To find a clear definition of deviance is a challenge. From a reactivist perspective‚ deviance cannot be defined specifically. It is relative to time‚ place and even between different social groups (Clinard & Meier‚ 2011). Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction creates deviance (Becker‚ 1963). A normative approach would suggest that deviance is behaviour in which acts against a social norm‚ For example‚ laughing is not behaviour in which you would expect at a funeral (Clinard
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All Structuralist theories of crime and deviance seem to suggest that crime is socially constructed rather than focused on the individual. Albert Cohen‚ combining Structuralist and sub cultural theories drew on Merton’s idea of strain but criticized Merton’s ideas of crime being an individual response and believed that he ignored non-utilitarian crimes such as vandalism and joy-riding. Cohen was particularly interested in deviance which was not economically motivated but done simply for the thrill
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The "Mafia" is alive and well in Canadian society. Many people in society are intrigued by this group of deviants and due to societies glorification of the Mafia some may argue whether or not the Mafia is even deviant at all. However one just needs to read the article "Montreal godfather murder déjà vu" by Antonio Nicaso‚ in which he demonstrates how organized crime can develop deep roots in society. Nicolò Rizzuto was raised in environment of criminal activity in Sicily‚ and continued that lifestyle
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Examine sociological theories that explain the ethnic dimension to crime and deviance (21 marks) Recent statistics show that black people are five times more likely to be in prison than whites. Ethnic groups are heavily over represented in prisons. Waddington et al investigated whether ethnic groups were targeted by the police and whether they were treated unfairly. Waddington et al concluded that these ethnic minorities were stopped and searched more because they were out on the street at the
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Examine some of the ways in which Marxists explain crime Marxist theories of crime‚ including the more recent neo-Marxist theories‚ are conflict approaches. They see society based on conflict between social classes‚ and social inequality caused by capitalism as the driving force behind crime. One way that Marxists explain crime is through the law. Marxists argue that the law functions to reinforce the ideology of society – the power of the ruling class over the working class. Many laws can be seen
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usefulness of functionalist approaches in explaining crime (21 Marks) Item A Functionalist sociologists focus on how far individuals accept the norms and values of society. Central to their study of crime is the attempt to understand why people break the rules of society. Despite their focus on the importance of shared norms and values‚ functionalists see a small amount of crime as necessary and beneficial to society. The publicity given to crime highlights the boundaries of acceptable behaviour
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discovered The General strain theory. The general strain theory of crime states strain or stress is a major source or criminal motivation. For a better understanding‚ this theory argues that crime is a result of frustration and anger of lower class caused by a strain between expectations and culture of living in a middle- class world and the reality that those expectations cannot be met. The general strain theory is deals more with the individual. Robert Agnew identified three types of strain that produce
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Strain Theory Ok‚ for the creation of my scenario‚ allow me to introduce you to a young bloke by the name of Akbar. Akbar is 20 years old‚ works in a machine shop which his Father‚ Ahmed got for him through a friendship of a shop owner who happens to be a next door neighbor. Nice and convenient! Because Akbar is working at a job his Father is happy about‚ Akbar is enjoying a happy relationship with his Father. However we will soon learn that this happy relationship is strictly conditional. You
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Society set up is structured in a way that vitalizes too much deviance. Merton (1938) believes that When socially accepted goals or societal norms such as “The American Dream” puts the burden on the individuals to fit in. Thus‚ intensifies the individuals to either blend in the structure the society has to offer or else become an associate of deviance subculture in the endeavor to attain these goals. Merton termed this theory as Strain theories. These theories are amid the first candidly sociological
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Assess the contribution of the Marxist theory to the sociological understanding of crime and deviance. (21 marks) Marxism is a macro/structural approach to society‚ meaning that it looks at the large-scale societal structure for answers about how society works and operates and explores crime and deviance in relation to classes within a capitalist society. Marxists claim that laws do not reflect a value consensus‚ instead laws and law enforcement benefits the rich (protection of private property)
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