Crime + Deviance

Question 1

What is the difference between crime and deviance?

Answer 1

Crime is something that is actually against the law and you can be punished within the legal system if you break a law.

Deviance is where you break away from the norms and values of society.

Question 2

Why is deviance socially defined?

Answer 2

Deviance can threaten social order, both a threat and protection to social stability.

Question 3

What is the difference between formal and informal rules?

Answer 3

Formal = Rules + Regulations put in place
Informal = Expected norms + values

Question 4

Define social order

Answer 4

Refers to where society is in a stable condition, not mass amounts of crime rates etc

Question 5

Define social control

Answer 5

Way people’s thoughts, behaviour and appearance are regulated in social systems

Question 6

How does inadequate socialisation lead to crime + deviance?

Answer 6

Don’t understand norms and values

Question 7

Why might relative deprivation lead to crime?

Answer 7

• Cannot afford things middle / upper class have
• Status frustration
• Want to break out of poverty but can’t, want the material things other classes can afford

Question 8

How do Marxists explain crime + deviance?

Answer 8

• Believe that is down to status frustration / class

- Bourjesie exploiting the proteriot

Question 9

How does the labelling theory explain crime + deviance?

Answer 9

If someone is labelled as a ‘thug’. may fulfil a self - fulfilling prophecy, live up to their expectations.

Question 10

How would biologists explain crime?

Answer 10

They would look at genetics / nature.

Question 11

How would psychologists explain crime?

Answer 11

They would look at their backgrounds / nurture

Question 12

What are the main sources of official statistics in crime?

Answer 12

Published by the government, or other official bodies / agencies

Question 13

How far do official statistics measure crime?

Answer 13

Some crime will not be measured. Studies showing crime is 70% more likely to be reported when there is a insurance claim to be made. Some victims don’t want to record rape etc.

Question 14

Explanations for young people getting involved in crime

Answer 14

• Working class teenage boys
• Anti - school subcultures
• Status frustration
• Cultural deprivation

Question 15

Why are men more likely to be involved in crime?

Answer 15

• Chivalry thesis (women are more likely to be let off by judges as they are sympathetic)
• Young working class boys are more prone to peer pressure

Question 16

Why are women less likely to be convicted of a crime?

Answer 16

Chivalry thesis

Question 17

Define white collar crime

Answer 17

Finically motivated crime committed mainly by middle / upper class men. EG = Tax evasion

Question 18

Why are there more working - class people in prison than middle class?

Answer 18

• WC more likely to be convicted
• Peer pressure
• MC more likely to be let off with fines from judges
• WC areas have a larger police presence

Question 19

Why is the fear of crime greater than the actual level of crime?

Answer 19

The media exaggerate crime, making it seem a lot worse than it actually is for a good story
-Link to journalism / sociologist

Question 20

Impact of crime on communities

Answer 20

• More likely to have larger police presence
• Feel unsafe in own homes
• Rips apart friendly communities
• Higher security (CCTV) which could lead to higher expenses made by people

Question 21

Why is youth crime seen as a social problem?

Answer 21

• Haven’t been socialised properly
• Schools need to do more for WC criminals
• Programmes need to be started to help prevent youth crime

Question 22

WILLIS CASE STUDY

Answer 22

‘Learning to labour’ WC boys reject values of their school and form anti - school subcultures

Question 23

JANSSON CASE STUDY

Answer 23

Crimes more likely to be reported to the police where there is a insurance claim

Question 24

MAGUIRE CASE STUDY

Answer 24

Many more males, young people, black people, poor people and poorly educated people in prison population relative to general population

Question 25

OFFENDER KEY STATS

Answer 25

2006
20% offenders were female
80% offenders were male

Question 26

Define agents of social control

Answer 26

Things that deter people from crime, for example

• Police
• Social shame
• Family shame
• Government

Question 27

Define anomie

Answer 27

Group of people who pull away from societies norms and values

Question 28

Define antisocial behaviour

Answer 28

Things that are not seem acceptable to be doing in a public setting, for example
-Swearing loudly in a library

Question 29

Chivalry Thesis

Answer 29

Where judges are more likely to be sympathetic towards women and let them off with lower sentences

Question 30

Community service

Answer 30

Punishment for committing a crime, doing tasks for the local community

Question 31

Define computer crime

Answer 31

Using computers to engage in illegal / unlawful acts

Question 32

Conformity

Answer 32

Compliance with standards, rules and laws

Question 33

Corporate crime

Answer 33

White collar crime

Question 34

Crime rate

Answer 34

How much crime is happening in a particular location

Question 35

Define the ‘dark figure’

Answer 35

Unreported crime in official statistics

Question 36

Data protection

Answer 36

Legal control over access to information stored on computers

Question 37

Deviance

Answer 37

Breaking away from societies norms and values

Question 38

Identity theft

Answer 38

Stealing someone else’s identity to commit crime

Question 39

Indictable offence

Answer 39

One that can be punished

Question 40

Judiciary

Answer 40

The court system (judges, jury etc)

Question 41

Labelling theory

Answer 41

Labelling someone as something, which then they fulfil a self - fulfilling prophecy

Question 42

Master status

Answer 42

• What decisions a person makes in their life
• Making up all their personality
• Background etc

Question 43

Probation

Answer 43

Suspended sentences