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Alisha's Crime Sociology Flashcards > Class, power and crime > Flashcards

Class, power and crime Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What are the 4 explanations of Explaining class differences in crime?

A

Functionalism
Strain theory
Subcultural theories
Labeling theory

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2
Q

What is functionalist explanation of class differences in crime?

A

see crime as a product of inadequate socialization into a shared culture.Miller argues that the lower class has an independent subculture opposed to mainstream culture and this explains their higher crime rate.

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3
Q

What is Strain theorists explanation of class differences in crime?

A

People commit crime because they lack legitmate means to achieve socially approved goals.

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4
Q

What is Subcultural theories explanation of class differences in crime?

A

A.K Cohen sees working class youths as culturally deprived and unable to achieve in education. Failure gives them status frustration. As a solution they form delinquent subcultures in which they gain status from peers. Cloward and Ohlin identify three deviant subcultures.

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5
Q

What is Labelling theories explanation of class differences in crime?

A

They reject the view that official statistics are a valid picture of which class commits crime. They focus on the role of law enforcement agencies, which have the power to label the working class as criminals.

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6
Q

How do traditional marxists agree with Labelling theory?

A

that the law is enforced disproportionately against the W/C and therefore the official crime statistics cannot be taken at face value.

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7
Q

How do Traditional marxists disagree with Labelling theory?

A

for failing to examine wider structure of capitalism within which law making, law enforcement and offending takes place.

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8
Q

Marxists see capitalist society divided into what?

A

They see the capitalist society divided by capitalist class ( those who have means of production ) and the working class ( whose labour is exploited for profit.)

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9
Q

Why is Marxism a structural theory?

A

because society is a structure whose economic base determines the superstructure i.e all other institutions the state, CJS.

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10
Q

For Marxists is crime inevitable in capitalism?

A

Yes because crime is criminogenic ( its very nature causes crime.

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11
Q

How does Capitalism create poverty?

A

It creates poverty becuase crime is the only way the W/C can survive. Capitalism means that the rich can exploit the W/C for profit and give them low wages to settle with.

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12
Q

How does Capitalism create desire to steal consumer goods?

A

This is because of capitalist advertising, resulting in utilitarian crime ( theft)

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13
Q

How may Alienation and lack of control over lives lead to crime?

A

It may lead to frustration and aggression, resulting in non-utilitarian crimes such as violence and vandalism.

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14
Q

Is crime only confined to Working class?

A

NO

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15
Q

Why isn’t crime only confined to Working class?

A

Capitalism is a win-at-all costs system of competition, the profit motive encourages greed, encouraging corporate crime, such as tax evasion and breaking health and safety laws.

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16
Q

Who is the sociologists who says crime is a rational response to Capitalism?

A

Gordon (1976) he argues crime is a rational response to capitalism and thus is found in all classes.

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17
Q

How do Functionalists see law making as?

A

they see laws as reflecting value consensus and representing interests of society as a whole.

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18
Q

However who do Marxists see the State and law making?

A

Marxists see law making and law enforcement as only serving interests of capitalist class.

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19
Q

Who is the sociologists that argues that the laws protect private property?

A

Chambliss (1975)

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20
Q

What does Chambliss say ?

A

Laws to protect private property are the corner stone of the capitalist economy.

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21
Q

What are two examples of law making to benefit Working class ( A02)?

A

Vagrancy laws

Capital gains

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22
Q

What where Vagrancy laws?

A

( 1349) there was the plague and many workers died, workers demanded higher wages, this didn’t last as vagrancy laws were introduced meaning you cannot demand higher wages. This good for capitalist class because they can generate profit.

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23
Q

What was Capital gains?

A

Those who own bonds or stocks pay less tax than everyday individuals. Those with high investment in stocks and bonds were more powerful in society. Whereas WC pay moreo tax on little income.

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24
Q

What is Selective enforcement?

A

Powerless groups e,g WC and EMs are criminalized, police and courts tend to ignore crimes of powerful

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25
Q

What does these Health and Safety stats show and is an example of Selective enforcement e.g. 609,000 injuries occured at work according to labour force survey and 137 workers killed at work in 2016?

A

These may not be acted on as corporate crime meaning that it isn’t a big problem to Criminal justice system.

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26
Q

Who is the sociologist that studied a sample of 200 firms?

A

Carson ( 1971), in a sample of 200 firms, found all had broken health and safety laws, yet only 1.5 cases were prosecuted, by contrast, there is much higher rate of prosecutions for the crimes of the poor.

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27
Q

What is Ideological functions of crime all about?

A

Laws are passed that often benefit the w/c over capitalism, this creates false consciousness. such as Health and safety

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28
Q

How does Health and safety play an ideological function? including sociologist

A

Keeps workers fit to work given a caring face, creating false consciousness. This benefits capitalist class too.

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29
Q

How do welfare laws play an ideological function?

A

They are lower than wages to force people back to work serving ruling class.

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30
Q

What social agency plays an ideological function of crime?

