What is the difference between crime and deviance?

Crime refers to acts that break formal laws, while deviance is behaviour that violates social norms but may not be illegal. For example, murder is both a crime and deviant, but picking your nose in public is deviant but not a crime. Sociologists study both because they are socially constructed and vary across time and place.

How does labelling theory explain crime?

Labelling theory, developed by Howard Becker, argues that deviance is not inherent in an act but is a label applied by those in power. Once labelled as 'criminal', an individual may internalise this label and continue offending (secondary deviance). For example, a student labelled as a 'troublemaker' may act out more, fulfilling the label.

Why do Marxist sociologists argue that the law is biased?

Marxists believe the law serves the interests of the ruling class by criminalising the poor (e.g., theft) while ignoring the harmful acts of the wealthy (e.g., corporate fraud). They point to selective enforcement, such as the police targeting working-class areas, and the fact that white-collar criminals often receive lighter sentences.

What is Merton's strain theory?

Robert Merton's strain theory explains crime as a result of the gap between culturally approved goals (e.g., wealth) and the legitimate means to achieve them (e.g., education). When individuals cannot achieve success through legitimate channels, they may turn to crime (innovation). Other adaptations include ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.

How do feminists explain female crime?

Feminists argue that traditional theories ignore women's experiences. Some, like Carlen, suggest women turn to crime due to poverty, lack of legitimate opportunities, and patriarchal control. Others, like Heidensohn, focus on how women are controlled by the fear of male violence and the double standard of morality, which reduces their opportunities for crime.

What is the difference between primary and secondary deviance?

Primary deviance refers to initial acts of rule-breaking that are not publicly labelled, so the individual does not see themselves as deviant. Secondary deviance occurs after the individual is labelled as deviant, leading to further deviance as they accept the label. For example, a teenager caught shoplifting (primary) may be labelled a 'thief' and then join a gang (secondary).

How can crime and deviance be explained?

OCR

A-Level

This topic explores the theoretical explanations for crime and deviance, focusing on a range of sociological perspectives including functionalism, Marxism, neo-Marxism/radical criminology, interactionism, realism (left and right), New Right, subcultural theories, and feminism.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Topic Overview

This topic explores the sociological explanations for why individuals and groups engage in crime and deviance. It is central to the OCR A-Level Sociology syllabus because it challenges common-sense assumptions about criminal behaviour, linking it to social structures, inequalities, and cultural norms. Students will examine key theories including functionalism, strain theory, labelling theory, Marxism, and feminism, each offering distinct perspectives on the causes and functions of crime.

Understanding these explanations is crucial for critically evaluating media portrayals of crime and official statistics. The topic also connects to broader debates about social control, power, and justice. By the end of this unit, you should be able to compare and contrast different sociological perspectives, apply them to real-world examples, and assess their strengths and limitations.

This knowledge is not only exam-relevant but also equips you to think sociologically about contemporary issues such as knife crime, white-collar crime, and the criminalisation of minority groups. Mastery of this topic will help you achieve top marks in the Crime and Deviance section of Paper 2.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→Social construction of crime and deviance: Crime is not inherently deviant; it is defined by those in power. For example, acts like smoking cannabis are criminalised in some societies but not others.
→Anomie: A state of normlessness where social norms break down, often used by Durkheim and Merton to explain why crime occurs in rapidly changing societies.
→Labelling: The process by which certain individuals or groups are labelled as deviant, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy (Becker).
→White-collar crime: Crimes committed by the wealthy and powerful, often overlooked by the criminal justice system (Sutherland).
→Chivalry thesis: The idea that women are treated more leniently by the criminal justice system, though this is contested by feminists.

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Demonstrate knowledge of functionalist explanations of crime and deviance
Demonstrate knowledge of Marxist and neo-Marxist/radical criminology explanations
Demonstrate knowledge of interactionist explanations
Demonstrate knowledge of left and right realism
Demonstrate knowledge of New Right explanations
Demonstrate knowledge of subcultural theories
Demonstrate knowledge of feminist explanations
Apply theoretical perspectives to explain crime and deviance

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Demonstrate knowledge of functionalist explanations of crime and deviance
Demonstrate knowledge of Marxist and neo-Marxist/radical criminology explanations
Demonstrate knowledge of interactionist explanations
Demonstrate knowledge of left and right realism
Demonstrate knowledge of New Right explanations
Demonstrate knowledge of subcultural theories
Demonstrate knowledge of feminist explanations
Apply theoretical perspectives to explain crime and deviance
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different theoretical explanations

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Ensure you can clearly distinguish between the core arguments of each theoretical perspective
💡Use specific terminology associated with each theory (e.g., 'anomie' for functionalism, 'labelling' for interactionism)
💡Practice evaluating theories by comparing them (e.g., how does Marxism critique functionalism?)
💡Link theoretical explanations to the social distribution of crime where relevant
💡Use specific sociological studies and theorists to support your points. For example, refer to Merton's strain theory (individuals adapt to anomie through conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, or rebellion) to explain working-class crime.
💡Evaluate theories by discussing their strengths and limitations. For instance, while Marxism highlights class bias in the justice system, it neglects gender and ethnic dimensions of crime.
💡Link your answers to contemporary examples, such as the 2011 London riots (strain theory) or the Jimmy Savile scandal (labelling and power). This shows application skills.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing the different branches of realism (left vs right)
Failing to distinguish between Marxism and neo-Marxism
Generalising theories without applying them specifically to the causes of crime
Neglecting to evaluate the theories against each other
Misconception: Crime is always dysfunctional for society. Correction: Functionalists like Durkheim argue crime can be functional by reinforcing social norms and promoting social change.
Misconception: Official crime statistics accurately reflect the true level of crime. Correction: Statistics are socially constructed; many crimes go unreported (e.g., domestic violence) or are not recorded by police.
Misconception: All criminals are poor or from deprived backgrounds. Correction: White-collar and corporate crime are widespread but often under-policed, showing that crime occurs across all social classes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•Basic understanding of sociological perspectives (functionalism, Marxism, feminism, interactionism) from the Theory and Methods topic.
•Familiarity with the concept of social stratification and inequality, as crime is often linked to class, gender, and ethnicity.
•Knowledge of research methods, especially how official statistics are collected and their limitations.

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Explain

Assess

Evaluate

Discuss

To what extent

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

How can crime and deviance be explained?

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in OCR A-Level Sociology

Crime and deviance

Education

Families and relationships

Globalisation and the digital social world

Topic Synopsis

Key Concepts & Core Principles

Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

Examiner Marking Points

How can crime and deviance be explained?

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between crime and deviance?

How does labelling theory explain crime?

Why do Marxist sociologists argue that the law is biased?

What is Merton's strain theory?

How do feminists explain female crime?

What is the difference between primary and secondary deviance?

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in OCR A-Level Sociology

Crime and deviance

Education

Families and relationships

Globalisation and the digital social world