Crime and Deviance

Question 1

The definition of crime.

Answer 1

crime involves illegal actions and if detected it can result in criminal proceedings.

Question 2

The definition of deviance.

Answer 2

Refers to behaviour that does not conform to social norms and if detected it can result in negative sanctions. (includes legal and illegal actions)

Question 3

What is formal social control?

Answer 3

Agencies of social control are bodies that make laws, enforce them, and punish rule breakers.

Question 4

What is informal social control?

Answer 4

Positive and negative social pressure and reactions from groups such as friends and family.

Question 5

What is the Marxist view of social order?

Answer 5

Marxists believe that social order is enforced to benefit the bourgeoisie as they have the power and the proletariats must conform to achieve social control.

Question 6

What is the Functionalist view of social order?

Answer 6

Functionalists believe that most people agree and conform to the rules as they follow society’s norms and values therefore enforcing social order.

Question 7

What is Merton’s view on why people commit crimes?

Answer 7

Merton argues that some people lack the opportunities to succeed through socially acceptable routes and therefore have to resort to crime to make a living.

Question 8

What is anomie?

Answer 8

The breakdown of social norms which leads to social change.

Question 9

What is Durkheims view on crime?

Answer 9

Durkheim argues that crime and punishment can contribute to social cohesion and provides a key function to society.

Question 10

What is social cohesion?

Answer 10

How much a society is bound together by things such as collective outrage, and having common values.

Question 11

What is Becker’s main theory?

Answer 11

Becker researched how labelling somebody as an “outsider” can create deviant groups that encourage breaking laws and embracing the labels.

Question 12

What is a criticism of Becker?

Answer 12

Becker fails to explain why individuals deviate in the first place.

Question 13

According to Merton, what influences people’s goals and aspirations?

Answer 13

The values of their culture, such as the American dream.

Question 14

According to Becker, who or what creates deviance?

Answer 14

Deviance is created by society negatively labelling people.

Question 15

What is the chivalry thesis?

Answer 15

It suggests women are treated more leniently than men when sentenced in court.

Question 16

What is the double deviance thesis?

Answer 16

It suggests female offenders are treated and punished as double deviants because they have broken two sets of rules, the law and the norms governing gender behaviour.

Question 17

What is the control theory?

Answer 17

Attaching people to family and friends it can prevent them from turning to crime. (acting as a form of social control)

Question 18

Why does Heidensohn believe women commit less crimes?

Answer 18

He believes that women are constrained as they are expected to look after others in the home such as children and are, therefore, less able to commit crimes.

Question 19

What are the two main sources of data that record the extent of crimes?

Answer 19

Victim surveys and self-report studies.

Question 20

What is a victim survey?

Answer 20

They ask people what crimes they have experienced and witnessed.

Question 21

What is a self-report study?

Answer 21

They ask people about what crimes they have committed.

Question 22

What is the American dream?

Answer 22

An idolised goal of becoming rich and successful.

Question 23

What is white collar crime?

Answer 23

It refers to crimes committed by people with a high social status during work. (such as tax evasion and fraud)

Question 24

What is corporate crime?

Answer 24

Crimes committed by employees on behalf of the company they work for.

Question 25

in 2015 what percentage of offences were committed by women?

Answer 25

Only 20% women and 80% men.

Question 26

What is the gender deal for women?

Answer 26

By conforming to a traditional life with a husband and kids women are supposed to be rewarded with happiness and fulfilment in life.

Question 27

According to Durkhiem what are the three functions of crime?

Answer 27

Social Regulation, Social integration, Social change.

Question 28

What is social regulation?

Answer 28

when a crime occurs, and the individuals are punished it becomes clear to the rest of society that the particular action concerned is unacceptable.

Question 29

What is social integration?

Answer 29

When the community join together in common outrage against the offender. (social cohesion)

Question 30

What is social change?

Answer 30

Crimes that perform the service of positive change in society, for example, the suffragettes.

Question 31

According to Merton, why do the working class commit crimes?

Answer 31

He believes that the working class have limited opportunities to succeed through socially acceptable routes.

Question 32

What is a criticism of Merton’s theory?

Answer 32

Juvenile delinquency such as vandalism is not motivated by money.

Question 33

Why does Becker believe people commit crimes?

Answer 33

Becker argues that deviance is created by society labelling people as outsiders and forcing them to resort to crime.

Question 34

What is a critisism of beckers interactionalist approach?

Answer 34

Becker fails to explain why people deviate in the first place.

Question 35

What are the three areas of control women face?

Answer 35

In the home, public spaces, and at work.