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Criminology unit 2 > AC2.3 > Flashcards

AC2.3 Flashcards

1
Q

what is interactionism

A

interactionists believe we create society through our day to day interactions with other people

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2
Q

Durkheim- how do functionalists see society

A

as a stable social structure based on shared norms, values and beliefs about right or wrong (value consensus)

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3
Q

What does this value consensus do? (Durkheim)

A

Binds people together and creates social solidarity where members of society feel they belong to the same harmonious unit

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4
Q

how do functionalists explain the causes of criminality

A

-crime is inevitable in society
-society contains subcultural groups who have different norms and values to the majority
-as a result the shared rules of behaviour become less clear. Durkheim calls this anomie

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5
Q

What are the 4 functions of crime according to Durkheim

A

1)boundary maintenance
2)adaption and change
3)safety valve
4)warning sign

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6
Q

boundary maintenance (durkheim)

A

crime produces a reaction from society uniting its members in condemnation of the wrongdoers
through the court system and the media the public shame reaffirms the value of being law abiding and discourages others from committing crime

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7
Q

adaption and change (durkheim)

A

criminals test whether the law is in step with society

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8
Q

safety valve

A

crimes prevent worse crime
e.g. prostitution stopping rape

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9
Q

warning sign

A

that something in society isn’t functioning properly

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10
Q

one strength of Durkheims theory

A

1)he was the first one to recognise crime can have positive features for society

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11
Q

2 weaknesses of Durkheims theory

A

1)crime isn’t functional for victims
2)how much crime is needed isnt stated

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12
Q

Mertons strain theory

A

-not everyone has an equal chance of achieving the American dream because American society is very unequal
-opportunities for working class people are often blocked because of poverty and inadequate schools
-This creates a strain between the goals and the means

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13
Q

goals

A

what we are socialised to achieve

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14
Q

means

A

the structures we are supposed to use to achieve these goals e.g. education

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15
Q

conformity
(merton)

A

achieve the goals in legitimate ways

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16
Q

innovation (merton)

A

want the goal but can’t access it in a mainstream way so do it illegally

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17
Q

ritualism (merton)

A

give up striving for success and stay in dead end jobs

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18
Q

retreatism (merton)

A

give up on goals and means and drop out of society

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19
Q

rebellion (merton)

A

reject current goals and means and want to replace them

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20
Q

1 strength of mertons strain theory

A

1) ST explains the crime pattern shown in official statistics. most crime is property crime because society values wealth

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21
Q

2 weaknesses of mertons strain theory

A

1)ignores the crime of the wealth
2)ignores group crime/ deviance

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22
Q

cohens subcultural theory

A

crime is a result of the working class not being able to achieve the goals by legitimate means
crime is a result of an individuals feelings as though they are unable to gain status therefore they turn to criminal subcultures such as gangs and gain status within them instead

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23
Q

what are cloward and ohlins three subcultures

A

1)criminal subculture
2)conflict subculture
3)retreatist subculture

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24
Q

criminal subculture

A

organised crime where career criminals can socialise youths into their own criminal career that might result in material success

25
Q

conflict subculture

A

gangs organised by young people themselves often based on claiming territory from other gangs

26
Q

retreatist subculture

A

groups that drop out altogether

27
Q

2 strengths of subcultural theories

A

1) cohen and ohlin show how subcultures differ in different neighbourhoods
2)shows how subcultures perform a function for their members by giving them the opportunity for success

28
Q

3 weaknesses of subcultural theories

A

1)they ignore crimes committed by the wealthy
2)they assume everyone begins with the same goals and only turns to subcultures when they fail them
3)actual subcultures are not as simple as cohen and ohlin suggest

29
Q

What is beckers labelling theory

A

-people get labelled as a criminal
-this label becomes part of their identity so they commit more crime

30
Q

What is a self fulfilling prophecy (labelling theory)

A

the offenders self image becomes defined by the label

31
Q

who are moral entrepeuners (labelling theory)

A

people who have the power to label others e.g.

