crime and deviance definitions Flashcards
inevitability of crime
refers to the idea that crime is an unavoidable and natural part of society, arising from the diversity of values and norms among individuals = social cohesion and change
laten function
an unintended and unrecognized consequence of a social structure
boundary maintenance
the process by which society reinforces its norms and values through the response to deviance such as social disapproval, legal punishment, or moral condemnation
safety valve
a concept suggesting that certain types of crime can relieve social tension and prevent more serious deviance
strain theories
theories that suggest crime occurs when individuals experience a disconnect between societal goals and the means available to achieve them
structural factors
social and economic conditions that influence crime rates and behaviours
cultural factors
social norms and values that influence behaviour and perceptions of crime, e.g. a strong emphasis on success
the american dream
the cultural belief that american society is a meritocratic one where anyone who makes the effort can get ahead
strain to anomie
the theory that societal pressure to achieve culturally approved goals can lead individuals to engage in deviant behaviour when they lack the means to achieve them
innovation
those who accept the cultural goals but reject the conventional means of achieving them, instead resorting to alternative, often deviant or illegal, methods to reach those goals
ritualism
a response to strain where individuals abandon societal goals but continue to adhere to accepted means
retreatism
a response to strain where individuals reject both societal goals and means, leading to withdrawal from society
rebellion
a form of deviance where individuals reject societal norms and values, seeking to create new ones
institutional anomie theory
theory suggesting that the pursuit of monetary success can undermine social norms and lead to higher crime rates
utilitarian crime
criminal activities that are committed primarily for material gain e.g. theft
non-utilitarian crime
crime motivated by emotional, psychological or social reasons e.g. assault
status frustration
a concept in sociology that explains how individuals may experience frustration due to their social status, leading to deviant behavior
alternative status hierarchy
a social structure where individuals can achieve status through means other than conventional success, often seen in subcultures
value inversion
when the values of a subculture are reverse to those in the dominant culture
conflict subcultures
groups that form in opposition to mainstream values, often as a response to social inequality
retreatist subcultures
subcultures that reject both societal goals and means, often leading to drug use or withdrawal from society
criminal subcultures
groups that develop their own norms and values around criminal behavior, often as a response to societal strain
reactive theories
deviance is a social construct that arises through interactions e.g. labelling
delinquency and drift
engaging in deviant behavior while still maintaining a sense of conventional morality
criminogenic capitalism
the idea that capitalism inherently produces crime due to its focus on profit and inequality
selective law enforcement
the practice where law enforcement targets specific groups or individuals, often reflecting social inequalities
ideological function
laws are passed to portray they are enforced for the benefit of the working class members to give capitalism a caring face
deterministic
describes the belief that behavior is shaped by external factors, assuming humans have no free will
voluntaristic view
a perspective that emphasizes individual choice and agency in committing crime
fully social theory of deviance
a perspective that views deviance as a result of social inequalities and power dynamics, emphasizing the role of societal structures in defining and responding to deviance
moral entrepreneurs
individuals or groups that seek to create or enforce rules and norms in society by leading a moral crusade
dark figure of crime
the amount of unreported or undiscovered crime
social construction of crime
the idea that crime is defined by societal norms and values, rather than being an inherent quality of an act - deviance is in the eye of the beholder
outsiders
individuals or groups who are marginalized or stigmatized by society as a result of breaking rules
typifications
stereotypes or generalizations about a group that influence how individuals are perceived and treated by the police
negotiable justice
concept where the application of justice can vary based on social context and individual circumstances
social construction of crime statistics
the idea that crime statistics are shaped by societal reactions and labels rather than objective measures of crime
alternative statistics
data that reflects crime rates from sources other than official government statistics, such as victim surveys or self-report studies
primary deviance
initial act of rule-breaking which may not be labelled so does not affect the individual’s self concept
master status
a social status that dominates others and shapes a person’s identity, often influencing how they are perceived by society
secondary deviance
deviant behavior that occurs after an individual has been labeled as deviant
self-fulfilling prophecy
a prediction that causes itself to become true due to the behavior it generates
deviant career
a process where individuals internalize labels of deviance and engage in a lifestyle centered around deviant behavior
deviant subculture
a group that develops its own norms and values that differ from mainstream society, often in response to labeling
folk devils
individuals or groups who are portrayed as a threat to societal values and norms, often as a result of labeling
deviance amplification spiral
process where societal reaction to deviance leads to increased deviance
moral panic
intense public concern or fear over an issue perceived as a threat to societal norms and values
reintegrative shaming
a process that encourages offenders to reintegrate into society while holding them accountable for their actions by labelling the action as bad, rather than the individual
disintegrative shaming
