Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>

AQA Sociology A2 - Crime & Deviance module

Scroll to see replies

I'm in a similar position + i've already done the religion exam. I still need the marks like! lol. Especially considering that the universities can now see your individual module results as oppossed to your overall a-level grades.

Reply 61

Podge

^^ ooo i didnt know that! suppose its good if you miss it by a couple of marks.

Reply 62

*starry_eyed_*

OK I know this is a really simple 12 mark question, but I'm confused into the direction I need to go in with this

Examine the relationship between deviance and labelling.

I started talking about Becker's labelling theory, but don't see how I can drag this out for 12marks' worth :eek:

I thought about explaining Merton's strain theory but this isn't right, any help please!!

Reply 63

kellywood_5

*starry_eyed_*

I thought about explaining Merton's strain theory but this isn't right, any help please!!

Could you maybe talk about the media, deviance amplification and moral panics? Ie someone is labelled as deviant, the media pick up on it and cause a fuss, they make the public freak out about it and the police instigate a crack down, the deviants conform to their deviant label out of spite and thus a self-fulfiling prophecy has been fulfiled. I don't know if that's right, but it's an idea.

Reply 64

Happy1

*starry_eyed_*

I thought about explaining Merton's strain theory but this isn't right, any help please!!

Is it the synoptic links, the methodology or the theories question... that will affect your answer surely?

In general... I'd go for...

Theories
Becker's labelling theory (with a bit of Lemert thrown in there). Also mention the sulf fulfilling prophecy.
How labelling links with other theories (Merton - responses to deviant labels, or Cloward and Ohlin - subcultural responses)

Synoptic links
Deviance amplification by the media (moral panics - Stan Cohen's study or Stuart Hall's will do here)
Labelling in education - how it causes many kids to become deviant (e.g. Merton's strain theory - some respond by rejecting the goals and setting deviant ones etc)
Some New Religious movements are labelled deviant (e.g. Jonestown massacre) due to their practices being out of the ordinary.

Methodology
You could talk about police stereotypes and instiutional racism (ethnic minorities, men and working classes labelled more deviant) - link it to how statistics are social constructions as a result.
Labelling of women as nurturing and motherly may result in less convictions.

Thats not all... but i cant think of anything else at the moment...

Dont forget to criticise labelling theory... I think this wll be a substantial part of the answer.

Reply 65

*starry_eyed_*

wow thanks so much kelly and suzi, both excellent ideas, i was kind of on the right lines then! :smile:

bring on this exam!

Reply 66

8owman

I hope labelling comes up on the exam it's easy! Race and crime/gender and crime is the hardest because it's so boring.

Reply 67

*starry_eyed_*

8owman

I hope labelling comes up on the exam it's easy! Race and crime/gender and crime is the hardest because it's so boring.

yeah labelling would be a gift :smile:

we've done hardly anything on ethnicity, so really hope that doesn't come up as a 40 mark question! I think I'd be ok on gender, just did a question on that for revision and seemed ok!

Reply 68

8owman

To be fair though, if ethnicity did come up as a 40 marker, most of the country would do crap because it's such a narrow topic, so the overall standard would be low and therefore it would be easier to pass :biggrin:

Reply 69

Happy1

i think if it did come up it would be testing methodological links... becaus etheres some stuff to talk about with regards to ethnic minorities and institutional racism, where they live being important in conviction rates etc.

Reply 70

tis_me_lord

An easy topic means you need to do a really good essay...

Reply 71

Mellie

*starry_eyed_*

OK this may not benefit you much but here's a list of the sociologists/studies I'm learning for this module:

•

Durkheim- Study of suicide

•

Douglas- defining and giving meaning to suicide

•

Atkinson- studying coroners' decisions of suicide

•

Taylor- reasons for suicide

•

Sutherland- Sex role theory

•

Parsons- sex role theory

•

Messerschmidt- gender identity

•

Hirschi- control theory

•

Pat Carlen- class/gender deal

•

Heidensohn- control theory

•

Cohen- Status frustration

•

Merton- strain theory

•

Cloward & Ohlin- illeigitimate opportunity structure

•

Miller- focal concerns

•

Matza- subterranean values

•

Becker- Labelling

•

Sutherland- white collar crime

•

Hall et al- moral panics

Ooooh, that will be SO helpful!
After being teased for weeks, we finally started learning Crime and Deviance properly last week. I have three more Sociology lessons before we break up for study leave next Friday :rolleyes:

