Conformity
Merton defined this as meaning that the person accepted the cultural goal and used acceptable ways of trying to reach this goal.
Control theory
Identifies four different types of social control that keep people conforming to society's norms. The theory was developed by Hirschi.
Courts
Determine whether the individual is innocent or guilty of the charge.
Crime
Breaking one of society's official criminal laws.
Crimes against property
Those that involve the theft of something that belongs to someone else. These crimes are also known as property crimes.
Crimes against the person
Those that involve direct violence or threat of violence to another person. Such crimes are often called violent crimes.
Criminal justice system
Society's formal response to crime.
Deterrence
Discouraging crime because of the consequences.
Travis Hirschi
The sociologist who developed control theory.
Innovation
In strain theory, this means accepting the goal but using unacceptable, or deviant, ways of reaching this goal.
Robert Merton
Sociologist who developed strain theory.
Police
Help maintain peace and public order by enforcing the formal laws within a society.
Rebellion
Merton defined this as choosing to identify new goals and new means to reach them.
Recidivism
Crimes committed by someone who has already been convicted of another crime.
Retreatism
Happens when the individual rejects the cultural goal and the means.
Ritualism
Occurs when people reject the goal, but continue to use the accepted means of reaching the goal.
Social control
Refers to the ways that a society keeps people from breaking the laws and norms.
Strain theory
Explores different ways that people might react to cultural goals and the institutionalized means, or ways of reaching those goals.
Victimless crimes
Those that don't have a clear victim. Some of the crimes that fall into this category are prostitution, illegal drug use, and gambling.
White collar crimes
Those committed while doing business, such as cheating on taxes, bribery, and embezzling funds from a company.