Sociology (2251)
Topic 3 of 3Cambridge O Levels

Crime & Deviance

Definitions, causes, social control and patterns of crime

Crime = behaviour that breaks the law. Deviance = behaviour that breaks social norms (not necessarily illegal). Wearing pyjamas to a wedding is deviant but not criminal. Smoking cannabis is criminal but some see it as acceptable.


Formal social control: Police, courts, prisons, laws. **Informal social control:** Family pressure, peer disapproval, community expectations.


Sociological explanations for crime:

  • Functionalism (Merton's Strain Theory): Society promotes success goals but not everyone has legitimate means → some innovate (crime), retreat (drugs), or rebel
  • Marxism: Laws protect ruling class property. White-collar crime (fraud) is under-punished. Working-class crime is over-policed.
  • Labelling theory (Becker): Being labelled 'criminal' can lead to a deviant career. Criminal justice system labels the powerless more.
  • Subcultures: Groups develop alternative norms that may include criminal behaviour

    • Patterns of crime:

  • Age: Young males (15-25) most likely to be convicted
  • Gender: Males commit ~80% of crime. Feminists say female crime is hidden/under-reported
  • Class: Working class over-represented in crime statistics — but white-collar crime is hidden
  • Ethnicity: Ethnic minorities may be over-policed (institutional racism)

    • Key Points to Remember

    • 1Crime breaks law; deviance breaks social norms
    • 2Formal control: police/courts; Informal: family/peers
    • 3Strain theory: blocked legitimate means → crime
    • 4Young males most convicted; white-collar crime under-reported

    Pakistan Example

    Street Crime in Karachi vs White-Collar Corruption — Who Gets Caught?

    Karachi's street crime (mobile snatching, mugging) dominates headlines and policing. But Marxist sociologists would point out that white-collar crime (tax evasion, land fraud, corporate corruption) causes far greater economic damage yet faces less prosecution. Pakistan's NAB (National Accountability Bureau) targets some elite crime, but enforcement remains unequal.

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