Sociological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour
An analysis of various sociological theories explaining why people commit crimes, including strain theory, subcultural theories, and labelling theory.
About This Topic
An analysis of various sociological theories explaining why people commit crimes, including strain theory, subcultural theories, and labelling theory.
Key Questions
- How does Merton's strain theory explain crime?
- What role do delinquent subcultures play?
- How does labelling lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy?
More in Crime and Deviance
Social Construction of Crime
Students learn to distinguish between crime and deviance, understanding that these concepts are socially constructed and vary across time and cultures.
2 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.
2 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.
2 methodologies