Section B (Option): Crime and deviance

Crime and deviance is a fascinating and essential topic in A-Level Sociology, exploring why some behaviours are labelled as criminal or deviant, how societies define and respond to rule-breaking, and the social patterns behind offending. This option examines key sociological theories—from functionalism and strain theory to labelling, Marxism, and feminism—each offering distinct explanations for why crime occurs and who is most likely to be criminalised. You'll also study contemporary issues like globalisation, green crime, state crime, and the role of the media in amplifying moral panics, making this topic highly relevant to understanding real-world social control and inequality.

Mastering this topic is crucial because it develops critical thinking about power, justice, and social order. You'll learn to evaluate statistical trends (e.g., official crime statistics, victim surveys) and understand why certain groups—such as ethnic minorities, the working class, and women—experience crime and justice differently. The WJEC specification emphasises applying theories to specific case studies (e.g., corporate crime, hate crime) and assessing their strengths and limitations. This knowledge not only prepares you for exam questions but also equips you to analyse news stories, policy debates, and everyday assumptions about crime.

Within the wider A-Level Sociology course, crime and deviance connects to stratification and differentiation (e.g., class, gender, ethnicity) and research methods (e.g., using official statistics, ethnography). It also overlaps with the media option, as you'll explore how crime is represented. By the end of this topic, you should be able to compare and contrast different perspectives, evaluate evidence, and construct well-argued essays that demonstrate sociological imagination.