Chapter 16: Sociological Theories (Social Conflict Theories) Flashcards
What are some of the issues that social conflict theories explore?
(1) the relationship between free enterprise and crime
(2) the role of government in the social production of crime
(3) how the mass media is used to spread a particular image of the “social reality” of crime and criminals
(4) the social, political, and economic forces that underlie differential treatment in the criminal justice system based on race, gender, and class
(5) how both capitalism and patriarchy work to subjugate women and increase female criminality
What is “The Social Reality of Crime” (1970)?
a book written by Richard Quinney
What are the main points that summarize Quinney’s “The Social Reality of Crime (1970)?
(1) Definition of Crime
(2) Formulation of Criminal Definitions
(3) Application of Criminal Definitions
(4) Development of Behavior Patterns in Relation to Criminal Definitions
(5) Construction of Criminal Conception
What is the concept definition of crime?
crime is a definition of human conduct that’s created by authorized agents in a politically organized society
How is criminality created via labeling theory?
criminality is created by labeling one’s behavior as criminal by others
According to the _________ ___ ______, crime is socially constructed.
Definition of Crime
According to the Definition of Crime, crime is _______ __________.
socially constructed
The ________ ___ _____ is also known as a “reactionist” definition of crime.
Definition of Crime
The Definition of Crime is also known as a “_________” definition of crime.
“reactionist”
What is the concept of formulation of criminal definitions?
criminal definitions describe behavior that conflicts with the interests of those who have power to shape public policy
What is the concept of application of criminal definitions?
the more legal agents evaluate behavior and persons as worthy of criminal labels, the greater the probability that such labels will be applied
How does the development behavior patterns relate to criminal definitions?
people who aren’t members of the power structure are more likely to have a criminal label attached to them
What is the concept of construction of criminal conception?
conceptions of crime are constructed and distributed via communication
According to “The Social Reality of Crime” why do we have crime?
crime is seen as an inevitable consequence of the unequal distribution of power and wealth in class-based societies
Why does capitalism create more crime that other economic systems?
(1) alienation of workers
(2) the insatiable greed and profit motivation (as a result of capitalism)
(3) the greater means used to control the “dangerous” classes and preserve/protect the intersects of the ruling class
____________= Novelty + Seriousness
Newsworthiness
Newsworthiness= ________ + Seriousness
Novelty
Newsworthiness= Novelty + __________
Seriousness
How does the media distort crime?
- emphasize violent crime (serial killers)
- distorts prevalence (arrest—> pros—> convict)
- distort Race/Ethnicity of Offenders
- “Moral Panics” (gang crime, child abductions)
According to __________ Marxist, criminal law and the justice system are designed to maintain capitalism.
Structural
According to Structural Marxist, criminal law and the justice system are designed to maintain __________.
capitalism
According to _________ Marxist, sanction both the owner and worker class when their behavior threatens the stability of this economic structure
Structural
According to Structural Marxist, sanction both the _______ and _______ _____ when their behavior threatens the stability of this economic structure
owner
worker class
According to Structural Marxist, sanction both the owner and worker class when their behavior threatens the stability of this _________ _________.
economic structure
Is this instrumental or structural marxism: the criminal law and criminal justice system are instruments for the suppression/control of the poor and for maintains the existing social and economic order
Instrumental Marxist
Is this instrumental or structural marxism: laws and the justice system are not the exclusive domain for the rich to be used to suppress the poor
Structural Marxist
Social Conflict Theories also contain various types of _________ theories.
feminist
________ theories link capitalism, patriarchy, and female criminality.
Feminist
Feminist theories link _________, _________, and _______ ________.
capitalism
patriarchy
female criminality
According to Feminist theories there is limited access for women to commit ______-______ activities.
street-level
Feminist theory states that sexism increases the risks of ________ __________ for many disadvantaged girls and women.
criminal victimization
Male violence against women is rooted in _______ _________.
gender inequality
