Active learning ideas
This topic introduces the idea that crime and deviance are not fixed concepts but are 'socially constructed.' Students learn that what is considered 'wrong' or 'illegal' changes depending on the time, the place, and the culture. They explore the distinction between crime (breaking the law) and deviance (breaking social norms).
Activity 01
Set up stations with laws from different eras (e.g., Victorian era, 1960s, today). Students identify which behaviors moved from 'deviant' to 'normal' or 'legal' to 'illegal' and discuss why.
What is the difference between crime and deviance?
Activity 02
Give students a list of behaviors (e.g., tattoos, shouting in a library, wearing a swimsuit in a supermarket). They decide if each is deviant, criminal, or both, then compare their answers with a partner to see how norms vary.
How do laws change over time and across cultures?
Activity 03
Groups research a behavior that is legal in the UK but illegal elsewhere (or vice versa). They present their findings to the class, explaining the cultural values that lead to these different legal definitions.
Who decides what behaviour is considered deviant?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Crime and deviance are the same thing.
Crime is a legal category, while deviance is a social one. A Venn diagram activity can help students see that some acts are deviant but not criminal (like queue jumping), while others are criminal but not always seen as deviant (like speeding).
Laws are based on universal morals.
Laws reflect the power and values of a specific society at a specific time. Comparing laws across different countries helps students realize that what is 'moral' is often culturally specific.
Methods used in this brief
Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
An analysis of various sociological theories explaining why people commit crimes, including strain theory, subcultural theories, and labelling theory.
8 methodologies
Formal and Informal Social Control
This topic examines the mechanisms society uses to regulate behaviour. Students will compare the roles of agencies like the police and courts with family and peer groups.
8 methodologies
Patterns of Crime and Victimisation
Students will analyse official crime statistics, self-report studies, and victim surveys to identify patterns related to class, gender, and ethnicity.
8 methodologies