Chapter 2- Positivist Theories Flashcards
Anomie
Breakdown of social norms
Anomie strain theory
Examines how anomie causes deviance
Merton focused on what?
Goals means gap
Ways in which society encourages deviant behavior
Deviance occurs when society encourages individuals to commit it
Durkheim
Anomie is absence of norms and this leads to deviance
Conformity
Accepting both society approved goals and means
What do positivists do?
Try to explain horrible deviant acts
Innovation
Use of illegitimate means to achieve socially accepted/ promoted high success goals
Ritualism
Abandoning high success goals but pursuing legitimate work
Retreatism
Withdrawal from goals and means of society
Rebellion
Rj edition of prevailing social expectations and support for overthrowing the system
Ex: social institutions, bureaucracy
Cohen
Modified merlons strain theory, introduced the delinquent subculture by status frustration Observed how Lower classed youths react Unreasonable middle class measuring by turning to deviance
Coward and Ohlin
Extended mertons theory by focusing on differential illegitimate opportunities
3 types of illegitimate opportunities, criminal conflict and retreatist
Anomie strain theory
Pursuit of economic success leads to lack of concern for others and promotes self interest
Presence of negative stimuli
Social learning theory
Deviant behavior is learned through ones interaction with others like any other behavior
Sutherland
Deviance occurs in people who have more concentrated criminal than anti criminal contacts
Glaser
Individual must identify with criminals, ideas help deciding if that person is going to conform
Burgess and Akers
Differential reinforcement or social learning, people will engage in criminal activity if rewarded
Control theory
Why people conform not deviate
Accepts idea that deviance can occur naturally without social control
Hirshi
Strong bonds to society ensure conformity while weak bonds lead to deviant acts, absence of social control
Tittle
Lack of control balance too littl or too much control over others can cause deviance
Braithwaite
Proposed shaming as a form of social control
Disintegrative shaming
Shunning, stigmatization, banning
Reintegrative shaming
More positive in that the wrongdoer is shunned and banished but then openly welcomed back into the community
Deterrence doctrine
Emphasizes role of formal social control in deterring deviance, assumes humans are rational and will continue to commit crime unless the cost is severe
Severity certainty and swiftness all can influence crime rate