CY1001 - Deviance, Crime and Society

This subject provides a critical introduction to deviance, crime and the criminal justice system from a sociological perspective. It begins with an examination of the nature of deviance and crime, and the ways in which deviance and crime are socially constructed. The subject explores why acceptable social behaviour varies over time and in different cultures. It analyses the major institutions and agents used to exercise social control in Australian society. The subject also explores relationships between crime/deviance and social class, gender, ethnicity, and age. Various explanatory sociological theories are examined and applied to an understanding of deviance, crime and social control.

Learning Outcomes

• demonstrate a critical sociological understanding of the social construction of crime and deviance, and major institutions of social control and criminal justice;
• demonstrate an understanding of the relativity of crime and deviance over time and across different societies and the processes involved in defining deviant and/or criminal behaviours;
• distinguish between selected social theories as they are applied to the analysis of crime and deviance and social control and critically assess their strengths and weaknesses;
• apply criminological skills to the analysis of specific policy and program case studies;
• formulate independent critical ideas and arguments regarding criminological theory and public policy and identify key figures, schools and central themes in criminology and the sociology of deviance.

Subject Assessment

• essays (30%)
• other assessment (20%)
• centrally-administered final exam (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.