norms without breaking the law.

Police non-recording

A reason why a police report fails to appear in official crime statistics.

Fear and embarrassment

Key reasons why a crime might not be reported to the police.