Sociological approaches to criminal and deviant behaviour

Sub-cultural theory suggests that certain groups within society form their own distinct subculture that differs from the rest of society. As part of the process of socialisation, certain forms of behaviour become the norm from one generation to the next. There are several examples of sub-cultures within society. For example the sociologist Albert Cohen studied the subculture of working-class boys in education.

You also need to understand the impact of different sub-cultures upon wider society. For example, the existence of various groups sharing their own subcultures can make it difficult to establish social cohesion within society. A revealing illustration can be found in Northern Ireland, where society is divided between Catholics and Protestants.

          For the examination you will need to know about crime statistics. Since the mid – 1990s, the level of crime has gradually declined. However, some types of crime have increased sharply in recent years; such as youth crime. One reason for the rapid increase in youth crime is the introduction of ASBOs (Anti-Social Behavioural Orders).

          Official crime statistics fail to reflect the true level of crime. The existence of a hidden (or dark) figure of crime is due to several factors;

1. Some victims of crime might fear a reprisal if they go to the police
2. The public lacks confidence in the criminal justice system due to low clear-up rates, and lenient sentencing
3. There may be a time lag where people fail to realise that they have been a victim of crime (e.g. ID fraud)
4. In cases of petty theft, victims may feel there is little point contacting the police
5. Some victims of crime might be too embarrassed to report a crime. This is often the case amongst victims of domestic abuse

Self-report and victim studies (such as the British Crime Survey) provide a more accurate portrayal of the true level of crime. However, there is always a hidden figure of crime that fails to show up on the official statistics.

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