Chapter 5 Flashcards
Positivist approach
use scientific methods
determinism
Outside the conscious control of individuals; their society
Anomie Theory people
Durkheim, Merton, Cloward & Ohlin, & Cohen
Social Disorganization theory people
Parks & Burgess, Shaw & Mckay, Sampson & Groves
Emilie Durkheim
- earned first PhD in sociology in France
- taught first sociology class in france
What is a consensus theorist?
Believed society is best described as being based on a loose consensus of what is right/wrong. AKA what most people believe in
- Durkheim was this
Collective Conscience
- strong in anomie theory
- is the difference between right and wrong
Mechanical solidarity
Everyone does the same work
Organic Society
Different jobs; rely on each other for things
Theory of Anomie
-shared norms are no longer apparent
- AKA great stage of normlessness
- suicide incidence at a societal level
- examined class structure, societal changes lead
- higher society integration = lower suicide rates
Durkheim’s study of suicide
Looking at the individual and the feelings related to society’s expectations and societal norms. He wants to understand the breakdown of this collective conscience in comparison to the individual.
Anomic suicide
Abrupt changes in a community lead to a loss of integration and a decrease in the shared belief and adherence to societal norms
Anomic society
Unclear societal rules can lead to large violations of social norms, like anomic suicide
Robert Merton’s structural strain theory
- social norms can lead someone to break ties
- people are inspired to break some rules or laws
- Strain leads to people breaking the rules
- This is a result of people trying to reach the American dream (monetary wealth)
- all people don’t have access to legitimate means of accomplishing these goals
Adapting to Strain
Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, and Rebellion
Conformity
Most common way of adaption. Follow the rules and do what is told
Innovation
Most associated with juveniles. Do not accept the legitimate route but do not believe they should be limited.
Ritualism
Do the motions but do not believe or care about cultural goals.
Retreatism
cultural goals of material success are rejected and the means of going about such goals are.
Rebellion
Reject goals and the legitimate means of going about them. substitution of new goals and means created. Policial terrorists and cults.
Differential Opportunity Theory people
Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin
Differential Opportunity Theory
- argued not equal access to illegitimate means of obtaining cultural goals
- found criminal subcultures arose in the face of limited legitimate opportunities
- organized crime
- theory of crime that says illegitimate means of gaining money and power affects peoples’ choice of criminal activities
Criminal Subculture
Organized criminal groups with strong access to illegitimate means of gaining money and power who commit crimes such as corruption and extortion
Conflict subculture
disorganized criminals with poor access to illegitimate means of gaining money and power who commit opportunistic crime such as pickpocketing and shoplifting
Retreatist Subculture
countercultural deviants who disengage with society and have poor access to illegitimate means of gaining power. Engage in victimless crimes like substance abuse
