Unit 7 : Crime and Deviance
May/June 2002
1. (a) Explain, with examples, the relative nature of crime and deviance (9)
(b) Evaluate the way in which studies has contributed to a sociological understanding of deviance. [16]
2. (a) Explain how the level of official crime statistics may be affected by the activities of law enforcement agencies. [9]
(b) Assess the view that crime is an activity largely undertaken by young working class males. [16]
May/June 2003
1. (a) Describe the influence of ‘moral panics’ on levels of crime. (9)
(b) ‘Levels of crime reflect levels of deviance’. Evaluate this proposition. (16)
2. (a) Explain why females appear to commit fewer crimes than males. (9)
(b) Assess the view that working class males are more likely to commit deviant acts than others. [16]
May/June 2004
1. (a) Describe, with examples, the way in which some behaviour is labeled as deviant. (9)
(b) ‘High levels of crime among some groups in society can be explained in terms of deviancy amplification.’ Evaluate this view. (16)
2. (a) Describe, with examples, the differences between sociological and biological theories of deviance. (9)
(b) Evaluate the view that crime is a result of the activities of law enforcement agents. (16)
May/June 2006
1. (a) Describe, with examples, how societal reaction can play a part in creating deviant behaviour.
(b) ‘Society’s responses to crime and deviance serve to reinforce social solidarity.’ Assess this view.
2. (a) Describe, with examples, the patterns of recorded crime amongst young males. (9)
(b) Assess the view that crime in society is a consequence of ideological denomination(16)
May/June 2007
- (a) (i) Define the term moral panic. (3)
(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of moral panic. (6)
(b) Evaluate the view that most crime in modern industrial societies is carried out by young working class men.[16]
- (a) (i) Define the term social order. (3)
(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of social order in relation of crime and deviance. [6]
(b) ‘There is no such thing as deviance in society other than in the mind of the observer.’ Assess this claim. [16]
May/June 2008
1. (a) (i) Define the term moral panic (3)
(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of oral panic. (6)
(b) Evaluate the claim that crime levels are influenced by the mass media. (16)
2. (a) (i) Define the term deviancy amplification (3)
(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of the way that deviancy amplification may influence levels of crime and deviance. (6)
(b) Evaluate the usefulness of interactionist studies in explaining the nature of crime and deviance in society. (16)
May/June 2009
1. (a) (i) Define the term status frustration (3)
(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of how status frustration may lead a person to commit crime. (6)
(b) Assess the view that high crime rates can be explained entirely in terms of deviancy amplification. (16)
2. (a) (i) Define the term deviant career. (3)
(ii) Identify and briefly describe two examples of the way in which social control may discourage deviance. (6)
(b) ‘The most important influence on crime rates is the power of ruling groups’. Assess this view. (16)