32
Q

what is differential enforcement (labelling theory)

A

where the law is enforced more against one group than another

33
Q

primary deviance (labelling theory)

A

acts that have not been publicly labelled. The acts that people commit before they have been labelled as deviant

34
Q

secondary deviance (labelling theory)

A

people treat the offender solely in terms of his label, which becomes his master status or controlling identity

35
Q

3 strengths of labelling theory

A

1) doesn’t just consider the law as a fixed set of rules. it also explores the construction and meaning of these rules
2)it explains crime statistics by not only looking at crime committed but the behaviour of the law enforcement that may influence the data too
3)It shows how punishment can sometimes lead to more crime

36
Q

3 weaknesses of labelling theory

A

1) doesn’t explain why some groups are labelled more than others
2) doesn’t explain initial deviant act
3) gives victim status

37
Q

What do marxists believe the purpose of the law is

A

to keep the proletariat (working class) in order

38
Q

How would marxists describe society?

A

As a capitalist society that is dominated by a capitalist ideology (set of ideas that groups may impose on others) When an ideology dominates we call this cultural hegemony.

39
Q

What does Chambliss say about the reasons behind law making

A

Laws are created to protect the interests of the ruling class

40
Q

Evidence that supports the marxists view

A

-the police are directed to selectively enforce some laws and ignore others. This means poor areas are heavily patrolled and poor people are more likely to get arrested
-judges are part of the ruling class

41
Q

2 strengths of marxism

A

1) shows how poverty and other social factors can cause blue collar crime (crime of the poor)
2)shows biases against the working class by the law makers and those who enforce the law

42
Q

2 weaknesses of marxism

A

1)only focuses on class and ignores other social factors such as gender and ethnicity
2)doesn’t explain why most working class people don’t commit crime

43
Q

right realism: rational choice theory - clarke

A

people have free will and the decision to commit crime is based on the likely consequences. If the rewards are greater than the costs then people will continue to behave in a criminal way

44
Q

right realism (control theory) (Travis Hirschi)

A

people are generally rational in terms of their choices because they have 4 controls in their lives
1.attachement
2.commitment
3.involvement
4.beliefs

45
Q

3 strengths of right realism

A

1) Several studies support RCT. Rettig gave students a scenario of an opportunity to commit crime and he found that they were more likely to if the punishment was less. ​
2) Right realism may explain some opportunistic crime such as petty theft.
3)Bennet and Wright interviewed convicted burglars and found that they considered the potential reward of their crimes. Risk was the most important factor in their decisions. ​

46
Q

2 weaknesses of right realism

A

1)Not all crimes are the result of rational decisions. Violent crimes are often impulsive.
2)Bennet and Wright studied unsuccessful burglars. We don’t know if this thought process applies to those who get away with their crimes. ​

47
Q

Which two people take the left realist view

A

Jack young and John Lea

48
Q

State (left realism)

A

believe that the state should intervene to reduce economic inequality and to create a more just society
good policing can reduce crime

49
Q

public (left realism)

A

informal control is more important than police involvement

50
Q

offender (left realism)

A

relative deprivation- people see themselves as being deprived compared to others in the same social group and this creates crime

51
Q

individualism (left realism)

A

the individual focuses on themselves, a pursuit of selfish interest

52
Q

bulimic society (left realism)

A

they feel excluded from the rest of the population, they see material goods being consumed by the rest of society but are unable to consume them themselves

53
Q

marginalisation (left realism)

A

they feel they have little or no power to change their situation and this makes them frustrated

54
Q

2 Strengths of left realism

A

1) Draws attention to the importance of poverty
2)Draws attention to the reality of street crime

55
Q

Explain mathiesens concept of synoptic survelliance

A

we now live in a society where we also watch eachother which causes people to consider their behaviour even futher e.g. ring door bell

56
Q

What do feeley and simon say about actuarial justice and profiling

A

AJ- where we use our knowledge to weigh up the risk of crime
we criminally profile crime as a society

57
Q

2 strengths of surveillance

A

1)Foucault’s work has lead to more research in to the use of disciplinary power
2) Researchers have identified other forms of surveillance including actuarial and profiling. ​

58
Q

2 weaknesses of surveillance

A

1) surveillance doesn’t always change peoples behaviour some people don’t care
2)Foucault exaggerates the extent of control

Criminology unit 2 (8 decks)

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