2.3- Describe Sociological Theories Of Criminality

Question 1

Functionalist theories

Durkheim’s functionalists theory

Answer 1

States that crime is inevitable and anomie is occuring (shared norms are weakening)
4 functions of crime-
•boundary maintenance- reminds society of the boundary between right and wrong
•social change- people must challenge existing norms in order for society to progress.
•safety value- for the existing norms such as the nuclear family
•warning light- deviance is a way of showing when an institution is failing

Question 2

Functionalists theories-

Merton’s strain theory

Answer 2

Claims there are blocked opportunities within society causing strain between the goal society says should be achieve and the means of getting there.

Innovation- people accept the goal and find illegal ways of achieving it.
Ritualism- do not try to achieve the goal due to their ‘dead-end’ job.
Retreatism- ‘dropout’ who reject the goal
Rebellion- reject the goal and create new ones to change society

Question 3

Subcultural theories-

Albert Cohen- status frustration

Answer 3

Noted that working class boys end up at the bottom level of the schooling system due to labelling so create a deviant subculture to compensate.

Question 4

Subcultural theories-

Cloward and Ohlin- the three subcultures

Answer 4

Criminal subcultures- arise in areas of long standing professional crime where it is common and warrants a high social status.
Conflict subcultures- in areas where there are many rivalries and the only way to gain status is commit crime.
Retreatist subcultures- made up of dropout and failures of both legal and illegal activities

Question 5

Interactionalism-

Labelling theory

Answer 5

Most labels are negotiable and can be changed over time however not by all including whoever the label is about. However when someone does embrace the label it becomes a status master.

Relation to crime-

1. The label is attached
2. The label overrides all other parts of the personality
3. The person accepts the label
4. self-full filling prophecy

Question 6

Interactionalism-

Primary and secondary deviance- Edwin lemert

Answer 6

Primary- deviance that is yet to be labelled publicly so is seen as insignificant.

Secondary- occurs with self full filling prophecy and the crime and criminal become publicly labelled.

Question 7

Interactionalism-

Deviance amplification spiral

Answer 7

The idea that sensationalist reporting increasing awareness of the crime and criminals. Therefor public pressure is placed upon the police to act accordingly. However this just creates more unrest

Question 8

The Marxist theory-

Answer 8

Unequal structure of capitalist societies shapes behaviours.

3 main elements-
• capitalism causing crime
• law making is a way for the bourgeoisie to control the proletariat
• crime and law perform ideological functions

Question 9

Marxist theories-

Capitalism causes crime

Answer 9

• exploitation of the working class meaning many are in poverty so crime is the only way to survive
• capitalism forces consumer goods through advertisements causing utilitarian crimes.
• inequality causes the feeling of alienation and frustration causing non utilitarian crimes.
• the system uses greed as it’s driving force

Question 10

Marxist theories-

Marking the law

Answer 10

William Chambliss argues that laws are made to protect the rich very few challenge the unequal distribution of wealth

Question 11

Marxist theories-

Selective law enforcement

Answer 11

The law is rarely enforced upon the higher class,
- out of 200 companies who had broken health and safety laws only 3 were prosecuted.

This displays the inequality in law enforcement

Question 12

Marxist theories-

Ideological functions of crime and law

Answer 12

• selective law enforcement makes it appear as if crime is the fault of the working class encouraging a divide among the workers and working class
• shifts attention away from more serious white collar crime
• Pearce argues ‘safety’ laws Benefits capitalism by giving it a caring face.

Question 13

Right realism and crime

Answer 13

Conservative political outlook sees crime as a growing problem, they seek to tackle crime through punishment and control.

Question 14

Right realism and crime-

Causes of crime

Answer 14

1. Biological traits - such as aggression and risk taking
2. Inadequate socialisation- dependence on the state means an underclass is being created which Murry argues causes incorrect socialisation the correct way to achieve this is the nuclear family.
3. Offending is a rational choice (RCT)- Delano’s routine activity theory states that for crime to occur 3 factors must be Present, 1. A motivated offender 2. A suitable target and 3. Absence of a suitable guardian.

Question 15

Left realism and crime

Answer 15

Socialist political outlook which sees inequality in a capitalist society as the root cause of crime, in order to reduce crime the focus on societies needs to become fairer

Question 16

Left realism and crime-

Causes of crimes- lea and young

Answer 16

1. Relative deprivation- how deprived someone feels in relation to those around them causing them to try and achieve this goal through any means even crime
2. Subcultures- deviance in a group created by labelling or the need to solve relative deprivation.
3. Marginalisation- a sense of powerless ness and resentment