AC2.3- sociological theories of crime Flashcards
Who is the theorist of Social Structure?
George Murdock
What did Social Structure state?
Looks at hierarchy and assumes a disadvantaged social class is the primary cause of crime and that criminal behaviour begins in youth
Crime is largely a result of unfavourable conditions in a community (unemployment, single-parent, benefits, council estate)
What is the link to criminality for Social Structure?
More likely to commit crimes because they’re unable to achieve monetary/social success in any other way. Children growing up in disadvantaged families, with no Father figure and bad role models need to achieve success through crime
What is the case study for Social structure?
On a school trip, Scottish students stole valuable/expensive items at the airport in Italy (aftershave worth £800). The place only took off after the money was covered. Parents were asked to reimburse staff.
Who is the theorist of Functionalism?
Emile Durkheim
What does the theory of Functionalism state?
Society needs to function together/work together to survive
Collective consciousness is the body of beliefs and sentiments common to the average members of society. They’re shared attitudes which operate as a unifying force within society.
If collective consciousness is too strong, there’s practically a dictatorship
What are the 5 pillars in Functionalism which are needed in order to avoid chaos in society?
Religion: moral compass (an education of right from wrong)
Education: everyone taught the same to contribute to society
family: VITAL, child grows up with guidance/ an example to follow
Politics: laws, standards & rules
Economy: without, there’s poor + deprived areas
What is the link to criminality for Functionalism?
Crime is inevitable and necessary for societal functioning and societies with little crime can perish as they fail to adopt to evolving needs, necessary to the well-being of society
Not every member of society is able to synchronise with collective consciousness and those individuals must be removed and placed in prisons to further education
if collective consciousness too weak=too much crime and chaos
What is the case study for Functionalism?
Shannon Mathews kidnapping- her Mother and Uncle plotted a fake kidnapping to collect £50,000 reward money by sedating her and hiding her in a flat.
Hundreds of neighbours + friends showed up to find the missing girl- more than 250 officers and 60 detectives were involved
Who is the theorist of Marxism?
Karl Marx
What does the Marxism theory state?
Capitalism: products/services provided by self and allowed to keep profit to themselves (dont have to share). This system generates wealth + competition for the community
Community: working class own everything which is shared out by need. Can become a dictatorship
Socialism: government owns/operates means for production. Everyone only gets what they need and doesn’t reward anyone for working harder than others
What is the link to criminality for Marxism?
Marxists see crime as something being inevitable in a capitalist society. If it is used by the ruling class as a means of social control, if someone doesn’t conform they will be punished.
Different classes are being policed differently- the working class are heavily policed and are under consistent surveillance. They receive severe punishments unlike the upper class
What is the example of Marxism?
In Afghanistan women aren’t allowed independence
Who is the theorist of the Strain Theory?
Robert Merton
What does the Strain Theory suggest?
society encourages us to subscribe to the goals of material success and focuses on goals to do with finances.
Society is unable to provide equal opportunities to achieve the success and not everyone can gain qualifications and not everyone can access jobs, the working class people are more likely than others to be denied these materials consequently, they experience feelings of strain
What is the link to criminality for Strain Theory?
When people can’t reach goals through legal means they become frustrated and may turn to crime in desperation to achieve
Who is the theorist of Interactionism?
Phillip Zimbardo & Howard Becker
What does the theory of Interactionism state?
How we act with others impact our personality depending on how we interact determine our behaviour. Label given by society shapes our identity and behaviour. It changes self-concept because if someone expects it then they should.
Primary deviance: initial act of rule breaking
secondary deviance: when someone adopt the label given to them
What is the link to criminality for interactionism?
being labelled as a criminal will make them act like one.
Police and judges label certain acts/ behaviour as criminal/deviant and the behaviour will be punished accordingly
The media will demonise people and creating folk devils who have been socially labelled as deviants- causes moral panic in society. Causes deviancy amplification making it more difficult for the deviant person to change public opinions towards them making it more difficult for the deviant person to change public opinions towards them.
What is the example for labelling theory?
Stanford experiment- to test a persons role could affect their power (12 prisoners 12 guards) and college students put in prison for 2 weeks but stopped at 6 days due to the psychological effects on students and guards. Treated like real prisoners (given numbers for anonymity) guards were given freedom but couldn’t hit them but eventually they did alongside psychological abuse.
Who is the theorist of Right Realism?
Charles Murray
What does the Right Realism theory state?
Blamed the lower class (called them the underclass) such as single parents, where young boys grow up without a Father. Crime is a way to prove they’re a man.
What is the link to crime for Right Realism?
Everyone is tempted to commit a crime but the amount of social bonds that often prevent us from doing so. People who are dependant on the Welfare system, they’re deprived and disadvantaged and crime is a way to prove themselves. Cannot raise a ‘decent’ hard-working generation of children. Teaches them to resort to crime as a solution. All crimes must be punished severely to “teach a lesson”.
What is the example for Right Realism?
ASBO for teenagers in the 90s- AntiSocial Behaviour Orders which could be used to stop anyone over the age of 10 from harassing, alarming, or distressing other people who aren’t in the same household. They weren’t allowed to go to certain places, spend time with people involved in trouble or drink in public.
70% of ASBOs breached in 2007
