1. perspectives of crime & deviance Flashcards
what does values mean?
-general principles or goals. they tell us what is good, and what we should aim for
what does norms mean?
-the specific rules that govern behaviour in particular situations. some norms, such as written rules or laws, are formal. other norms are informal, such as table manners
what does social control mean?
-the various methods used to persuade or force individuals to conform to the dominant social norms and values of a society or group
how is social control achieved?
-by a range of positive and negative sanctions which are applied by formal agencies of social control (police, courts, prisons) and informal agencies such as the family, community, and peer group pressure.
-other institutions such as the education system, religion, the workplace and the media are also forms of informal agencies of social control
what does crime mean?
-activities and behaviours that break the laws set out by the criminal justice system of a society
-social construction of crime: crime is a label that’s attached to a certain form of behaviour which is prohibited by the state
what does deviance mean?
-acts that go against norms and values- thag are considered anti social
-social construction of deviance: depends on the social expectations about what constitutes ’normal’ behaviour, and therefore whether something is defined as deviant or not will depend on how others react to it
social construction of crime and deviance?
-contextual: its context dependent. means that behaviours that are acceptable in certain situations wouldn’t be in others
-cultural: varies between different cultures. meaning what is considered acceptable or rude varies depending on the culture, society or country you’re in.
-historical: what was once acceptable may become illegal/deviant and what was once deviant/illegal may become acceptable
-generational: refers to how some behaviours are acceptable from certain age groups and some activities are illegal for some age groups
what are biological theories of crime and deviance?
-suggest there is something in the genetic makeup of criminals that make them more disposed to turn to crime
-Cesare Lombroso- in the 19tj century he suggested that criminals had abnormal physical features that distinguished them from rest of population, such as large jaws and cheekbones. also suggested that criminals would have features that were associated with humans from an earlier evolutionary stage
what are psychologist theories of crime and deviance?
-have linked criminal behaviour to genetically based personality characteristics, such as presence of an extra y-chromosome creating neurotic extroverts, who are less rational, less cautious, and more risk taking, etc
-current tech such as PET scans, have shown that known psychopaths often have brain abnormalities which suggest organic reasons for deviant behaviour
-modern studies suggest that childhood experiences can have long term psychological effects which may lead to maladjusted personalities
what are sociologist theories of crime and deviance?
-reject these explanation, fail to recognise the meanings attached to crime & deviance are created by social and cultural factors
-sociologists believe its difficult to see how some ppl can have a biological or psychological predisposition to crime and deviance, when such behaviour involves breaking socially defined roles which are subject to change over time & vary between cultures
-to suggest that criminals are different from normal ppl fails to recognise thay many ppl will commit acts of deviance and crime
durkheims functionalist theory
-sees society based on value consensus. means it sees members of society as sharing common culture
-sharing culture produces social solidarity. bonds individuals together, telling them what to strive for & how to conduct themselves
-to achieve solidarity you need:
•socialisation- having shared culture
•social control- mechanisms that include rewards for conformity & punishments for deviance
-suggested crime was inevitable & certain amount is necessary
positive functions of crime and deviance
-boundary maintenance- crime & deviance acts as way to remind ppl of what is & isn’t acceptable in society. publication & reporting of criminal & deviant behaviour reminds society of consequences
-social cohesion- by naming & shaming those who commit crimes, it brings society together in mutual grief as well as condemnation of perpetrator
-adaption & change- deviant behaviour can be an indication that as a society is required or there is a problem in society
how can crime and deviance act as a safety valve according to davis? what example is given by polsky?
-minor criminal behaviour can act as safety valve preventing greater or more deviant behaviour from occurring
-individuals may commit these low level deviant & criminal acts as release for their urges, preventing them committing more severe crimes
-polsky illustrates this by looking at pornography. stated this type of crime provides safe way to release sexual frustrations & desires thus preventing more serious sexual offences
in what ways can crime and deviance be seen as a warning sign according to clinard and cohen?
-suggest that criminal & deviant behaviour acts as warning sign that there’s dysfunction in society that needs to be addressed
-this is different to adaption and change where ppl commit a specific crime to achieve a specific change
-warning sign is more generalised, for example, an increase in teen pregnancy could indicate a change is needed in education system
criticisms of positive functions of crime
-ignores impact of crime on victim. unlikely to have been positive experience for victim
-hasn’t quantified how much crime is beneficial & how much is too much.
