AC 3.2 - evaluate the effectiveness of sociological theories to explain the causes of criminality

Question 1

strengths of merton’s strain theory

Answer 1

• has influenced other functionalist theories Cohen’s ‘Status Frustration’

Question 2

support of merton’s strain theory : Messner & Rosenheld (1994)

Answer 2

• agree that American society places high value on wealth
• crime increases when goals are unattainable

Question 3

support of merton’s strain theory : Reiner (2015)

Answer 3

• strain theory could explain some modern crime = 2011 riots

Question 4

weaknesses of merton’s strain theory

Answer 4

• Valuer (2001) = Merton assumes existence of a value consensus about common goals ( wealth) but individuals may instead pursue other goals ( family life)
• Taylor Walton & Young (1973) = Merton focuses on W/C crime and overestimates the amount of W/C whilst underestimating white collar & corporate crime
• didn’t explain why some commit crimes that don’t produce a material reward ( killers such as Dennis Nilsen)

Question 5

strengths of marxism

Answer 5

• included all social classes in its analysis
• explains the crime of the rich as well as the poor
• identifies the impact of selective law enforcement (white-collar crime is underpoliced)
• demonstrates how the law reflects differences in power between the social classes and argues that social inequality in society can lead to criminal behaviour

Question 6

weaknesses of marxism

Answer 6

• ignores impact on crime trends , other social factors ( gender , ethnicity)
• overstates the amount of crime
• not all capitalist societies have high crime rates (Japan)
• some white-collar crimes are punished ( Bernie Madoff’s fraud)
• crime existed before capitalism & in communist societies
• W/C culture is more complex than Marxists assume = not everyone may feel alienated by capitalism and commit crime

Question 7

strengths of Labelling theory

Answer 7

• unlike , structural theories of society it is an interactionist theory = focuses on the effects of social interactions
• evidence that some groups are more likely to be labelled ad deviant CSEW suggests that young black males are more likely than other ethnic groups to be stopped and searched by police
• highlight role of media in creating moral panics and new folk devils

Question 8

weaknesses of Labelling theory

Answer 8

• deterministic - wrongly assumes labelling automatically leads to a deviant career
• Becker/Lemert don’t explain the meaning of ‘primary deviance’
• doesn’t explain where labels come from
• neglects fact that most victims of crime are W/C , doesn’t distinguish between harms caused by different kinds of offending
• Liazos ( 1972) = studies only a narrow range of behaviours
• ignores possibility that labelling might be based on seriousness of behaviour - not biased against poor people

Question 9

strengths of left realism

Answer 9

• sophisticated theory about impact of social deprivation on some people - links this to feelings of marginalisation that may lead to criminality
• offers real-world solutions ( suggests community-based punishments are better of reducing recidivism rate)
• more victim-centred approach to studying crime

Question 10

weaknesses of left realism

Answer 10

• doesn’t address the structural problems of society which traditionally Marxists allege are the real causes of crime ( police victimisation of working class people)
• fails to explain white-collar/corporate crime
• RR argue that Lr proposes expensive solutions to crime (tackling social injustices is expensive for governments)
• policy solutions may easily be overturned by the next government

Question 11

strengths of right realism

Answer 11

• influential on government polices ( crime prevention policies)
• policy solutions to crime reduction are inexpensive (CCTV)
• support for Murray’s claim of link between decline of nuclear family structure & criminality

Question 12

support of right realism: Flood-page et al (2000)

Answer 12

• found male children from lone parent families are more likely to offend than those living with 2 parents

Question 13

weaknesses of right realism

Answer 13

• methodological issues - heavily reliant on quantitative data ( victim surveys , focuses on w/c areas)
• ignores other explanations for criminality ( structure for criminality such as poverty & experience of relative deprivation)
• doesn’t explain white-collar crime