Crime and Deviance

Question 1

Critical criminology

Answer 1

A theory of crime and deviance that challenges traditional theories of crime and argues that crime is a result of inequality within a society. It says that criminals deliberately commit crime to provoke change.

Question 2

Critical Victimology

Answer 2

The theory that groups who are oppressed, and who is most likely to be victims of crime.

Question 3

Desensitization

Answer 3

When being exposed to something repeatedly or regularly makes you less sensitive to it, e.g. violence in the media.

Question 4

Deviance amplification spiral

Answer 4

When levels of deviance are exaggerated or over reported by the media, and authorities respond with social control, which provokes further deviance, the authorities then respond with more social control and s met by more deviance.

Question 5

Deviant career

Answer 5

When a person is labelled as deviant and condemned by society. They resort to more deviant behavior to escape the feeling they’ve been rejected. This reinforces the label which makes it harder for the person to escape their deviance.

Question 6

Master Status

Answer 6

A label that dominates the way a person is seen

Question 7

Moral panic

Answer 7

A fear of moral crisis in society, the mass media have a big role in starting moral panics.

Question 8

Positivist victimology

Answer 8

The theory that a persons actions or characteristics may make them more likely to become victims

Question 9

Rational Choice Theory

Answer 9

A theory of crime and deviance that argues that criminals won’t try to commit a crime where there is a high chance of them being caught, or if the reward isn’t worth the risk of being caught.

Question 10

Repeat Victimisation

Answer 10

When someone becomes a victim of the same type of crime on more than one occasion.