Sociological Explanations for
Crime and Deviance.
WHAT DO SOCIOLOGISTS SAY?
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM
PSYCHOLOGISTS?
Socialisation, home and family.
 What is Socialisation?
 It is the process by which we learn the norms of
society.
 One explanation for crime and deviance is that
socialisation has gone wrong for an individual.
 Longitudinal research – research that is
conducted over a long time, often following people
from when they are born until they die.
 Longitudinal studies will show trends in children
which may lead to crime in later life.
Socialisation and the family
 Some sociologists think there may be factors that
increase the likely hood of a child growing up to
commit crime.
 These are
Poor parenting.
 Troubled family life with arguments, violence, abuse and
parental alcohol use.
 A parent’s low reasoning ability.
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Peer Groups and Subcultures
 What is your peer group?
 Your peer group is your friends, who are the same
age as you and living in the same culture.
 Your peer group affects your socialisation.
 If your peer group has a different set of norms and
expectations then it is called a ‘sub culture’
 Peer groups and sub cultures could lead to
delinquency.
Subculture and Delinquency.
 How can your peer group affect delinquent
behaviour?
Little value placed on education. (truancy, bad behaviour in
school)
 No respect for authority (rudeness to teachers, police etc)
 Dislike of school rules (breaking them and testing boundaries)
 No respect for public property. (vandalism and graffiti)
 Enjoyment of thrills and risk (fighting, stealing cars etc)
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Sometimes the sub culture may involve adults as well, such as the
Mafia, Inner City ‘Gangsters’, local area gangs.
Lack of opportunity – a different theory
 Another theory is that crime happens when people
are unable to get things that they think they are
entitled too (should have)
 This could be because
There are not many jobs.
 It is difficult to get good qualifications.

When would you expect this to happen? When a country is
struggling (economic depression )or when living standards are
rising? (ie after the WW2 in Britain)
Living Standards
 Crime increased dramatically in Britain, after WW2.
 Living standards were rising.
 Crime did not increase during the Depression of the
1930’s
 Why do you think this is?
This suggests that living in poverty (no money) doesn’t cause
crime but that being aware (knowing) other people have more
than you does cause crime.
 This is known as Relative Deprivation.

The Nature of Society
 Some people think that it is the structure of society
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that causes crime.
The most famous type of sociologists who think this
are Marxist.
What is a Marxist?
Marxists believe that there is a big divide between
rich and poor in society. (The haves and the have
nots)
Marxists think that crime is inevitable (unstoppable)
in a society that is based on conflict and
exploitation.
Marxism and Capitalism.
 Many societies are capitalist.
 Capitalism is based on
Materialism – valuing the ownership of material possessions
more than spiritual value.
 Consumerism – wanting more, and better, consumer goods (ie
cars, computers, technology)
 Competition – Companies fighting for customers, and people
competing to be seen as better than each other (better jobs, better
car, better house etc)

Marxism and the Media
 Advertising re-enforces capitalist values and the idea
that there is always something better, in ownership
or lifestyle.
 Marxists believe this encourages crime, as people
steal to gain things that they can not afford.
Marxism and types of crime.
 Marxists believe that laws are made and enforced by the
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ruling class.
The ruling class has more property
Therefore laws focus on property, giving out harder
punishments.
Large thefts (bank robbery etc) have tougher punishments
than violence.
Therefore Capitalist societies think that property is more
important than human life.
Wealthy and powerful people are treated easier than the poor
and working class. (i.e. a company not paying tax is seen as
less serious than a person getting social security that they
should not have, even though the money they take is less.)
Marxism and Punishment
 Marxists believe that Capitalist societies think that
property is more important than human life.
 Wealthy and powerful people are treated easier than
the poor and working class. (i.e. a company not paying tax is
seen as less serious than a person getting social security that they
should not have, even though the money they take is less.)
 ‘There’s one law for the rich and another for the
rest of us’
Popular saying
Questions
 What is meant by relative deprivation?
 Identify and explain three features of a subculture
which could lead to delinquent behaviour.
 What sorts of things could be meant by the term
poor parenting? Do people always agree on what
a good parent is?
 Why, according the Marxists, does the law punish
large thefts more severely than violent offenses?
Questions Part 2
 Why might Apple products (iphone, ipad, MacBook
etc) cause an increase in crime?
 Write about this connected to the nature of society.
 Use evidence to present your argument.
 Finish for Homework for next Wednesday