Introduction to Criminology
The purpose of this essay is to discuss the complexities that occur when defining the concepts of crime and deviance, with a discussion of the relativity of the terms. In addition to that, this essay will be a comprehensive review of the different approaches taken to define both crime and deviance.
Crime according to the Oxford English Dictionary (2014) is ‘an action or omission which constitutes as an offence and is punishable by law’. Whereas deviance ‘consists of those acts which do not follow the norms and expectations of a particular social group’ (Haralambos & Holborn, 2008:321).
Crime and deviance are relative concepts dependent upon the time, place and circumstance wherein those concepts are defined. …show more content…
Emile Durkheim, the esteemed French theorist and sociologist, argued that a healthy society requires both crime and punishment, both are considered inevitable and in turn both concepts are deemed functional (Holborn, 2009). Durkheim envisioned society as an organism. If biologists wanted to know how organisms worked in the human body, they would examine different organisms such as the brain, lungs and heart. However, if they were to isolate in examinations particular organs then it would bring about an inability to explain the functions of such organs. In order to explain the functions of the organs, it would need to be studied collectively therefore having a formidable explanation of their functions (Haralambos & Holborn, 2008). For example, the state provides education for the family. The family pay their taxes which in turn supports the government’s commitment of keeping education free and available for all families. The education system is a means for its students to be able to enter into a variety of jobs and professions. In the process, it leads them to becoming law abiding and tax paying citizens. From the functionalist perspective, this is seen as bringing about security, safety and productivity which is needed in a society. If this result is not seen in society, then new institutions must be put in …show more content…
However the measurement of crime by way of criminal statistics of its different forms are questionable as it relates to its reliability. The gathering of these statistics whether it be via polls, interviews, surveys and so on tend to be provided with answer the researcher is looking for and so such methods can be accused of researcher bias and manipulation of data. Bryman (2004) stated that ‘results cannot be generalised to the wider society due to the differences in self reporting’.
In conclusion to this essay, crime and deviance has confirmed the difficulty in explaining the concepts and complex issues surrounding the definition of crime and deviance. Reviewing crime and deviance, their relativity in terms of definition and their similarities and differences indicate difficulty in coming to an established indefinite definition and proves that crime and deviance are relative to time, place and circumstance. It is further strengthened by the different approaches used to study crime and deviance and an exploration of statistics that give an understanding into the issues
The purpose of this essay is to discuss the complexities that occur when defining the concepts of crime and deviance, with a discussion of the relativity of the terms. In addition to that, this essay will be a comprehensive review of the different approaches taken to define both crime and deviance.
Crime according to the Oxford English Dictionary (2014) is ‘an action or omission which constitutes as an offence and is punishable by law’. Whereas deviance ‘consists of those acts which do not follow the norms and expectations of a particular social group’ (Haralambos & Holborn, 2008:321).
Crime and deviance are relative concepts dependent upon the time, place and circumstance wherein those concepts are defined. …show more content…
Emile Durkheim, the esteemed French theorist and sociologist, argued that a healthy society requires both crime and punishment, both are considered inevitable and in turn both concepts are deemed functional (Holborn, 2009). Durkheim envisioned society as an organism. If biologists wanted to know how organisms worked in the human body, they would examine different organisms such as the brain, lungs and heart. However, if they were to isolate in examinations particular organs then it would bring about an inability to explain the functions of such organs. In order to explain the functions of the organs, it would need to be studied collectively therefore having a formidable explanation of their functions (Haralambos & Holborn, 2008). For example, the state provides education for the family. The family pay their taxes which in turn supports the government’s commitment of keeping education free and available for all families. The education system is a means for its students to be able to enter into a variety of jobs and professions. In the process, it leads them to becoming law abiding and tax paying citizens. From the functionalist perspective, this is seen as bringing about security, safety and productivity which is needed in a society. If this result is not seen in society, then new institutions must be put in …show more content…
However the measurement of crime by way of criminal statistics of its different forms are questionable as it relates to its reliability. The gathering of these statistics whether it be via polls, interviews, surveys and so on tend to be provided with answer the researcher is looking for and so such methods can be accused of researcher bias and manipulation of data. Bryman (2004) stated that ‘results cannot be generalised to the wider society due to the differences in self reporting’.
In conclusion to this essay, crime and deviance has confirmed the difficulty in explaining the concepts and complex issues surrounding the definition of crime and deviance. Reviewing crime and deviance, their relativity in terms of definition and their similarities and differences indicate difficulty in coming to an established indefinite definition and proves that crime and deviance are relative to time, place and circumstance. It is further strengthened by the different approaches used to study crime and deviance and an exploration of statistics that give an understanding into the issues