Sociological Theories of Crime & Deviance

What exactly is crime? Why does this happen? What are the different types of crime? Why are some abusive behaviors considered crimes, but others are not? And what can we do to reduce the number of criminals in the community? There are many sociological theories of crime, each answering these kinds of questions in slightly different ways.Some popular social theories focus on social or organizational factors in society, such as educational attainment or the effect of poverty on the behavior of a group. separately. Others focus on how interpersonal relationships affect human values. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Understanding criminal psychology is important for those who want to work in areas such as criminal justice or criminology. To understand the different social theories of crime, it helps to start by studying the four main theories of social psychology. These concepts can help provide useful and important explanations for approaching other types of social concepts and will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of crime and criminal psychology.

Theories & Assumptions in Sociology

In everyday society, people often use the word "theory" interchangeably with "opinion". However, theory means something specific in a social/scientific context. Perceptions are cognitive tools that people use to measure, name and shape pictures of the world. As such, they play an important role in how we interpret reality.

Many competing theories trying to explain the same evidence can come to different conclusions. This is because any theory is based on a set of ideas, and in the case of the sociology of crime, these are usually ideas about the nature of individuals, one, and the relationship between the two. In other words, different ideas about human nature and its relationship with the social system.

What is Crime in Sociology?

The legal definition of crime can be simple: crime is breaking the law. However, the definition of crime in sociology is not easy. There are many different ways of defining crime, many different theories about the origins of crime, and just as many theories about the social aspects of crime. Although there is no simple definition in the field of sociology, generally speaking, one can say that crime is the study of human relations and breaking the law.

But why do these values ​​exist? Some sociologists ask us to reflect on the design of individual laws: for whom does the law serve? Who is the beneficiary and the payer of the various acts classified as illegal? A social theory of crime must explain many social phenomena. The definition of crime has implications for the types of questions you ask, the types of data you use to study criminal behavior, and the types of assumptions applied. Some of the most commonly described types of crime in sociology include:

Understanding Patterns of Crime in Sociology

Although the terms "crime" and "fraud" are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences. Crime is against the laws of society, while immorality violates the norms and rules of society. However, fraudulent behavior can also cross the spectrum of criminal behavior.

Although there are many different social theories of crime, there are four main theories in logic: structural functionalism, typology constraint typology, conflict theory, and labeling theory. Starting from these perspectives can provide the context and perspective necessary to appreciate other social theories of crime.

Structural Functionalism

Functionalism emphasizes that deviant behavior serves a useful function in society because it brings together different segments of the population in a society. In fact, logic helps to define the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, which in turn supports our cultural norms and values. Although wrong behavior can upset the balance of society, society can adjust social values ​​in the process of restoring that balance. In other words, deviant behaviors can contribute to long-term social stability because they challenge norms while promoting solidarity.

Social Strain Typology

The compulsion model suggests that deviant behavior can be classified by a type based on people's motivation or adherence to cultural goals, as well as their beliefs about how to achieve those goals. The main "types" of social disruptors are: tradition, innovation, rebellion, tradition, regression, and conformity. This theory also suggests that people can turn to deviant behavior in pursuit of socially accepted values/goals. For example, some people turn to crime because of the cultural value of seeking wealth. Change can mean breaking the principle of putting the other person before oneself, which is a basic idea of ​​the social conflict type.