Chapter 12 Flashcards
(41 cards)
What are sociological theories ?
- That behavior is shaped and learned from our environment and those around us
- Specific techniques to commit crime
- Values, attitudes and justifications for offending
- Crime is a function, or symptom, of the society
What are the 2 theories in the “Social disorganization/Chicago school” group ?
- Concentric zone theory
2. Social disorganization theory
What is the “concentric zone” theory ?
A theory that states all cities have the same “zones” and also describes what is in that zone.
“Living organism” because if there are any changes then it would produce a ripple effect.
What are the different zones in the concentric zone theory ?
Zone 1 :” Loop” : Central businesses/location, where people work, office buildings, Downtown buildings. High poverty and crime
Zone 2 : “Transition zone” : Rents tend to be low, still high poverty and crime, low income people live here, mainly ppl who immigrate to CA or USA live here. Ppl here probably trying to move out of this zone.
Zone 3 : “ Workingmen homes” : Financially stable ppl live here, poverty and crime still exist
Zone 4 : “Residential zone” : Richer ppl live here, still within city (border of city), lesser crime and poverty
Zone 5 : “ Commuters zone” : Suburbs, rich ppl tend to want to be more excluded for more land and peace, and to stay away from poverty and crime.
What is the “social disorganization” theory ?
- Links crime rate to the characteristics and conditions of the environment
- Crime occurs because social control has broken down
According to the “social disorganization” theory, crime tends to be higher in areas with what ?
Crime tends to be higher in areas with :
1. Few social institutions and cohesiveness
- Schools, Community centers, churches, gov’t agencies, police station ( All these play important roles for young ppl like school teaches one to follow rules and has role models )
2. Changing population : Ppl who tend to live in poor neighborhood want to move out the poor neighborhood, therefore not caring abt their current community.
3. Culture conflict : What the area expects of you.
“ You hear screams in a house beside you, according to your culture one may think it is because of danger someone else might think it is not danger just normal.
What is the “strain” theory group ?
A theory that crime results from the anger and frustration ( strain ) the poor feel because they have fewer opportunities to achieve success.
- Crime may be an expression of that strain
- Crime may be used to achieve success
What is strain ?
Anger & frustration because of lack of opportunities to achieve success, because of this, poorer people tend to feel more prone to want to commit crimes in order to reach success.
What are some examples of success in the “strain” theory ?
Success would be like having a lot of :
- Money
- Material goods ( trying to achieve white picket fence)
- Title/respect/power
What are some examples of opportunities for success in the “strain” theory ?
Opportunities for success would be things like :
- Formal education
- Experience
- Skills
- Connections
- Working overtime
What are some examples of values/norms/beliefs in the “strain” theory ?
Values/norms/beliefs would be things like :
- Hard work pays off
- Motivational
- Sacrifice ( delayed gratification )
- Respect for authority/elderly
- Follow the rules
- Pay your dues
What is the “subcultural deviance” theory ?
- Feelings of strain can impact values, norms and beliefs
- Crime may be used to achieve conventional values and goals
- Different norms and values (subcultural) may develop which support and encourage crime
Subcultural values and beliefs :
- Don’t rat out fellow gang members
- Being feared, respected
- Risk taking
- Street smarts
What is the “ institutional anomie” theory ?
- The “American Dream” contributes to, and increases feelings of strains : success at any cost
- Strain is caused because if you are not successful at achieving this dream then you’re a failure and you will feel like a failure.
What does the “ institutional anomie” theory say about fathers trying to achieve the american dream ?
In some cases the father :
- By trying to achieve the american dream, starts to work long hours and therefore is not there for his son as a role model, in turn the son may look up to bad people as role models
- In trying to achieve the american dream becomes way to strain about it and stops going to church on Sunday due to working a lot, starts to hit wife to release anger, etc
What are the 3 categories of theories in the “strain” group ?
- Subcultural deviance theory
- Institutional anomie theory
- General strain theory
What is the “general strain” theory ?
- How each individual experiences strain and the individual-level causes of strain
- May also include larger social causes of strain
What are the 4 ways strain can be caused or increased in the “general strain” theory ?
- The failure to achieve socially acceptable goals
- Comparing one’s success to another
- Loss of positive stimuli
- Presence of negative stimuli
Stimuli : A thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction
What is an example of “general strain” ?
2 individuals apply for a medical school and they both get rejected by it. Both put all their resources on it and it was last resource.
- The first one, has rich/caring parents, caring girlfriend, connections. He has more of a cushion because his gf can make him feel better, his parents can support him and love him, etc
- The second one, not so rich parents, not loving parents, not so caring gf. After finding out news parents are disappointed, gf breaks up with him. More prone to turn to crime to make parents proud and find another gf.
What are the 4 theories in the “Social learning” group ?
- Differential association
- Differential reinforcement
- Neutralization
- Labelling
What is the “differential association” theory ?
Why/how someone starts off offending
Crime results from a persons exposure to antisocial attitudes and values from their interaction with others.
- Depends on FREQUENCY of interaction they have with deviant people
- Depends on the LEVEL OF INFLUENCE of of these deviants
When kid –> Parent most likely influences you
When teen –> Peers most likely to influence you
When adult –> Your “partner” most likely influences you
What is the “differential reinforcement” theory ?
Why someone stays offending
Once someone becomes involved in crime, their behavior is reinforced by various factors.
What are the 4 factors that reinforce someone to stay in crime according to the “differential reinforcement” theory ?
- The lack of negative sanctions (punishments)
- If the criminal behavior is rewarded
- Their interaction with deviant peers
- If their behavior is supported and reinforced by those around them
Is it true that if a child just living in a “violent” home will always lead them to turn to crime ?
No it is not, observing violent stuff is not always enough. Stuff like punishment, no rewards, etc can have an affect on the child later in life
What is the “neutralization” theory ?
- That people are neither all good or all bad
- Many drift between crime and convention (non-criminal) behavior
- Offenders also hold conventional values and attitudes
- They develop techniques to neutralize these values to engage in crime
