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Crime & Deviance

Crime & Deviance. Lesson 3 - Methodology. As Sociologists we are interested in the: The causes of crime – if we can understand the causes we will be closer to discovering ways of reducing crime. The effect that crime has on society.

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Crime & Deviance

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  1. Crime & Deviance Lesson 3 - Methodology

  2. As Sociologists we are interested in the: • The causes of crime – if we can understand the causes we will be closer to discovering ways of reducing crime. • The effect that crime has on society. • What crime rates reveal about society – if a society is experiencing high rates of crime what does that say about that particular society.

  3. Before we can consider any of these things we have to consider how crime is measured. • How can accurate figures be collected? • How accurate are official crime figures? • Statistics can easily be manipulated. What does this mean? • Which groups may be tempted to manipulate crime statistics?

  4. Reliability • Validity

  5. Official Statistics Key facts 2 types: Those recorded by police Statistics gained through analysing data about those who have been convicted (found guilty).

  6. Evaluation Positive • Cheap and readily available published by the Home Office • High in validity – large numbers of people covered • Easy to go back and analyse statistics again to check accuracy – reliable • No ethical problems Negative • The government may wish to bend the truth • Not all crime is recorded Because not all crime is reported • Some people consider victim surveys more accurate

  7. Victim Surveys Key facts • The British Crime Survey • Interviews used – people interviewed at home • 48 000 people • Now counted as official statistics

  8. Evaluation Positive • Now recognised as official • The fact that victims are recognised is seen as a step forward in understanding crime Negative • Some crimes not included e.g white collar crime and victim less crime such as possession of drugs • Social desirability – interviewer effect

  9. Self-Report Studies Key facts • This is where people are asked if they have ever been engaged in crime or deviant behaviour • Part of the social constructionist approach – interested in what people perceive as deviance

  10. Self-Report Studies Positive • It raises the question of what is crime? Negative • People may lie or exaggerate • It doesn`t help us to improve safety in society and does not help victims or future victims.

  11. Normative - definition of deviance • Deviance refers to any behaviour which deviates from social norms • Implies that there is a consensus is society (The British Attitudes survey is a good measure of whether this is the case). http://www.britsocat.com/Home • Durkeim – Collective Conscience (a shared set of common values) the more you deviate the more deviant. • Will focus on the reasons people deviate, the reasons behind their actions. • May focus on class differences or family background.

  12. Jamie Bulger – Why? What was behind the actions of his murderers • Was it the videos? • Was it his upbringing? • Was it economic deprivation (poverty)? • Was it psychological? • Was it IQ? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsjirscQ_-k • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08cT53VZbk8 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lsOj13XzDo&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL942ACD41A201615C

  13. The normative approach to deviance key question, What is the difference between someone who is deviant and someone is not? What causes someone to be deviant? SEEKS CAUSES

  14. Relative – definition of deviance • There is a diversity of values within a society • No consensus • Values compete for dominance. • What is considered deviant will change over time. • Dominant values are the result of a struggle.

  15. The relativist approach to deviance Key question Why do some group`s ideas about what is deviant get accepted as the norm while others do not? e.gBeginning of the 20th century Christians believing that homosexuality is a sin whereas to homosexuals it is not. SEEKS PROCESSES

  16. There are 2 relative approaches Theory 1 Interactionist/labelling it is the result of the relations between individuals and groups e.g most people are deviant but only some are punished. Becker (1963), is not a quality of what someone does but rather a quality of how someone reacts to what someone does; the relative dimension here is that the same behaviour can, for example, be seen as deviant in some societies but not in others.

  17. Theory 2 The values of the ruling classes are accepted as the norm, they have the power and can ensure that this is secured at all costs. e.g slavery

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