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Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
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2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
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1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
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Sociology
7 Dec 2025
166
4 pages
Nya Ndoko @nyandoko_teyr
Crime and deviance might seem like complex sociological topics, but understanding why people break social rules is actually... Show more
You might think crime is always bad for society, but Durkheim had a surprising argument - crime is actually inevitable and even useful! He believed crime serves important functions that keep society healthy.
Boundary maintenance happens when society reacts to crime by punishing wrongdoers. This reinforces everyone's commitment to shared values and brings people together against the criminal. Think about how communities often unite after a serious crime occurs.
Crime also enables adaptation and change in society. Many ideas we accept today (like women's rights or religious freedom) were once considered deviant. Without some rule-breaking, society would never evolve or improve.
Key Point The media plays a crucial role in creating 'folk devils' - exaggerated villains that help society define what's acceptable behaviour.
Merton's strain theory explains why people turn to deviance when they can't achieve society's goals through legitimate means. It's like being told you need designer trainers to fit in, but having no legal way to afford them.
Merton identified two key factors structural factors (society's unequal opportunities) and cultural factors (strong emphasis on success goals but weak emphasis on legitimate achievement). This creates 'strain' between what people are encouraged to want and what they can actually achieve.
The theory suggests working-class people have higher crime rates because they face the biggest gap between cultural goals and legitimate opportunities. However, critics argue this is too deterministic - not all working-class people become criminals.
Key Point Strain theory relies heavily on official crime statistics, which may overrepresent working-class crime and miss middle-class deviance.
A.K. Cohen agreed with Merton that deviance is mainly a lower-class issue, but he spotted some major flaws in the original theory. Cohen argued that Merton ignored group deviance and focused too much on crimes for material gain whilst missing non-economic crimes like vandalism.
Cohen's focus was on working-class boys in middle-class dominated schools. These lads experience anomie (normlessness) because they can't achieve status through education and mainstream success.
This leads to status frustration - they feel angry about their low social position. Instead of accepting failure, they reject mainstream values entirely and form delinquent subcultures with other boys in similar situations. These subcultures create alternative ways to gain respect and status.
Key Point Status frustration explains why some crimes seem pointless economically - they're actually about gaining respect within alternative value systems.
Subcultural strain theories see deviance as the product of delinquent subcultures with completely different values from mainstream society. These theories both criticise and build upon Merton's original ideas about strain and deviance.
The key insight is that deviance isn't just individual rebellion - it's often collective behaviour within specific groups. When legitimate paths to success are blocked, entire groups can develop alternative value systems that celebrate different behaviours.
These subcultural theories help explain why certain types of crime cluster in particular communities and why some deviant behaviour seems to follow group patterns rather than individual psychology. They show how social structure creates conditions where alternative cultures can flourish.
Key Point Understanding subcultures helps explain why traditional crime prevention often fails - you're not just dealing with individual choices but entire alternative value systems.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore the Marxist explanation of crime, focusing on how capitalism creates inequality and influences criminal behavior. This summary covers key concepts such as criminogenic factors, the role of the bourgeoisie and proletariat, and the impact of social class on crime rates. Ideal for sociology students studying crime and deviance theories.
SociologyExplore the intricate relationships between crime, ethnicity, gender, and social class. This summary delves into key sociological theories, white-collar crime, and the impact of statistics on understanding crime trends. Ideal for students studying crime and deviance.
SociologyExplore Lemert's concepts of primary and secondary deviance, and Young's application of these theories to hippy marijuana users. This summary evaluates the impact of societal reactions on deviant behavior, essential for understanding crime and deviance in sociology. Ideal for essay preparation and exam revision.
SociologyExplore key sociological perspectives on crime and deviance, including Functionalism, Marxism, Neo-Marxism, Interactionism, and Realism. This summary covers the causes of crime, the role of social control, and the impact of societal reactions. Ideal for students studying criminology and sociology.
SociologyExplore the intricacies of labelling theory and its impact on crime and deviance. This mind map covers key concepts such as moral panic, primary and secondary deviance, and the role of social control in defining deviant behavior. Ideal for sociology students seeking to understand the social construction of deviance and the effects of labelling in society.
SociologyQuotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Nya Ndoko
@nyandoko_teyr
Crime and deviance might seem like complex sociological topics, but understanding why people break social rules is actually quite straightforward once you grasp the key theories. These functionalist and strain theories help explain how society's structure and values can actually... Show more
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
You might think crime is always bad for society, but Durkheim had a surprising argument - crime is actually inevitable and even useful! He believed crime serves important functions that keep society healthy.
Boundary maintenance happens when society reacts to crime by punishing wrongdoers. This reinforces everyone's commitment to shared values and brings people together against the criminal. Think about how communities often unite after a serious crime occurs.
Crime also enables adaptation and change in society. Many ideas we accept today (like women's rights or religious freedom) were once considered deviant. Without some rule-breaking, society would never evolve or improve.
Key Point: The media plays a crucial role in creating 'folk devils' - exaggerated villains that help society define what's acceptable behaviour.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Merton's strain theory explains why people turn to deviance when they can't achieve society's goals through legitimate means. It's like being told you need designer trainers to fit in, but having no legal way to afford them.
Merton identified two key factors: structural factors (society's unequal opportunities) and cultural factors (strong emphasis on success goals but weak emphasis on legitimate achievement). This creates 'strain' between what people are encouraged to want and what they can actually achieve.
The theory suggests working-class people have higher crime rates because they face the biggest gap between cultural goals and legitimate opportunities. However, critics argue this is too deterministic - not all working-class people become criminals.
Key Point: Strain theory relies heavily on official crime statistics, which may overrepresent working-class crime and miss middle-class deviance.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
A.K. Cohen agreed with Merton that deviance is mainly a lower-class issue, but he spotted some major flaws in the original theory. Cohen argued that Merton ignored group deviance and focused too much on crimes for material gain whilst missing non-economic crimes like vandalism.
Cohen's focus was on working-class boys in middle-class dominated schools. These lads experience anomie (normlessness) because they can't achieve status through education and mainstream success.
This leads to status frustration - they feel angry about their low social position. Instead of accepting failure, they reject mainstream values entirely and form delinquent subcultures with other boys in similar situations. These subcultures create alternative ways to gain respect and status.
Key Point: Status frustration explains why some crimes seem pointless economically - they're actually about gaining respect within alternative value systems.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Subcultural strain theories see deviance as the product of delinquent subcultures with completely different values from mainstream society. These theories both criticise and build upon Merton's original ideas about strain and deviance.
The key insight is that deviance isn't just individual rebellion - it's often collective behaviour within specific groups. When legitimate paths to success are blocked, entire groups can develop alternative value systems that celebrate different behaviours.
These subcultural theories help explain why certain types of crime cluster in particular communities and why some deviant behaviour seems to follow group patterns rather than individual psychology. They show how social structure creates conditions where alternative cultures can flourish.
Key Point: Understanding subcultures helps explain why traditional crime prevention often fails - you're not just dealing with individual choices but entire alternative value systems.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
4
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore the Marxist explanation of crime, focusing on how capitalism creates inequality and influences criminal behavior. This summary covers key concepts such as criminogenic factors, the role of the bourgeoisie and proletariat, and the impact of social class on crime rates. Ideal for sociology students studying crime and deviance theories.
SociologyExplore the intricate relationships between crime, ethnicity, gender, and social class. This summary delves into key sociological theories, white-collar crime, and the impact of statistics on understanding crime trends. Ideal for students studying crime and deviance.
SociologyExplore Lemert's concepts of primary and secondary deviance, and Young's application of these theories to hippy marijuana users. This summary evaluates the impact of societal reactions on deviant behavior, essential for understanding crime and deviance in sociology. Ideal for essay preparation and exam revision.
SociologyExplore key sociological perspectives on crime and deviance, including Functionalism, Marxism, Neo-Marxism, Interactionism, and Realism. This summary covers the causes of crime, the role of social control, and the impact of societal reactions. Ideal for students studying criminology and sociology.
SociologyExplore the intricacies of labelling theory and its impact on crime and deviance. This mind map covers key concepts such as moral panic, primary and secondary deviance, and the role of social control in defining deviant behavior. Ideal for sociology students seeking to understand the social construction of deviance and the effects of labelling in society.
SociologyQuotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
