Understanding Crime and Deviance: Sociological Theories and Case

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of crime and deviance, utilizing sociological explanations, social science theories, and social structural perspectives to interpret a given case study. It examines functionalism, Marxist perspectives, interactionist theory, and labeling theory to understand deviant behavior and its relation to societal norms and legal frameworks. The essay also delves into social disorganization theory and social strain theory, highlighting how societal structures can influence criminal behavior. Furthermore, it addresses the role of mass media in shaping perceptions of crime and deviance, particularly its ability to create moral panic. The analysis concludes that crime and deviance are complex phenomena influenced by a combination of social, economic, and psychological factors, emphasizing the importance of understanding these dynamics to address social issues effectively. Desklib offers a wealth of resources for students seeking to further explore these topics, including past papers and solved assignments.

Running head: CRIME AND DEVIANCE
Crime and Deviance
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction: Crime and Deviance explained
Crime is defined as an act or omission that constitutes an offence, which is punishable
under law. Deviance is better described as a behaviour or action, which violates the social norms
which includes a formal as well as informal set of rules and receives disapproval from the major
part of the society (Akers 2017). Deviance is defined as a behaviour, which is recognised to
violate the expected standard of rules and norms in the society (Downes, Rock, and McLaughlin
2016). Deviance is determined from the social context and not from the act of an individual.
Deviance, does not have to include a behaviour which violates the law, it can merely violate the
social and cultural norms only. Deviance is considered as a means from which all social changes
begins. The deviance of yesterday becomes the norms of today. It can contribute to long term
stability for the society. For example, lying is considered to be a wrong by the society and most
of the groups. The purpose of this essay is to provide an explanation of the terms crime and
deviance by discussing the various approaches to the study of crime and deviance in context to
the given case study. This essay presents the social structural theories of crime and deviance
along with a theoretical explanation including the sociological explanations. Lastly, it discusses
the perception of crime and deviancy evolving from new reporting.
Sociological Explanations
The given case study can be evaluated pertaining to crime and deviance with the help of
certain sociological explanations and social science theories which would help to understand the
reason behind the behaviour which violates the social norms and the rules of law. The first
theory which is Functionalism talks about the mental condition of its subjects and it is said that

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the mental condition refers to what the subjects do, instead of what they are built of.
Functionalism holds the traditional idea that the mental condition of the subjects are their internal
states. It was propounded by Durkheim which says that the society cannot expect same amount
of collective sentiments from every members, as individuals are subjected to different
circumstances with different influences (Matza and Blomberg 2017). As per this theory,
deviance plays as an active role in the society that helps different populations to stick together in
a particular society. It helps the society to make a distinction between unacceptable and
acceptable behaviour. To read this theory in context to the given case, it could be justified that
the idea of the poor and downtrodden people stealing from or robbing the richer people for it
would not harm them to a great extent as they are not physical hurting them. Similarly, the
society, in which Samira’s family used to live in, was abnormally engaged in drinking habit. This
behaviour of his surrounding made the family of Samira uncomfortable to live in. Though it
might not be an offence in the eyes of law, but it may be a social deviance as it violates the
norms of the society.
The Marxist perspective on deviance and crime established that power is centralised
within the Bourgeois. As argued by Young, Taylor and Walton (2013), Police and legal system
serve the interest of the Bourgeois. Law is being used for controlling the revolution and keeping
the masses in a state of false consciousness. Law is drafted and designed by the capitalist elite to
work for their own interest. He argued that, all classes commit crime, but only the crime of
working classes gets identified. Crimes committed by the capitalist classes usually tend to be
more expensive than the street crimes committed by the working classes. Marx believed that
capitalist system is the main motivator of criminal behaviour. To him, the entire idea of
capitalism is criminogenic (McCaghy et al. 2016). He pointed that the law enforcement practice

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by the state is selective and marginalised are only punished. In the context of the given case
study, the newspaper tried to spread negativity about the protest group, as it received
advertisements from the breeding facility.
While, the interactionist theory disagrees with the functionalism, and claims that there
is a distinction between the idea of crimes and the crimes caused under the influence of external
forces. It articulates that, the way society reacts to different deviance and crime, is important
(Sociology.org.uk 2018). The animal rights activists were targeted by the newspaper and the
counter-protestor, which in consequence led the activists to take certain steps to commit crime
and deviance
The labelling theory, which says that labelling can lead a group to be victimised for crime
People do not commit crimes because of their background; rather it emerges from the labelling
by authorities (McShane 2013). The animal rights activists were labelled by the counter-
protestors and the newspaper as a criminal with the use of their power. This labelling led them to
commit the crime which they would not have committed otherwise.
Social Structural Theories
The various Social Structural Theories are discussed for the giving meaning to the
given case study. The Social Disorganisation Theory says that for the behavioural choices of a
person, the social and physical environments of the person are responsible (Hirschi 2017). The
socioeconomic status of the families was low and the place had the most social disorganisation.
The unemployment issue was high and racial heterogeneity was a regular issue. Illegal activities
of a person are influenced by their neighbourhood and poverty. This perspective to crime and

