The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification

AQA

GCSE

This study component examines the sociological explanations for criminal behavior and deviance, alongside the structural inequalities of social stratification. It explores how social order is maintained through formal and informal control, how crime is socially constructed, and how factors such as class, gender, ethnicity, and age influence both criminal behavior and victimization. Furthermore, it analyzes the hierarchical layering of society based on wealth, power, and status, investigating theories of poverty, life chances, and the distribution of resources within contemporary UK society.

Objectives

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Learning Objectives

What you need to know and understand

Social control
Formal/Informal sanctions
Dark figure of crime
Delinquent subcultures
Social stratification
Socio-economic class
Life chances
Relative deprivation
Charismatic/Traditional/Rational-legal authority
Social closure

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

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The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification

Learning Objectives

Key Terminology

{"theme":"The Social Construction of Crime and Deviance","description":"The concept that acts are not inherently criminal but are labeled as such by society, varying across time, place, and culture."}

{"theme":"Social Control and Order","description":"Mechanisms used by society to maintain conformity, distinguishing between formal control (police, courts) and informal control (family, peer groups, education)."}

{"theme":"Social Class and Inequality","description":"Analysis of social hierarchy based on economic factors, status, and power, including Functionalist views on meritocracy versus Marxist views on class conflict."}

{"theme":"Poverty and the Welfare State","description":"Definitions of absolute and relative poverty, the existence of a 'poverty trap', and sociological perspectives on the role and efficacy of the welfare state."}

{"theme":"Power and Authority","description":"Who holds power in society (Weberian and Marxist perspectives) and how this power influences the creation and enforcement of laws."}

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