AC2.3 Sociological Theories

Question 1

What type of theory is Marxism?

Answer 1

Social structure - conflict theory

Question 2

What do social structure theories emphasise?

Answer 2

Poverty, lack of education, absence of marketable skills and subcultural values as fundamental causes of crime

Question 3

Who are the bourgeoisie?

Answer 3

The rich

Question 4

Who are the proletariat?

Answer 4

The poor

Question 5

What is capitalism?

Answer 5

A system where people keep what they earn and trade what they need

Individuals are left to pursue their own agendas as long as they do not directly harm others

Question 6

What is socialism?

Answer 6

A system where all property is controlled by a small group of individuals

They determine what the common good will be and force everyone else to comply

Question 7

What do Marxists argue?

Answer 7

The unequal structure of capitalist society shapes people’s behaviour.

A capitalist society is split into two classes, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie and all institutions in this society work to maintain the inequality and exploitation

Question 8

What do Marxists believe about the law/law enforcement?

Answer 8

They are a means of keeping the working class in their place

Question 9

How do Marxists believe capitalism causes crime?

Answer 9

They believe crime is inevitable in a capitalist society as it is a criminogenic system

This is due to:
-the exploitation of the working class drives many into poverty so crime is the only way to survive

• capitalism pushes consumer goods resulting in crimes such as theft in order to obtain them

-inequality causes feelings of alienation and frustration resulting in violent crime and vandalism

• capitalism causes crime among the capitalists. It encourages corporate crimes such as tax evasion to gain an advantage

Question 10

What do Marxists (such as Chambliss) argue about the reason laws are made?

Answer 10

They are made to protect the private property of the rich. Very few laws challenge the unequal distribution of wealth

Law is enforced selectively against the working class drives

Question 11

What are the strengths of the Marxist theory?

Answer 11

Helps improve our understanding of why someone may commit crime — shows how poverty and inequality can cause working class crime

Highlights inequality— shows how both law making and law enforcement are biased against the working class and favor the powerful

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of the Marxist theory?

Answer 12

It focuses on class and largely ignores the relationship between crime and other inequalities (they may work together)

Over-predicts the amount of working class crime as not all poor people turn to crime

Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates - findings not representative

Question 13

What type of theory is feminism?

Answer 13

Social structure

Question 14

What does feminism focus on?

Answer 14

Gender inequality

Question 15

What do feminists say about why people may commit crime?

Answer 15

They commit crime because they don’t fit into the roles society expects of them

Women who feel powerless in a patriarchal society may also turn to crime

Question 16

What is Frances Heidensohn’s sex role theory?

Answer 16

Women commit less crime than men because the genders are socialised into different roles. Women are socialized to become wives and mothers while men are socialised to become the breadwinners. — men and women commit crimes linked to their roles

Question 17

According to sex role theory, what crimes are men likely to commit?

Answer 17

Violent or sexual crimes

Question 18

According to sex role theory, what crimes are women likely to commit?

Answer 18

Shoplifting and prostitution

Question 19

Why may a patriarchal society cause someone to commit crime?

Answer 19

If they feel powerless of marginalised

Question 20

Why may oppression of women cause someone to commit crime?

Answer 20

If a woman feels mistreated or exploited by men and the system they may turn to crime

Question 21

What are the strengths of the feminist theory?

Answer 21

The theory is seen as highly useful as it has made the role of women and gender relations visible

Shows how gender roles are socially constructed

Question 22

What are the weaknesses of the feminist theory?

Answer 22

It is hugely deterministic

Ignores masculinity and that the masculine role is also socially constructed

It has been criticised for being overly optimistic — ignores the role of biology, personal choice, and relationships

Feminists only goal is to advance female supremacy

Question 23

What type of theory is labelling?

Answer 23

Interactionalist

Question 24

What is interactionalism?

Answer 24

A theory that suggests that society is a product of the everyday social interactions among millions of people

Question 25

What does Becker argue? (Labelling theory)

Answer 25

Crime is a social construct

Question 26

What is primary deviance?

Answer 26

The first offence Acting in an isolated deviant way

Question 27

What is secondary deviance?

Answer 27

The secondary offence Occurs after the person has been labelled, they internalise the label and commit more crime

Question 28

How can the media contribute towards labelling?

Answer 28

They demonize people who have been labelled as deviant, creating moral panic in society (deviancy amplification)

Question 29

What are the strengths of labelling theory?

Answer 29

Demonstrates how law is often enforced in a discriminatory way and highlights the consequences of labelling Shifts the focus onto how the police create crime by applying labels — may explain why the working class and minority groups are over represented and can help police prevent labelling Highlights the role of the media in defining and creating deviance and moral panics

Question 30

What are the weaknesses of labelling theory?

Answer 30

Not very useful as it doesn’t explain why crime happens in the first place Deterministic— assumes that once a person is labelled they are stuck with that label Its emphasis on the negative effects of labelling gives the offender a victim status Doesn’t explain where the power to label comes from Fails to explain why labels are applied to certain groups

Question 31

What is realism?

Answer 31

A theory that looks at tackling crime as a problem as many theories fail to offer realistic solutions

Question 32

What is the right realist view?

Answer 32

Based on rational choice theory Criminals are rational actors who weigh up the risks and rewards before deciding whether to commit crimes

Question 33

What is the left realist view?

Answer 33

They see crime as a real problem, its main victims are disadvantaged group. Inequality is the main cause of crime and it encourages relative deprivation

Question 34

How do right realists view crimes?

Answer 34

They reject the idea that it is caused by structural and economic factors Believe it is the product of 3 factors: -biological differences -socialization and the underclass -rational choice to offend

Question 35

How do left realists view crimes?

Answer 35

They believe individuals commit crime for a variety of reasons: -relative deprivation -marginalisation -subculture

Question 36

What is the right realists solution to crime?

Answer 36

Harsh and strict policing that has a zero-tolerance policy

Question 37

What is the left realists solution to crime?

Answer 37

Improving policing and control and gain confidence of the local communities They believe they can deal with the structural causes by creating jobs and improving housing

Question 38

What are the strengths of right realism?

Answer 38

There are several studies to support the view, increasing the reliability — Feldman found people made rational decisions, if rewards were high and risks were low they said crime was worth committing

Question 39

What are the weaknesses of right realism?

Answer 39

Not all crimes are a result of rational decisions, violent crimes are often impulsive and offenders are sometimes under the influence of drugs or alcohol Deterministic as it assumes it can only be down to 3 factors however there can be much more involved eg. Attachment, beliefs, commitment

Question 40

What are the strengths of left realism?

Answer 40

Clearly highlights the effects of crime on society and the potential effects of crime on victims — increases usefulness as it can explain criminality rather than just describing it Uses a comprehensive approach which looks at both the criminals as well as the victims in much more depth than other theories

Question 41

What are the weaknesses of left realism?

Answer 41

Theory cannot be applied to everyone as it only explains why the relatively deprived turn to crime, also fails to explain why some individuals do not choose to commit crime Only focuses on specific types of crime (street crime or w/c crime). Ignores other crimes such as white collar