A

Media portrays criminals as disturbed individuals, thereby concealing the fact that it is the nature of capitalism that makes people criminal e.g. Policing the crisis Hall.

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31
Q

What was Policing the crisis (1971 hall)

A

Moral panic developed over the crime of mugging in the 1970s. The moral panic over black criminality at the time created a divison in society away from wider economic crisis - black youths out of control’ being headlines rather than ‘capitalism in crisis.’

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32
Q

What was the overview of the story?

A

1) There was a major economic recession in the mid 1970, which increased unemployment
2) Capitalsim faced a legitmate crisis so the govt needed a scapegoat.
3) Fortunately the government the recession lead to further social marginalisation of black youth and lead to increase in street robbery
4) The media picked up on this creating a moral panic and the govt responsed by putting more police

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33
Q

What is the role of power in Hall’s study?

A

Power is used to oppress the vulnerable + weak in society, distracting society from the real problem.

34
Q

What is an A03 evaluation of Hall’s study?

A

The association between criminality and black youth has continued since the economic crisis of the 1970s, so it is not clear that this is the ultimate cause of moral panic.

35
Q

What was the Rana Plaza incident?

A

Factory roofs collapsed killing more than 1,100 people in 2013. The building was illegally built as businesses wanted extra floors for production.

36
Q

What does the Rana Plaza incident in 2013 show?

A

definition of corporate crime needs to be widened, if not acted on it will lead to serious fatalies such as Rana plaza. Employers see workers as labour, due to capitalism instilling a win at all costs.

37
Q

What is another example i could talk about when talking about Ideological tools and selective enforcement?

A

GrenFell, causing 72 deaths, the fire started from a malfunctioning fridge freezer on 4th floor. It burned for 60 hours before finally being extinguished.

38
Q

Are all ruiling class crime unoticed?

A

No for example 217 HBOS banks were jailed over a 245 million loan scam. Showing that the criminal justice system does focus on ruiling class crime , there saying laws benefit ruiling class is deterministic.

39
Q

What is 2 AO2’s against Marxists explanation of crime?

A

1) It largely ignores the relationship between crime and non-class inequalities such as ethnicity and gender.
2) Left realists say Marxists ignore intra-class crimes ( where both the criminals and victims are W/C e,g, burglary and mugging which cause a lot of harm to victims.

40
Q

Who are three Neo Marxists sociologists who talks about critical criminology?

A

Taylor, Walton and Young (1973)

41
Q

What do Taylor, Walton and Young ( Neo marxists agree with traditional Marxism on?

A

1) Capitalism is based on exploitation and inequality. This is key to understanding crime.
2) The state makes and enforces laws in the interests of capitalism and criminalizes the W/C.
3) Capitalism should be replaced by a classless society , which would greatly reduce crime.

42
Q

What do Taylor, Walton and Young ( Neo marxists) disagree with traditional marxism on?

A

For its determinism. e.g. it sees workers as driven to commit crime out of economic necessity. They reject this view along side theories that claim crime is caused by external factors e.g. anomie and block opportunities.

43
Q

Instead what view do Taylor et al take?

A

A voluntaristic view ( the idea we have free will) : crime is a conscious choice often with a political motive e.g. to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor . Criminals are deliberately struggling to change society.

44
Q

So to conclude Neo marxists combines what?

A

Combine traditional marxism with the labelling theory, ( Micro and Macro apporach) We need to understand the act it self and meaning of it, and why we react in the way they do.

45
Q

Why is Neo- marxism a good useful theory?

A

It is applicable today, Marxists just state things e.g. knife crime - its a distraction It doesn’t explain motives.

46
Q

What do Taylor et al aim to create in society?

A

TBA

47
Q

In Taylor et al view a complete theory needs to unite 6 aspects?

A

TBA

48
Q

What are 2 evaluations of critical criminology?

A

TBA

49
Q

Although all classes commit crime the law?

A

the law is selectively enforced and higher class and corporate offenders are less likely to be prosecuted.

50
Q

What is White collar crime including sociologists?

A

Sutherland ( 1949) defines white collar crime as crime commited by a person of respectability and high status. This can include corporate crime.

51
Q

What is Corporate crime?

A

Commited for the company’s benefit.

52
Q

What is the problem of corporate crime ?

A

It is difficult to define.

53
Q

What example is there to show Corporate crime is difficult to define ?

A

Starbucks in 2013, decided to pay corporation tax for the first time in 2009. This could be seen as a crime as they are contributing to the unequal distrubtion of wealth and income. Although starbucks avoided paying large sums of tax through tax avoidance.

54
Q

Why does the starbucks example show the problem of corporate crime?

A

There is a problem of defining whether or not this is a crime, shows that laws are selectively enforced to benefit w/c, there was loop holes which allow firms to deter away from tax evasion ( illegal) to benefit w/c.

55
Q

Who is the sociologist who backs up that the definition of corporate crime needs to widened and what does he say?

A

Tombs (2013) argues that the definition of corporate crime needs to be widened because powerful corporations can influence the law so that their actions are not criminalized.

