Crime
Chapter 14 Key Themes

• Anomie is a social condition where the norms guiding conduct break down, leaving individuals without restraint or guidance. While the term has been deployed effectively in the sociological study of crime, it can also be found in other substantive areas, for example, look at Chapter 8 'Power, Politics and the State'. The theoretical origins of the concept in the work of Durkheim can be found in Chapter 17 'Classical Social Theory, Feminism and Modernity'.
  
• Labelling focuses on the social processes whereby some individuals are stigmatised by the imposition of deviant or criminal labels, with consequences for their future self-images, social identities and behaviour. It is drawn from the work of symbolic interactionists and explored in Chapter 18 'Making Social Life: Theories of Action and meaning'. To see how labelling has been used elsewhere, have a look at Chapter 10 on education.
  
• Subculture refers to the set of values, behaviour and attitudes of a particular group of people who are distinct from, but related to, the dominant culture in society. In crime and deviance the focus is usually on delinquent subcultures, but it is also more generally used. For example, class subcultures are examined in Chapter 5 'Social Class, or Chapter 7 points up how the concept can be used to explore the lives of ethnic minority groups.