Sociology: Crime, Deviance, and Social Stratification

A collection of flashcards summarizing key terms and concepts in sociology focusing on crime, deviance, social stratification, and race and ethnicity.

Crime

Violation of laws enacted by a legally constituted authority.

Deviance

Behavior that violates the norms and values of a particular group or society; it is broader than crime.

Class Dominant Theory

The view that laws and the criminal justice system reflect the interests of the powerful upper class.

Differential Association Theory

The theory that deviant behavior is learned through interaction with others who engage in deviance.

Egoistic Suicide

Suicide resulting from low social integration.

Altruistic Suicide

Suicide resulting from high social integration.

Anomic Suicide

Suicide caused by low social regulation or normlessness.

Fatalistic Suicide

Suicide resulting from high social regulation or oppression.

Labeling Theory

Theory that describes how individuals may act according to the labels applied to them, leading to primary and secondary deviance.

Saints and Roughnecks

A study showing social class influences the labeling of individuals; Saints (middle-class) are treated more leniently than Roughnecks (working-class) despite similar behaviors.

Organized Crime

A business supplying illegal goods or services characterized by hierarchical organization and corruption.

Property Crime

Crimes involving the taking of money or property without force or threat of force.

Robert Merton - Strain Theory

Theory proposing that deviance occurs when society creates goals that not everyone can achieve through legitimate means.

School to Prison Pipeline

A trend where children are pushed out of schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Formal Social Control

Regulation enforced by law enforcement agencies and courts.

Informal Social Control

Regulation based on social norms and interpersonal interactions.

Social Control Theory

Theory suggesting that deviance occurs when a person's bonds to society are weakened.

Structural Contradiction Theory

Theory suggesting that conflicts generated by societal contradictions can lead to crime and deviance.

Broken Windows Theory

The theory that visible signs of crime create an environment that encourages further crime.

Caste System

A closed social stratification system where social positions are ascribed at birth.

Conflict View of Inequality and Stratification

The perspective that inequality and stratification are results of power struggles in society.

Meritocracy

A system where social mobility is based on individual talent and effort.

Social Mobility

The movement of individuals or groups between different social positions.

Symbolic Interactionism Perspective on Stratification

The view that social status is also defined by everyday interactions and shared meanings.

Minority Group

A group experiencing differential and unequal treatment in society.

Cultural Pluralism

A condition where minority groups maintain distinct cultural identities while coexisting with the dominant group.

Institutional Discrimination

Discriminatory practices embedded in social institutions that disadvantage certain groups.

Jim Crow Laws

Laws enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

Assimilation

The process by which a minority group adopts the culture of the dominant group.

Prejudice

A negative attitude or belief about a group based on stereotypes.

Stereotyping

Attributing the same characteristics to all members of a group, often based on limited information.

Model Minority

A stereotype characterizing a particular racial or ethnic group as uniformly successful.

Japanese Internment Camps

Camps where Japanese Americans were forcibly removed and incarcerated during World War II.