Chapter 5- Crime + Deviance

Question 1

Stanley Cohen

Answer 1

Moral panic concept →media perpetuates fear surrounding events and ideas
Satanic panic
Reefer madness
Stranger danger
Halloween candy → drugs

Question 2

Emile Durkheim

Answer 2

Concept of anomie/normlessness
↳ rapid social change + lower social cohesion can cause crime in society as a result of no bond to society

Question 3

Hirschi

Answer 3

Control perspective →4 social bonds to society
1→attachment
2→ commitment
3→involvement
4→belief

Question 4

Jackson Toby

Answer 4

Stake in conformity theory
↳ everyone has a stake in playing by societal rules and not breaking the law: this can impact future opportunities in life etc.

Question 5

Robert Merton

Answer 5

Strain theory → no socially acceptable means to achieve socially acceptable/societally prescribed goals
↳ creates strain which can lead to crime to obtain these goals and fill this gap between goals and means

Question 6

Sutherland

Answer 6

Differential Association Theory → Who you associate with influences probability of committing crime

Question 7

Howard Becker

Answer 7

Labelling Theory → if criminal associations outweigh pro-social associations I criminal behavior can be influenced
↳ 5 factors:
criminal behavior is learned
Learned through interactions with others
Through intimate groups
Rationalities for crimes emerge
Reactions to social rulesare not uniform

Question 8

Messerschmidt

Answer 8

Relationship between patriarchy and class conflict:
↳ overlap creates crime→ victimization of women necessitates survival crime

Question 9

Deviance vs. crime

Answer 9

Crime: behavior in violation of criminal law→set of specific rules regarding human conduct
Deviance: stepping outside what society deems the norm
→ not always subject to formal sanction

Deviance is socially constructed and can change based on societies views

Question 10

Describe and give examples of moral panic

Answer 10

When a group, person, event, or condition, becomes defined as a threat and is perpetuated by media

Satanic panic → grunge aesthetic+ even rock music was feared because they believed it would lead to criminal behavior

Reefer madness → false info. Spread regarding effects of manjuana

Question 11

Consensus view

Answer 11

Laws are determined by agreement and uniformity across society

Laws directly reflect the values and opinions of society

Question 12

Conflict view

Answer 12

Crime is political. Criminal law protects the upper class and subjugates the poor

Criminal Justice System is not equal: result of unequal distribution of power, wealth, connections, etc.

Powerful groups create and enforce laws to their own advantage→ crime can be attributed to limited opportunities for upward mobility

Question 13

Interactionist view

Answer 13

Moral entrepreneurs define crime.
Crime is socially determined

Criminal labels are transformative and often self-fulfilling
↳ crime is constantly shifting based on society

Question 14

Functionalist perspective on CRIME and deviance

Answer 14

Both universal and necessary in society→ has a function

Formal and informal punishments remind people to stay within societal norms (Deterrence)

Question 15

Anomie

Answer 15

Crime is a natural consequence of differences → too much causes anomie

Crime can be used as a social barometer: different levels express how society is functioning

Consensus in society is impossible to achieve

Question 16

Control Theory

Answer 16

Functionalist perspective: social control influences peoples desire to commit crimes
→ Desire to protect place in society and do well in life

Question 17

4 Social bonds

Answer 17

Attachment →to societal norms and desires
Commitment→ what is at stake if crime is committed
Involvement→ how involved one is in conventional aspects of society
Belief → how strong ones moral code is and how strong of a desire they have to break laws

Only need one lacking social bond to commit crime
Only need one strong social bond to not want to commit crime

Question 18

Stake in conformity

Answer 18

People are shaped and controlled by societal mechanisms that manage behavior

People are motivated to abide by conventional rules
↳ moral motivations
↳ committed to conformity
↳ fear that criminal record will limit future

Question 19

Strain Theory

Answer 19

Crime is a product of stressors and a lack of legitimate means to achieve socially acceptable goals

Crimes of power: laws reflect desires of major capital owners (NRA)

Question 20

Symbolic interactionist perspective

Answer 20

Deviance is a social label that some groups use to stigmatize other groups

People internalize deviant label as part of the self which strengthen perceptions and create a self-fulfilling prophecy
↳ makes it harder to rehabilitate criminal behavior

Question 21

Moral entrepreneurs

Answer 21

Group, individual, or organization that influences beliefs and norms about certain behaviors

Question 22

Differential Association Theory → 5 MAIN factors

Answer 22

1) criminal behavior is learned
2.) crime is learned through interactions with others
3)criminal behavioris learned through intimate personal groups
4) part of learning crime is developing rationalizations
5) Reactions to social rules are not uniform

Newest relationships have biggest impact → NOT class specific

Question 23

Labelling Theory

Answer 23

Acts are not inherently criminal; they are defined as criminal by certain social groups

Consider social difference between labeled and labeller

Moral entrepreneurs (interactionist) define crime which is deferentially enforced (conflict)

Question 24

Marxist feminist view on crime

Answer 24

Most studies done with men as the focus.
Victimization of women and queer individuals and gender exploitation by men (easier to control and subjugate)

Treat women as a commodity that produces children to be sold to other men → historic idea still persists in society today

Question 25

Victimization rates

Answer 25

Younger people are victimized at higher rates (17-24 yrs)
Due to most crimes being committed by same age range

Victim-offendor overlap: how one grows up greatly influences their chances to commit crimes and or be victims again

Question 26

4 categories of childhood maltreatment (GSS)

Answer 26

Harsh parenting → 62%
Witnessing violence → 21%
Physical abuse → 22%
Sexual abuse → 6%

Question 27

Hierarchies of victimization

Answer 27

Ideal victim gains more media and legal attention: women, elderly, young (predominantly white)

Undeserving victims:precariously housed, POC, and people with addictions etc.

Question 28

Routine acuity Theory (RAT) → Hot spots

Answer 28

RAT: crimes depend mainly on opportunities and regular dally patterns create these

Hot spot: locations where risk of crime is unusually high

Question 29

3 components of RAT

Answer 29

Victims target vulnerability; seeming physical weakness or psychological distress

Victims target gratifiability: feature of victim that attacker finds appealing in a target

Target antagonism: ethnic or racial identity that may spark the attackers hostility or incite victimization

Question 30

Active Vs. Passive Victim precipitation

Answer 30

Victim precipitation:analyzes how a victims characteristics or actions w/ offender may contribute to crime being committed

• Active: involves attacking first or acting provocatively
• passive: consists of victim unknowingly motivating the offender

Can lead to victim blaming but can provide insight on the nature of many conflicts

Question 31

CDSA → Drug decriminalization

Answer 31

Controlled drugs and substances act → BC pilot program to test harm reduction

Vancouver first to introduce safe consumption sites combat opioid crisis

2.5g allowed in possession

Question 32

Gold standard for harm reduction

Answer 32

Portuguese Model