-crime doesn’t always lead to solidarity or social cohesion, can lead to ostracisation & isolation for victim & criminal
-marxists would argue positive functions of crime & deviance are only positive for ruling class. believe R/C determine norms & values of society & therefore marginalisation & boundary maintenance that crime and deviance produce actually reinforces R/C ideology
what is strain theory by robert merton?
-suggested social order is based on consensus around social goals & approved means of achieving them
-most ppl share goals
-most ppls conform to approved means of achieving them, like working in paid employment
-society is unequal, argues not all individuals have same opportunity of realising these goals by approved means because of things like racism
what are morton’s 5 modes of adaption?
-conformity: accepts goals & means
-innovation: accepts goals, rejects means
-ritualism: rejects goals, accepts means
-retreating: rejects goals & means
-rebellion: creates own goals & means
criticisms of morton’s strain theory
-suggests it isn’t individuals choice that leads to criminal behaviour but external factors. strain of trying to achieve socially approved goals in socially approved ways.
-fails to explain existence of white collar & corporate crime. suggests is crime caused by ppl trying to achieve socially approved goals but not accessing socially approved means
-suggests there’s value consensus in society.
-has financial motivation, however there’s many crimes where criminal gains mo financial benefits
-doesn’t explain what causes someone to choose one path over another
functionalist subcultural theory: A.K. Cohen status frustration
-argues subcultures emerge as groups are denied status in society
-said w/c boys unable to gain status in m/c world due to not having means to achieve success. leads to status frustration.
•sense of personal failure & inadequacy. many boys react to this by rejecting socially acceptable values & patterns of acceptable behaviour.
-end up forming delinquent subcultures where status may be gained by being malicious
evaluations of A.K. Cohen status frustration
-focuses on youth delinquency & in particular male delinquency
-doesn’t explain female deviancy or criminality in adults
-Willis’s study learning to labour points out that w/c boys don’t share same ideas of status as m/c boys, so therefore wouldn’t feel status frustration
functionalist sub cultural theory Cloward & Ohlin, three subcultures
-argue Cohens theory doesn’t allow for diversity of responses found among w/c youth who find approved means for achieving society’s goals blocked
-criminal subcultures- characterised by utilitarian crimes, like theft. develop in more stable w/c areas, established patterns of crime
-conflict subcultures- in socially disorganised areas where there’s high rate of population turnover
-retreatist subcultures- those who are ‘double failures’- failed to succeed in mainstream society & in crime
evaluations for Cloward & Ohlin, three subcultures
-ignoring crimes of wealthy, as they only focus on w/c crimes
-rely on official stats & appear to accept them without critique
-draw boundaries too sharply, as there’s an overlap between them
functionalist subcultural theory W.B. Miller, focal concerns
-mainly relates to males, revolves around central characteristics
•include emphasis on toughness & masculinity, smartness, autonomy & freedom, trouble, & a search for excitement & thrills
-values become exaggerated in lives of young ppl, as search for peer group status
-its over conformity to lower w/c subculture, rather than rejection of dominant values, that explains w/c delinquency
evaluations for W.B. Miller, focal concerns
-matza states that membership to subcultures is often short lived & many young ppl who may be delinquent in their youth go on to live law abiding lives as adults
-not everyone who is w/c is criminal, which suggests that it isn’t focal concerns of the w/c that causes criminal behaviour
Hirschi’s social bond theory
-looks at why people don’t commit crime
-focuses on what forces hold ppls behaviour in check, rather than what propels them into crime
-argued that criminal activity occurs when ppls attachment to society is weakened
-attachment depends upon strength of social bonds which hold ppl to society
-4 crucial bonds that bind us together:
•attachment, commitment, belief, involvement
evaluation of bond theory
-doesn’t explain why some ppl have weak bonds & others have strong ones, or how they become so
-doesn’t explain about criminals who appear to have strong bonds to society, such as white collar or corporate criminals
-doesn’t explain the variety of forms of deviance and crime
-theory suggests that everyone is a potential criminal, and that our behaviour should be closely controlled & monitored
