Unit 6: Deviance and Crime Study Guide

Flashcards covering key concepts related to deviance and crime for Unit 6.

Deviance

Behavior that defies social norms.

Cultural Transmission Theory

Defiance is learned through interactions with others; the more deviance in the environment, the more deviant actions will occur.

Differential Association

A concept within Cultural Transmission Theory suggesting that increased deviance in one's surroundings leads to more deviant behavior.

Control Theory

Suggests that deviance is a natural occurrence and key to societal control; those with weak ties are more likely to be deviant.

Conflict Theory

Proposes that competition and social inequality create deviance.

Labeling Theory

Suggests that deviance occurs as a result of being labeled as deviant by society.

Structural Strain Theory

Indicates that deviance arises from the inability to achieve societal values.

Anomie

A state where societal norms are unclear.

Stigma

A mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from society.

Crime

Any act that is labeled as such by authority, is prohibited by law, and is punishable by government enforcement.

Violent Crimes

Crimes that involve physical harm or threat of harm to others (e.g., murder, sexual assault, robbery).

Property Crimes

Crimes involving the theft of property (e.g., burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson).

Victimless Crimes

Crimes not directed at another person, but rather at the individual committing the crime (e.g., drug use, gambling).

White Collar Crimes

Crimes committed by individuals of high social status in the course of their professional lives (e.g., fraud, insider trading).

Organized Crimes

Crimes committed by large syndicates to conduct illegal activity as a means of business (e.g., mafia, cartel).

FBI Uniform Crime Report

A report indicating the trends and statistics of crime in the U.S.; crime has been slowly decreasing over the last 30 years.