GCSE Sociology WJEC
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41 topics in 6 modules
☑️ Crime and Deviance 12 topics
- Understanding and Differentiating Between Crime and Deviance
- Measurement of Crime: Official Crime Statistics, Victim Studies and Self-Report Studies
- Biological and Psychological Theories of Crime
- Sociological Theories of Crime: Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, and Interactionism
- Victimisation: Who are the victims and effects of victimisation
- Youth Crime and Gang Crime: Causes and Impact
- White Collar Crime and Corporate Crime: Recognition and Impact
- The Role of Police and Courts in Control and Punishment
- Crime Prevention Strategies and Theories
- The Relationship Between Media and Crime: Fear of Crime, Portrayal of Offenders/Victims
- The Effect of Social Class, Gender, and Ethnicity on Criminal Justice
- Criticisms of Crime Theories and Future Perspectives
☑️ Social differentiation and stratification 12 topics
- Understanding Social Differentiation: Class, Gender, and Ethnicity
- Social Stratification: Hierarchies, Caste System, and Class System
- Key Theories on Stratification: Functionalism, Marxism, Weberian, Feminism, and Intersectionality
- Income and Wealth Distribution: Disparities and Economic Inequality
- Poverty and Social Exclusion: Cause and Impact
- Education, Occupation, and Stratification: The Effects on Life Chances
- Stratification and Power: Political Influence, Decision Making and Democracy
- Impact of Social Mobility on Social Stratification
- Consequences of Stratification on Health and Life Expectancy
- Evaluation of Theories on Social Differentiation and Stratification
- Global Inequality: Differences Between Countries and Their Impact on Global Relations
- Concepts of Social Justice and Social Policy Approaches to Inequality
☑️ Key Concepts and Processes of Cultural Transmission 3 topics
- Key Sociological Concepts
- Debates Over the Acquisition of Identity
- The Process of Socialisation
☑️ Families 5 topics
- Family Diversity and Different Family Forms in the UK and within a Global Context
- Social Changes and Family Structures
- Social Changes and Family Relationships
- Sociological Theories of the Role of the Family
- Criticisms of Family
☑️ Education 4 topics
- Sociological Theories of the Role of Education
- Processes Inside Schools
- Patterns of Educational Achievement
- Factors Affecting Educational Achievement
☑️ Sociological Research Methods 5 topics
- Usefulness of Different Types of Data
- Methods of Research
- Sampling Processes
- Practical Issues Affecting Research
- Ethical Issues Affecting Research
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GCSE Sociology WJEC Revision Content
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GCSE Sociology WJEC - Crime and Deviance - Understanding and Differentiating Between Crime and Deviance Content Preview
Crime and Deviance
Understanding and Differentiating Between Crime and Deviance
Understanding Crime
- Crime is considered as actions that break the law and are punishable by the state.
- Crimes are legally defined and can vary between cultures and societies; what is considered a crime in one may not be in another.
- Crimes include activities such as theft, assault, murder, fraud and other behaviours which infringe upon a person's rights and security.
- The formal system for dealing with crime includes the police, court and prison system which work together to enforce laws and punish offenders.
Understanding Deviance
- Deviance is behaviour that goes against the norms and values of a society, but may not necessarily be illegal.
- Deviant behaviour can lead to negative social reactions, and in some cases, can lead to the behaviour becoming a criminal act if made illegal.
- Deviance can include acts such as not wearing appropriate clothing, verbal rudeness, social inappropriateness in public.
- Deviance is more about the social response to the behaviour, unlike crime which is more about the action itself.
Differentiating Between Crime and Deviance
- Crime and Deviance, although related, have their distinctive aspects. Differentiating them revolves around legal judgement and social acceptance.
- Both are seen as challenging to the social order, but the difference lies in how society responds to the act.
- A crime is a deviance that is made illegal by a formal law, resulting in potential punishment by a criminal justice agency.
- Not all deviance is crime; however, all crime is deviance as it breaks the rules and norms set by society.
- While crime is defined by laws created by the state, deviance is characterised by societal reaction. This can vary widely based on cultural, historical and social contexts.
Question: Explain the key difference between crime and deviance as understood in sociology.
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