Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of criminal behavior, on an individual, social or natural level, and how it can be managed, controlled, and prevented.
Key Terms
- Anomie
- Deviance
Anomie
The concept of anomie, in sociology, can be defined as a state of normlessness, disorder, or confusion in a society when the standard norms and values are weak or unclear.
This lack of social or ethical standards can lead to disconnection, deviance, and social instability among individuals.
French sociologist Emile Durkheim introduced it and later expanded it by others like Robert K. Merton.
Deviance
Behavior that violates established contextual, cultural, or social norms (folkways, mores, or codified law) and generates a negative social reaction. Sociologically, deviance is a property conferred upon forms of behavior by the reactions of a social audience.
Frequent Asked Questions
- The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), compiled annually by the FBI, is the primary source of official crime data, based on crimes reported by law enforcement agencies.
- The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is a self-report study gathered annually by interviewing randomly selected U.S. households about their experiences of crime, including crimes not reported to the police. The NCVS typically reports a higher rate of crime than the UCR.
- Criticism of Official Statistics (OCS): Interpretivist sociologists argue that OCS are a social construction. They reflect the decisions of groups like the general public, victims, police, and judges, rather than measuring the true amount of crime.
- A ‘dark figure‘ of unreported and unrecorded crime exists. For every 100 crimes committed, only about 47 are reported to the police, and 27 are actually recorded.
- Criminology is the systematic scientific study of crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system.
- Deviance is behavior that violates social norms and generates a negative social reaction. It is a broader concept than crime, covering violations of social norms such as folkways, mores, or codified law.
- Crime is behavior that violates official law and is punishable through formal sanctions
Sociologist Émile Durkheim believed that deviance is a natural and inevitable part of all societies.
From a functionalist perspective, deviance serves positive social functions: it clarifies rules, strengthens social bonds among people reacting to the deviant, and can help lead to beneficial social change.
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