Charles Murray Flashcards
What is Charles Murray’s study ?
The underclass
What is the concept of the underclass? - Charles Murray
1) long-term unemployed people who are dependent on welfare
2) lacks socialisation, family values and work ethics
What does Charles Murray state about family structure in the underclass?
1) children raised by underclass are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour due to the absence of unstable family structures.
2) single parent families contribute to the development of the underclass.
What does Charles Murray state about cultural transmission in the underclass?
underclass children will have cultural acceptance of these attitudes and behaviours ( dependency and deviance)
What does Charles Murray state about welfare dependency in the underclass?
1) criticises welfare state for creatin a dependency culture
2) discourages individual’s from seeking employment and encourages deviant behaviour.
How does Charles Murray link the underclass to crime rates?
underclass more likely to engage in criminal activities due to their lack of socialisation and economic opportunities.
What does Murray state about girls without fathers?
1) emotionally damaged
2) search for a father figure
3) get pregnant at a young age
What does Murray state about young men without fathers?
1) have poor impulse control
2) become sexual predators
3) unable to get a job
What was Murray and Herrnstein’s study called?
The bell curve
What year is the study the bell curve
1994
What factor does the bell curve link to crime?
IQ
What are the five main points of the bell curve ?
1) IQ as a predictor
2) average IQ of criminals
3) cognitive elite
4) genetic and environmental factors - influence IQ
5) policy implications
What does the bell curve state IQ is a better predictor of crime than?
socioeconomic status
What is the average IQ of a criminal? - bell curve
92 which is lower than general population
Explain policy implications - Bell curve
policies should focus on addressing root causes of IQ such as improve education and early childhood interventions.
Which sociologist criticises the bell curve?
Young 2003
What are Young 2003 main criticisms of the bell curve?
1) overemphasis on IQ
2) neglect of social context
3)genetic determinisms
4) reinforcement of inequality
5) methodological criticisms
Explain overemphasis on IQ - Young 2003 criticism of bell curve
oversimplifies complex interplay of factors which contribute to criminal behaviour
Explain neglect of social context - Young 2003 criticism of bell curve
neglects factors such as poverty which play a significant role in shaping behaviour and opportunities.
Explain methodological cricisisms - Young 2003 criticism of bell curve
bias IQ tests that may not accurately measure intelligence across different groups.
