Crime & Deviance
Why people break rules, and how society responds
Crime = behaviour that breaks the law. Deviance = behaviour that breaks social norms (not necessarily illegal — e.g. burping at dinner).
Sociological explanations of crime:
Functionalist view (Durkheim):
- Crime is normal and necessary in all societies
- It clarifies boundaries, promotes social solidarity, allows social change
- Too much crime = anomie (normlessness — breakdown of social cohesion)
Marxist view:
- Laws reflect interests of the ruling class (bourgeoisie)
- Working class criminalised more harshly; white-collar crime under-policed
- Selective enforcement — police target poor areas
Labelling theory (Becker):
- No act is inherently criminal — it depends on who labels it and whether the label sticks
- Self-fulfilling prophecy: once labelled criminal, behaviour may match the label
- Deviant career: label leads to more deviance
Feminist view:
- Male crimes dominate statistics; female crime under-reported
- Women controlled by patriarchal systems (fear of going out, domestic violence)
Patterns in crime statistics:
- Young males commit more crime (official statistics)
- Working class over-represented
- But: dark figure of crime — unreported and unrecorded crime
Key Points to Remember
- 1Crime: breaks law; Deviance: breaks norms (not always illegal)
- 2Functionalist: crime is normal, clarifies norms (Durkheim)
- 3Labelling theory: labels create deviant careers (Becker)
- 4Dark figure: unreported/unrecorded crime distorts official statistics
Pakistan Example
Crime in Karachi — Sociological Analysis of Pakistan's Megacity
Karachi's crime rates (street crime, robbery, kidnapping) are often blamed on poverty — a structural explanation. Marxists highlight that white-collar crime (tax evasion by elites, corporate fraud) receives less prosecution. Labelling theory explains why young men from certain neighbourhoods (like Lyari) are profiled more heavily by police — creating self-fulfilling prophecies. The 'dark figure' of crime is significant: domestic violence and harassment are massively under-reported in Pakistan.
Quick Revision Infographic
Sociology — Quick Revision
Crime & Deviance
Key Concepts
Formulas to Know
unreported/unrecorded crime distorts official statisticsCrime in Karachi — Sociological Analysis of Pakistan's Megacity
Karachi's crime rates (street crime, robbery, kidnapping) are often blamed on poverty — a structural explanation. Marxists highlight that white-collar crime (tax evasion by elites, corporate fraud) receives less prosecution. Labelling theory explains why young men from certain neighbourhoods (like Lyari) are profiled more heavily by police — creating self-fulfilling prophecies. The 'dark figure' of crime is significant: domestic violence and harassment are massively under-reported in Pakistan.