Looks like I shall have to self teach myself everything she doesn't teach us in the 3 lessons (and knowing my teacher, at least two of them will involve making posters :mad:

) so that list will come in helpful. Thanks! :redface:

Reply 72

sunshine_6

duno if this will help neone teacher just gave it us. A topic overview

· Social order and control – basic consensus and conflict ideas.
· Functionalism – especially Durkheim and Merton.
· New right theory – e.g. Murray
· Subcultural theories – especially Shaw and McKay, A.Cohen, Cloward + Ohlin.
· Marxism – including traditional views and the New Criminology (Marxist subculture and left realism, Taylor, Walton + Young)
· Feminism – e.g Heidensohn
· Interactionism – labelling theory/social constructionism (especially Lemert and Becker)
· The role of the media – including social construction, folk devils and moral panics, amplification of deviancy, S.Cohen, J.Young.
· Postmodernism – a fragmented society, Lash + Urray
· Crime statistics – official statistics and victim surveys
· Women and crime – especially statistics and feminist views
· Class and crime – e.g. Lea + Young, Gilroy, Hall on statistics and policing
· Marketisation/globalisation – changing society’s affect on crime
· Suicide – Durkheim’s work, contemporary debates

I was wonderin if neone has ne notes on Marketisation/globalisation because our teacher hasnt given us nethin on that. thanx

Reply 73

8owman

After being teased for weeks, we finally started learning Crime and Deviance properly last week. I have three more Sociology lessons before we break up for study leave next Friday

Omg your teachers have left it very late! It's a massive topic. I hope you're self-motivated lol :biggrin:

Reply 74

Dragonbaby

8owman thanks for the document on gender and crime, I really needed that. Anyone got any links or info for feminist perspectives of crime? Seem to be lucky, had a great SS teacher, but we were running out of time so she left it to us to look up feminist, but none of my text books even mention it!!!

Reply 75

8owman

Well i'm revising from Haralmbos and there isn't really much about feminism and crime. Most of it is linked to postmodernism. Here are a few points I picked up on though;

1) The likes of Heidensohn and Smart are feminists, although Smart can also be viewed as a postmodernist.
2) Smart proposed the idea of "transgressive" criminology; we need to move away from malestream criminology and a whole new approach that is inclusive of women is required.
3) Radical feminists believe that men are the root of all evil and female crimes should only be studied and dealt with by women.
4) Liberal feminists believe that women are placed in a subordinate position, but recognise that the situation is improving (e.g. women officers to deal with rapes).

Don't forget, in a gender essay you also need to talk about male criminality - Messerschmidt etc ("crisis of masculinity").

Reply 76

Miss.P

Hmm would you guys say I can revise crime and deviance in 5 days..if I do about 8 hours a day? As it's my last exam and all my exams are crammed togeather!! So I have to leave it last!

Reply 77

kellywood_5

xxnizxx

Hmm would you guys say I can revise crime and deviance in 5 days..if I do about 8 hours a day? As it's my last exam and all my exams are crammed togeather!! So I have to leave it last!

I reckon you should be able to do that. That would give you say 3 days for revising and 2 for past papers, which seems plenty.

Reply 78

shoiab

kellywood_5

I reckon you should be able to do that. That would give you say 3 days for revising and 2 for past papers, which seems plenty.

ye i'm in a similar position, i have Biology on the 23rd ...then 28th is sociology module 6, i've got all the revision notes etc made, just a case of sitting down and memorising it.

Reply 79

Miss.P

Thanks kellywood_5!! I think it should be alrite too, though I have not made any notes, I tend to make notes as I go along as I have said in the other thread lol

Shoiab - yeah same I got an exam on 23rd! then 28th sociology, I will probably do what you've done and make notes, then memorise them!

thanks :smile:

nice to know I'm not the only one planning to do that