Crime & Deviance - how can crime and deviance be explained? Flashcards
What is the definition of crime?
Crime is an act that violates the laws of a society and is punishable by the state.
What is deviance?
Deviance refers to behavior that violates social norms or expectations.
True or False: All crime is considered deviant behavior.
True
What theory suggests that crime is a result of social structures and inequalities?
Strain Theory
Fill in the blank: According to _____ Theory, individuals engage in deviant behavior when they feel disconnected from societal norms.
Anomie
What does Labeling Theory suggest about crime?
Labeling Theory suggests that individuals become deviant when they are labeled as such by society.
What are primary and secondary deviance according to Edwin Lemert?
Primary deviance refers to initial acts of rule-breaking, while secondary deviance occurs when a person adopts a deviant identity after being labeled.
What is the main focus of Control Theory?
Control Theory focuses on the factors that prevent individuals from committing deviant acts.
True or False: Social bonds are considered important in Control Theory.
True
What is the primary concern of the Functionalist perspective on crime?
Functionalists view crime as a natural part of society that can promote social cohesion and change.
What did Robert Merton propose in his Strain Theory?
Merton proposed that society sets culturally approved goals and socially acceptable means to achieve them, leading to strain when individuals cannot achieve success.
Fill in the blank: According to Merton, the five modes of individual adaptation to strain are conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and _____ .
rebellion
What is the focus of Marxist criminology?
Marxist criminology focuses on how capitalism creates crime and how laws serve the interests of the ruling class.
True or False: According to Marxists, crime is a result of individual moral failure.
False
What is the concept of ‘white-collar crime’?
White-collar crime refers to non-violent, financially motivated crimes committed by business and government professionals.
What is the difference between formal and informal social control?
Formal social control is enforced by laws and regulations, while informal social control is maintained through social norms and expectations.
What does the term ‘socialization’ refer to in the context of crime?
Socialization refers to the process through which individuals learn and internalize the norms and values of their society.
What role does deviant subculture play in explaining crime?
Deviant subcultures provide alternative norms and values that can encourage criminal behavior among their members.
Fill in the blank: According to Differential Association Theory, criminal behavior is learned through _____ interactions.
social
What is the main idea behind Routine Activity Theory?
Routine Activity Theory posits that crime occurs when there is a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of capable guardians.
True or False: Situational Crime Prevention focuses on reducing opportunities for crime.
True
What does ‘broken windows theory’ suggest?
Broken Windows Theory suggests that visible signs of disorder and neglect cause an increase in crime.
What is a ‘crime wave’?
A crime wave refers to a sudden increase in the rate of crime in a specific area or community.
Fill in the blank: The ‘social construction of crime’ refers to how society defines what is considered _____ .
criminal