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deviance can relate to the cultural deviance theory, which describes that location in a city can
help in influencing the crime rates. The profounder of this theory stated that crime rates are
higher in the transitional zone of the city. Markus used to live in just outside the city, where the
unstable families come to earn some money to move away and settle. The socioeconomic status
of the families was low and the place had the most social disorganisation. The unemployment
issue was high and racial heterogeneity was a regular issue. In this way, the presence of the
factor of deviance is essential to be marked.
The Social Strain Theory propounds that the social structures of the society can force a
citizen to commit a crime. Crime is the result of the conflict of the recognizable goals of an
individual and the means that are available to them to obtain the goal. People tend to turn to
other avenues to secure their social recognition or economic fulfilment when they are not able to
achieve these through legitimate way (Agnew 2017). The gap between the desires of a human
being with its non-fulfilment is the factor that gives rise to crime and deviance under this theory.
Markus had a motivation to achieve cultural goals but the adherence to the lacked the economic
ability to achieve the goals legitimately. Additionally, the group he was in a regular contact with
had their count on the idea of innovation by dismissing the legitimate measure of achieving their
standards or goals. Samira and Marcus rejected the goals and legitimate means of the society and
accepted their own measures. They dropped out of the mainstream social culture by resigning to
abandonment of the means set out by the society and joined a sub-group. It is a great relief
though that Marcus did not let himself be flowed with the wrong tide and chose a path of
darkness, instead thought of revolting against the oppressive authority, harming poor animals.

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Perceptions of crime
Crime and Deviance is not only guided by the Sociological explanations and Social
structural theories, the mass media has a great role in creating moral panic, resulting to
aggravated trouble along with demonising the ones who are peacefully protest against unlawful
and inhuman things, like animal testing of cosmetics. Media has a significant effect on
representing, influencing and condemning crime and deviance in the modern culture. The
perceptions on the criminality, deviance and law enforcement of the public are highly determined
by the media portrayals of such (Jewkes 2015). As per the class dominant theory, the control of
economy resides on the upper class which somehow impacts the media. The media presents and
reflects the view of the elite who controls the media (Openaccess.city.ac.uk 2018). The upper
class people enjoy the power to manipulate the publication of the media. Media presents an
incidence of crime for the purpose of entertainment and information. Media always seek for
news that would attract audience, and thus the reports are edited and presented to the public. This
practice of media to represent something which has happened and to which the public would
react in a panicky way, is described as moral panic (King 2013). Moral panic is intended to
exaggerate information. Media with the help of the bourgeoisie tries to create a moral panic to
maintain their control over the society and perpetuate a fear for their interest. The local
newspaper published the news for the interest of the breeding facility from which they used to
receive advertisement revenue. The impact of the manipulated news forced the group to involve
into deviance behaviour. The news article was presented to the public to label the protestors as
criminals, and created a moral panic in the society.

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Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that crime and deviance being a part of every society, is
greatly moved by all the above-mentioned theories and social factors, like the mass media. The
social evils like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, discrimination gives rise to crime and
deviance to a great extent which cannot be ignored at any cost, as these factors makes up the
social explanations and theories that explain crime and deviance. Crime and deviance can be so
observed on a regular basis in the society, that it has become a part of the society. Therefore,
with the thorough and critical analysis of the topic, the purpose of this research has been
achieved. The term crime and deviance has been shaped and discussed by making use of the
different approaches to the study of crime and deviance including the sociological explanations,
social science explanations and social structure theories. The influencing ability of mass media
pertaining to crime and deviance is also established with the help of scholarly articles. It can be
stated that all of these have different attributes toward the concept of crime, such as, sociology
considers crime as a result of poor socialisation in the society, and on the other hand, psychology
recognises crime as a result of pathological and biological criminogenic behaviour.

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Reference List
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criminology (pp. 143-164). Routledge.
Akers, R., 2017. Social learning and social structure: A general theory of crime and deviance.
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Downes, D., Rock, P.E. and McLaughlin, E., 2016. Understanding deviance: a guide to the
sociology of crime and rule-breaking. Oxford University Press.
Hirschi, T., 2017. Causes of delinquency. Routledge.
Jewkes, Y., 2015. Media and crime. Sage.
King, P., 2013. Moral panics and violent street crime 1750–2000: a comparative perspective.
In Comparative histories of crime (pp. 67-85). Willan.
Matza, D. and Blomberg, T.G., 2017. Becoming deviant. Routledge.
McCaghy, C.H., Capron, T.A., Jamieson, J.D. and Carey, S.H.H., 2016. Deviant behavior:
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McShane, M., 2013. An Introduction to Criminological Theory. Routledge.
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