AC2.3 Flashcards
what are the 3 sociological theories
social structure
interactionism
realism
what is the strain theory
Robert Merton suggested society sets goals to achieve but not everyone can reach them using legitimate means. those who cannot may become an innovator and use crime to achieve material success, those who cannot reach tend to be the working class. those who cannot acheive end up: rebelling, conform, ritealist, retreatlist and innovate.
describe functionalism
crime is inevitable and serves a function or purpose in society as long as it is the right amount. it will bring society together and allow social cohesion. only dysfuntional when rates are high/low. if a collective statment is strong no change but when it is low chaos happens
describe right realism
has its roots in political conservatism and links to a lack of social bonds. accoridng to charles murray, the ‘under class’ are more likely to commit crimes due to weak social restaints
describe left realism
a capitalistic society creates crime due to its inequalities, so inequalities are motivated by consumerism and may turn to crime to seek what they cannot afford
describe marxism
the upper class (bourgeoisie) use crime as a way of controlling the lower class as they believe they are the cause of crime.
also believe both social classes are policed differently. upper class are less policed than lower class.
also view that govt fabricate statistics on purpose to suit their purpose and get public support for any action taken. they believe 42% of statistics presented by govt are false and misleading
describe Interactionism (labelling theory)
crime is a social construction. howard becker suggested that if a society labels an act as criminal it will be considered to be a criminal/ the self-fulfilling prophercy will result in a persons action as a criminal.
what are the 2 social structure theory of criminality
marxism
mertons strain theory
what does merton encourage
to subscribe to the goals of material success
