Chapter Six Flashcards
stratified society
grouping according to social strata of levels. American society is considered stratified on the basis of economic class and wealth
social classes
segments of the population whose members are at a relatively similar economic level and who share attitudes, values, norms, and an identifiable lifestyle
white privilege
the assumed societal privileges that benefit Caucasians and provide them with opportunities not available to non-white peoples
culture of poverty
a separate lower-class culture characterized by apathy, cynicism, helplessness, and mistrust of social institutions such as schools government agencies and the police that is passes from one generation to the next
underclass
the lowest social stratum in any country whose members lack the education and skills needed to function successfully in modern society
social structure theory
the view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime
social disorganization theory
branch of social structure theory that focuses on the breakdown in inner-city neighborhoods of institutions such as family, school, and employment
strain theory
branch of social structure theory that sees crime as a function of the conflict between people’s goals and the means available to obtain them
strain
the anger, frustration, and resentment experienced by people who believe they cannot obtain their goals through legitimate means
cultural deviance theory
branch of social structure theory that sees strain and social disorganization together resulting in a unique lower-class culture that conflicts with conventional social norms
subculture
set of values, beliefs, and traditions unique to a particular social class or group within a larger society
transitional neighborhoods
areas undergoing shifts in population and structure, usually from middle-class residential to lower-class mixed use
social ecology school
an interdisciplinary approach to the study of interdependent social and environmental problems that cause crime
concentration effect
as working-class and middle-class families flee inner-city poverty-ridden areas, the most advantaged population is consolidated in urban ghettos
collective efficacy
social control exerted by cohesive communities and based on mutual trust, including intervention in the supervision of children and maintenance of public order
street efficacy
a concept in which more cohesive communities with high levels of social control and social integration foster the ability for kids to use their wits to avoid violent confrontations and to feel safe in their own neighborhood. Adolescents with high levels of street efficacy are less likely to resort to violence themselves or to associate with delinquent peers
anomie theory
view that anomie results when socially defined goals are universally mandated but access to legitimate means is stratified by class and status
institutional anomie theory
view that anomie pervades US culture because the drive for material wealth dominates and undermines social and community values
American Dream
the goal of accumulating material goods and wealth through individual competition; the process of being socialized to pursue material success and to believe it is achievable
relative deprivation
envy, mistrust, and aggression resulting from perceptions of economic and social inequality
general strain theory
view that multiple sources sources of strain interact with an individual’s emotional traits and responses to produce criminality
negative affective states
anger, frustration, and adverse emotions produced by a variety of sources of strain
focal concerns
values, such as toughness and street smarts, that have evolved specifically to fit conditions in lower-class environments
cultural transmission
process whereby values, beliefs, and traditions are handed down from one generation to the next
delinquent subculture
a valve system adopted by lower-class youths that is directly opposed to that of the larger society
status frustration
a form of culture conflict experienced by lower class youths because social conditions prevent them from achieving success as defined by the larger society
middle-class measuring rods
the standards by which authority figures, such as teachers and employers, evaluate lower-class youngsters and often pre-judge them negatively
reaction formation
irrational hostility evidenced by young delinquents, who adopt norms directly opposed to middle-class goals and standards that seem impossible to achieve
differential opportunity
view that lower-class youths, whose legitimate opportunities are limited, join gangs and pursue criminal careers as alternative means to achieve universal success goals
