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
General deterrence
Deter public from committing crime through punishment examples
Specific deterrence
Meant to deter criminals from committing more crime
Anomie strain theory
Social strain causes deviance
Mertons goal means gap
Deviance is prevalent in society because the society encourages people to achieve success without providing equal opportunity for achieving it
Cohen’s status frustration
Deviance is prevalent among lower class youths because they fail to achieve status In a middle class school environment
Cloward and Ohlin differential illegitimate opportunity
Lower class youths are likely to engage in delinquent activities if they have access to illegitimate opportunity
Latest version of theories
The American Dream contributes to deviance by directly encouraging the use of illegal means to achieve success while various social strains cause deviance by producing such emotions as frustration and anger
Social learning theory
Deviance is learned through social interaction
Sutherlands differential association
People are likely to become deviant if they associate with people holding deviant ideas more then with people holding antigenic the ideas
Glasers differential identification
People are likely to become deviant if they identify themselves more with deviants than with non deviants
Burgess and Akers differential reinforcement
Elian’s are likely to continue engaging in deviant activities if they have been rewarded more then punished for their past deviance
Control theory
Lack of social control causes deviance
Social bond, self control and control balance
People are likely to become deviant if their bond to socie and their self control are weak or if they have a control surplus or deficit
Braithwaites reintegrative shaming
People are likely to become deviant if they are not made to feel ashamed for their wrong-play or to feel they are integral part of society
The deterrence doctrine
People are likely to become deviant if they know their deviant acts are not punished with severity certainty or swiftness
