Introduction to Crime and Introduction to Crime and DevianceDeviance

*Though *Though crimcrime is an issue that dominates e is an issue that dominates the public imagination, is the subject of the public imagination, is the subject of

regularly lurid tabloid headlines, and regularly lurid tabloid headlines, and keeps politicians of all parties awake at keeps politicians of all parties awake at

night, we nonetheless have an ambiguous night, we nonetheless have an ambiguous attitude towards it. For example, how attitude towards it. For example, how

many of you have ever broken the law?many of you have ever broken the law?

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance The study of crime and deviance involves a number The study of crime and deviance involves a number

of contributing disciplines, not all of which we will be of contributing disciplines, not all of which we will be required to consider; required to consider; statistics, psychology, biologystatistics, psychology, biology to name but a few, and of course the largest to name but a few, and of course the largest contributor contributor sociology.sociology.

However, it is a good idea to first distinguish terms; However, it is a good idea to first distinguish terms; what is the difference between a what is the difference between a deviantdeviant and a and a criminalcriminal act? act?

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance A crime is any act which breaks the A crime is any act which breaks the formal,formal, written written

laws of a state. Can you think of examples, and what laws of a state. Can you think of examples, and what formal sanctions formal sanctions (or punishments) await those (or punishments) await those involved in either committing a crime, or allowing involved in either committing a crime, or allowing such acts to take place?such acts to take place?

Deviance is any act that breaks society’s Deviance is any act that breaks society’s unwritten unwritten rules,rules, or expected ‘norms’ of behaviour. In other or expected ‘norms’ of behaviour. In other words, non-conformist behaviour. Can you think of words, non-conformist behaviour. Can you think of examples of these, and what examples of these, and what informal sanctionsinformal sanctions may may await those who transgress?await those who transgress?

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance Some acts, previously considered deviant and/or Some acts, previously considered deviant and/or

criminal, may well become routine and unexceptional criminal, may well become routine and unexceptional in the future (and vice-versa).in the future (and vice-versa).

Can you think of any examples? Can you think of any examples?

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance Social ControlSocial Control – – thethe concepts of ‘socialisation,’ concepts of ‘socialisation,’

‘norms and values’, deviancy and conformity should ‘norms and values’, deviancy and conformity should all lead you to ask questions along the lines of – all lead you to ask questions along the lines of – what is ‘normal,’ and whowhat is ‘normal,’ and who decides?decides? That is the issue That is the issue of most concern to Sociologists. Which social groups of most concern to Sociologists. Which social groups are empowered to have their conceptions of the are empowered to have their conceptions of the above accepted as part of the prevailing order?above accepted as part of the prevailing order?

Whoever it is will clearly enjoy a great measure of Whoever it is will clearly enjoy a great measure of influence over the behaviour of others. To be able to influence over the behaviour of others. To be able to categorise some behaviours as ‘deviant’ and others categorise some behaviours as ‘deviant’ and others as ‘normal’ suggests real power. as ‘normal’ suggests real power.

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance An example is the way in which ‘White Collar Crime’ An example is the way in which ‘White Collar Crime’

is perceived in relation to ‘lower class’ crime. is perceived in relation to ‘lower class’ crime. Compare how often you are asked, by the media, Compare how often you are asked, by the media, politicians and other ‘agents of social control’, to be politicians and other ‘agents of social control’, to be outraged or fearful of the latter, as compared to the outraged or fearful of the latter, as compared to the former. Now reflect on the relative damage to former. Now reflect on the relative damage to society traceable to each. society traceable to each.

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance There has been major changes in the way There has been major changes in the way

Sociologists perceive and study crime.Sociologists perceive and study crime. Female criminality was once all but ignored, with Female criminality was once all but ignored, with

some feminist sociologists arguing that Criminology some feminist sociologists arguing that Criminology had nothing valuable to say on the subject of women had nothing valuable to say on the subject of women at all. at all.

Lombroso, the ‘father of Criminology,’ regarded Lombroso, the ‘father of Criminology,’ regarded female crime as rooted in hormonal imbalances, an female crime as rooted in hormonal imbalances, an inability to reproduce, or a sign of ‘evil.’ inability to reproduce, or a sign of ‘evil.’

Strange to say that such Social Scientists fell into Strange to say that such Social Scientists fell into ‘common sense’ traps as soon as they were ‘common sense’ traps as soon as they were confronted with the issue of female criminality!confronted with the issue of female criminality!

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance

Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance Sociologists also tended to concentrate on working Sociologists also tended to concentrate on working

class crime, particularly ‘juvenile delinquency.’ Ring class crime, particularly ‘juvenile delinquency.’ Ring any bells?any bells?

It is only recently that issues such as White Collar It is only recently that issues such as White Collar Crime have become of concern.Crime have become of concern.

Next Week…Next Week… We will be considering a number of individual We will be considering a number of individual

theories over the next weeks; theories over the next weeks; Left Realism, Marxism, Left Realism, Marxism, Interactionism Interactionism and and Labelling,Labelling, all of which can be all of which can be found in Haralambos ‘Themes and Perspectives’ in found in Haralambos ‘Themes and Perspectives’ in the Crime and Deviance chapter, as well as on the the Crime and Deviance chapter, as well as on the ‘Sociology at Hewett’ web-site. ‘Sociology at Hewett’ web-site.

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