CRIME & DEVIANCE

Definitions: Crime = breaking of the law; an illegal act punishable by law. Deviance = a breaking of social norms

Crime figures Sociological

Role of the Types of Social control
media crime approaches

Moral panic Deviancy White collar Formal = Informal = Functionalism Marxism Feminism
Stereotyping amplification Anti-social written rules, unwritten,
Scapegoats behaviour enforced by taken for
(eg police & courts granted, peer
immigrants) pressure etc.
Folk devils (eg
young males)
Crime is inevitable Results from the Male dominance in
It can strengthen way in which a society is reflected
British Crime Official records Suggest men social cohesion capitalist society in a male
Survey (BCS) (Recorded by the commit more crime in the public is structured. dominance of
Home Office) than women but response to crime mainstream
female crime is But it is also a Laws serve the theories of crime.
increasing threat to society interest of the
as norms are capitalist powers Women seem to
being challenged commit less crime
Victim survey + Regularly updated
(fewer
- Relies on memory + See trends opportunities for
- May not give all + Allow better Many crime; differently
crimes targeting of resources unreported socialised, they
(embarrassment) - Not all crimes Dark figures conform more;
spotted/ recorded chivalry factor
- Rules change treated better by
- New crimes created police; better at
over time concealing crime)