Chapter 2 Sociology of Crime Test study Flashcards
What is the purpose of the sociological Theories of crime?
Focus on the impact social conditions have on crime
Explain the reasons for differences in crime rate in the social environment
Dominate criminological thinking in North America as they explain trends and patterns in crime
Therefore criminal behavior is determined by their environment (Reject the notion of a born criminal)
What is the Three major sociological perspectives?
- Functionalism/Social Structure
- Symbolic Interactionism/Social Process
- Social Conflict Theories
What is Merton & Strain Theory?
American sociologist Robert Merton agreed that deviance was functional but he assumes that most people are law abiding BUT when under great pressure or STRAIN, they will resort to crime.
He developed strain theory to explain how people react when their access to success (primarily financial) is blocked. Strain refers to the frustrations people feel.
What does the term “Anomie” Mean?
to describe the contradiction between the goal of monetary success and our social structures inability to provide the legitimate means to achieve it.
What are the 2 adaptation theories of strain Theory?
- Relative Deprivation Theory
- General Strain Theory
What is Relative Deprivation Theory?
People react negatively when they feel deprived in comparison to others, rather than in relation to a set standard e.g (Fear of missing out)
What is general strain theory?
Criminality is due to negative emotions, such as anger and frustration, which may have many sources. Strain can be the result of personal loss or the result of negative stimuli and can create delinquent behavior, anger and aggression.
What is social disorganization Theory?
Proponents of social disorganization theory believe that individuals who grow up in impoverished neighborhoods/areas are more likely to participate in deviant or criminal behavior.
What is community cohesion?
In areas with a high population turnover (those transitional zones), people tend to not become involved in community activities and the institutions normally control behavior (the family, school, religious organizations) are weak. In these communities to combat crime we need to focus on programs that build community cohesion, rather than just treat the individual offender.
Explain Subcultural Theories
Common thread in that within any society a segment of the population may adapt a set of values and standards of behavior distinct from the population at large
Most of these theories center on the idea that conformity to the prevailing cultural norms of lower class society causes crime.
Sociologist Walter miller states that subculture is: “A subdivision with the dominant culture that has its own norms and values”
Explain Millers Ideas
Subcultures have been developed to explain delinquency among young lower class males, mainly gangs.
Miller’s Theory focused on the idea that the culture of the lower class was distinct from that of the middle class. The culture emphasizes:
Toughness, street smarts, fate, thrill speaking, freedom from authority and rules
Conflict with the law
Violence as a means to attain status in the slum
An elevated sense of honor sometimes lethal combat for a minor incident.
As a result boys growing up in neighborhoods with a street culture will gravitate towards gangs.
Explain Status Frustration
One of the first versions of subcultural theory and its ideas are connected to strain theory.
Sociologist Albert Cohen theorized that delinquency arises from status frustration.
Members of disadvantaged classes become potential members of delinquent subcultures when they experience early failures in school.
Delinquent behavior and gang membership is a way of dealing with actual and anticipated failure. They adopt crime and malicious behavior - essentially they are changing the game to one they can succeed at, improving their status in their peer group.
Explain the Differential Opportunity Theory
Also Influenced by Strain Theory, the Ideas were developed by sociologists Cloward and Ohlin.
Their key ideas:
Members of the lower class share the success goals of the middle class, but lack opportunities to achieve them.
Some lower class youth desire status whereas others just seek an improvement in their economic position without a change in class position
This second group engages in serious delinquent behavior that is self
Indulgent and hedonistic (pleasure seeking)
A key Idea to this theory is that areas have an Illegitimate Opportunity Structure - the opportunities for crime vary across neighborhoods:
Explain social process theories perspective
This perspective Is that deviance
and crime is LEARNED by people
As they adapt to other people the conditions of their environment Essentially, they were brought up In an environment in which they learned crime as a way of life
*Individuals in all social classes can learn to commit crime
What is the learning theory?
Gabriel Tarde was one of the first theorists to believe that people learn deviance and criminality. In 1890, he viewed all social behavior as the product of modeling (imitation).
Modeling - A means by which a person can learn new responses by observing others without performing an overt act or receiving direct reinforcement or reward.
This theory also states that people commit crimes because they get reinforcements (a stimulus that Increases or maintains a response, can be positive or negative) or punishment (an aversive stimulus to reduce a response).
Positive reinforcement - Deal Drugs make money, don’t have to work at McDonalds
Negative reinforcement - steal iPhones and sell them for money
Explain the differential association Theory
In the 1930/40s sociologist Edwin Sutherland was the first modern criminologist to argue that criminal behavior was learned. His theory of Differential Association Is one of the most influential theories on the causes of crime.
Differential Association - Individuals learn deviant behavior from those close to them who provide models of and opportunities for deviance. Persons who become criminals do so because of contacts with criminal patterns and isolation from anti criminal patterns.
Sutherland coined the term differential association to indicate this:
“From the different groups we associate with, we learn to deviate from or conform to society’s norms”
(Sutherland 1924, 1947; McCarthy 2011).
He is basically saying that the different groups with which we associate (our “differential association”) give us messages about conformity and deviance. We may receive mixed messages, but we end up with more of one than the other. Essentially we either learn to conform or deviate.
Explain Social Reaction Theory
Examines the ascribing of a deviant behavior to another person by members of society.
It focuses on the manner in which SOCIETY REACTS or responds to 10 behavior rather than the nature or origins
Studies the significance of LABELS/reputations, how they help set us on paths that propel us Into deviance or divert us away from it.
What is the impact of negative labels?
Labeling Theory views crime as relative or subjective - determined exclusively by the manner in which society reacts to an act.
These theorists argue that NO act is judged uniformly, as a person’s social class, age, sex, race, demeanor and situational factors all play a role as to whether the act is viewed as criminal.
What is the 2 types of deviance?
Primary & secondary
What is primary deviance?
Primary deviance is a violation of norms that does not result in any long-term effects on the individual’s self-image or interactions with others. For example, speeding is a deviant act, but receiving a speeding ticket generally does not make others view you as a bad person, nor does it alter your own self-concept. Individuals who engage in primary deviance still maintain a feeling of belonging in society and are likely to continue to conform to norms In the future.
