Welcome to the World of Sociology!
Hello there! Today, we are diving into one of the most fascinating topics in Sociology: The Social Construction of Crime and Deviance. You might think that "crime" is just a list of bad things people do, but sociologists look at it differently. We ask: Why is something considered a crime in one place but not another? Why do we care more about some "bad" acts than others?
By the end of these notes, you’ll understand that crime isn't just about breaking laws—it’s about how society constructs (builds) the rules. Don't worry if it sounds a bit deep at first; we'll break it down together step-by-step!
1. What is "Social Construction"?
To understand this chapter, we first need to understand Social Construction. This is the idea that our ideas about what is "normal," "right," or "wrong" are created by the society we live in. They aren't fixed in stone.
Crime vs. Deviance: What’s the difference?
• Deviance: Behavior that goes against the norms (unwritten rules) and values of a society. For example, wearing a swimsuit to a funeral is deviant, but it isn’t illegal.
• Crime: Behavior that breaks the formal laws of a society and can be punished by the legal system.
The "Time and Place" Rule
Sociologists argue that crime and deviance are socially constructed because they change depending on:
1. Time: In the past, it was a crime in the UK for women to vote. Now, that seems crazy!
2. Place (Culture): In some countries, drinking alcohol is a serious crime. In the UK, it is a normal social activity.
3. Context: If a boxer punches someone in a ring, it’s a sport. If they do it in a supermarket, it’s a crime (assault).
Quick Review: If crime was "natural," the laws would be the same everywhere and never change. Because they do change, we know they are socially constructed.
Key Takeaway: Crime and deviance are not "natural" things. They are labels that society puts on certain behaviors based on the culture and the time.
2. The Functionalist Perspective: Merton and Strain Theory
Functionalists usually look at how society stays together. However, Robert Merton wanted to know why people commit crimes in the first place. He developed Strain Theory.
What is Strain Theory?
Merton argued that society encourages everyone to want the same thing: the "American Dream" (money, success, a nice house). These are the goals of society. Society also tells us the "right" way to get them: work hard, get an education, and get a good job. These are the means.
The problem? Not everyone has the same chance to succeed. Some people face "strain" because they want the goals but can't access the means (maybe because of poverty or a poor education).
Anomie: When there is a gap between the goals and the means, people feel a sense of "normlessness" or anomie. To cope, some people turn to crime to get the money they want.
Analogy: The 100m Sprint
Imagine a race where everyone is told the goal is to win a gold medal. However, some runners have heavy weights tied to their ankles. To win, those runners might try to take a shortcut across the grass. In sociology, that "shortcut" is crime.
Key Takeaway: Merton believes crime happens when people feel the "strain" of not being able to achieve success through legal ways.
3. The Interactionist Perspective: Becker and Labelling Theory
Interactionists don't look at why people commit crimes. Instead, they look at how society reacts to people. Howard Becker is the key name here.
Becker’s Key Idea
Becker famously said: "Deviancy is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an 'offender'."
In simple English: An act only becomes deviant when people label it as deviant.
The Process of Labelling:
1. Someone commits an act.
2. Others (like the police or media) notice and apply a label (e.g., "troublemaker" or "criminal").
3. The person starts to be treated differently because of the label.
4. The person accepts the label. This becomes their Master Status (the most important thing about them).
5. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: They start acting like the label, leading to more crime.
Did you know? Becker calls people who have the power to create and enforce these labels "Moral Entrepreneurs" (like politicians or the media).
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't think that "labelling" means the person didn't do anything wrong. Labelling theory focuses on how the reaction of society makes the person more likely to stay a criminal.
Key Takeaway: Labelling theory shows that being called a "criminal" can actually push someone into a life of crime because they feel they have no other choice.
4. Other Perspectives: Marxism and Feminism
While Merton and Becker are the main "stars" of this chapter, you should also know how other groups see the construction of crime:
Marxism (The "Class" View)
Marxists believe laws are constructed by the ruling class (the rich) to protect their own interests.
• They argue that "white-collar crimes" (like tax fraud by big companies) are often ignored.
• "Street crimes" (like shoplifting) are policed heavily because they are committed by the working class.
Feminism (The "Gender" View)
Feminists argue that society is patriarchal (male-dominated). They believe:
• Laws are often constructed to control women.
• Crimes against women (like domestic Lily or harassment) haven't always been taken seriously by the male-dominated police force.
Quick Review Box:
• Functionalism: Crime is a result of "strain" between goals and means.
• Interactionism: Crime is a label given to certain people by society.
• Marxism: Crime is defined by the rich to control the poor.
• Feminism: Crime and laws are used to maintain male power.
5. Memory Aids: Remember the Names!
It can be hard to remember which sociologist goes with which theory. Try these tricks:
• Merton = Money: Merton's Strain Theory is about people wanting money (the American Dream) but not having the means to get it.
• Becker = Brand: Labelling is like "branding" someone with a name. Once they have the brand, everyone sees them that way.
Final Summary Takeaway
In Sociology, crime and deviance are not fixed. They are socially constructed, meaning they are created by the labels we use, the laws we write, and the "strain" we feel in society. To understand crime, we must look at who has the power to make the rules and how those rules are applied to different people.
You're doing great! This is one of the more "thinky" parts of sociology, but once you see that "wrong" is just a label, you'll start seeing it everywhere in the news!