56
Q

What is the stat that shows corporate crime costs more than ordinary crime in the USA?

A

Corporate crime costs the USA 10x more than ordinary crime.

57
Q

Who talks about the scale of corporate crime?

A

Tombs ( 2013)

58
Q

What does Tombs (2013) say?

A

CC does far more harm than ‘ordinary crime’ it has enomourous physical, environmental and economic costs. He concludes that CC is widespread, routine and pervasive. 5 types.

59
Q

What are the 5 different types of Corporate crime according to Tombs?

A

Finaniclal crime (e.g. tax evasion, money laundering. Victims tend to be government)
Consumer crime ( selling unfit goods)
State- corporate ( crimes when govt and businesses cooperate to achieve their goals.
Employees ( breaking health and safety laws
Environmental ( e.g. toxic waste dumping)

60
Q

What are examples of Financial, consumer and Employees corporate crime?

A

Amazon tax avoidance (paid just (£2.6bn) in tax on its income so far this decade despite achieving revenues of $960.5bn and profits of $26.8bn.)
Consumer ( Horse meat scandal 2013, foods being advertised to have beef but actually horse meat)
Employees ( Rana plaza)

61
Q

What is the Abu -ghraib toture and how is it an example of state corporate crime?

A

TBA

62
Q

What is the abuse of trust all about?

A

Proffesionals occupy postions of trust and respectability that give them the opportunity to violate this trust.

63
Q

Who is the sociologist that talks about Abuse of trust?

A

Carrabine et al (2014 we entrust our finances, our health etc, allowing them to abuse our trust.

64
Q

What is an example of the Abuse of trust?

A

The Accounting firm KPMG apart of the big four, admmited to major tax fraud and paid 456 million fine.

65
Q

What is another example of a corporate crime abusing the trust of patients?

A

GP Harold shipman was convicted by obtaining powerful opiate by forgery and deception, he had been convicted to kill 15 patients but it is to believed he killed at least another 200. Yet he only received a warning and countined being a GP.

66
Q

Why are these examples of the abuse of trust useful?

A

this makes white collar crime a greater threat to society than W/C ‘street crime because it promotes distrust pof key institutions.

67
Q

What is the Invisibility of corporate crime about?

A

CC is often invisible or else not even seen as ‘real crime because of 4 reasons : The media, Lack of political will,
De-labelling and under reporting.

68
Q

How do the Media create an Invisitibility of CC?

A

The media give very little coverage of corporate crime, ( technical infringments), this reinforces the idea that CC is a w/c issue. When they do report CC they often use careful language ( e.g. work deaths become accidents)

69
Q

What is A03 evaluation against the media creating invisibility of crime?

A

Media investigations into Corporate tax avoidance may now be making CC more visible than the past. Since 2008 finanical crisis campaigns against Tax avoidance such as Occupy are making CC more visible.

70
Q

How does a Lack of political view? create an Invisitibility of CC?

A

Politicians often recycle being tough on crime, but follow this up by focusing on street crime. Uk govt uses victim surveys to discover extent of ordinary crime ( e.g burglary) but totally ignore CC in these surveys.

71
Q

How does De-labeling create an Invisitibility of CC?

A

CC is reguarly de-criminalised. They are often civil and not criminal offences and fines are usually handed instead of jail. ( e.g. 3,600 uk citzens with secret bank accounts with HSBC. This led only to one prosecution.

72
Q

How does underreporting create an Invisitibility of CC?

A

Often victims are society at large rather than an individual, many people are unaware they are victims , or regard it not as a ‘real crime , or feel powerless to report it. e.g PPI Scandal

73
Q

What was the PPI scandal?

A

tba

74
Q

What has made CC more visible recently?

A

Neoliberal policies such as marketisation and privatisation of public services mean that large corporations are more involved in peoples lives and therefore more exposed to public scrutiny than b4.

75
Q

What are 4 alternative explanations of Corporate crime?

A

Strain theory
Differential association
Labeling theory
Marxism

76
Q

What is Strain theory explanation of CC including sociologist?

A

If a company cannot achieve its goal of maximizing profit by legitimate means it may employ illegal ones instead. Clinard and Yeager (1980) found companies’ law violations increased as their profitability declined.

77
Q

What is Differential association explanation of CC including sociologists?

A

Sutherland ( 1949) believes that crime is socially learned behaviour. Employees are more likely to commit crime if the company’s culture justifies doing so.
Gais ( 1967) trainee stock brokers socialised into price-fixing despite the practice being illegal.

78
Q

What is Labelling theory explanation of CC including sociologists?

A

An act counts as a crime only if it is has been labelled. Companies often have power to avoid labelling e.g. by hiring expensive lawyers.

79
Q

What are Marxists explanation of CC?

A

sees CC as resulting from normal capitalism. Capitalism goal is profit maximisng which inevitably causes harm e.g. to employees and consumers. Corporations comply with law only if strictly enforced.

80
Q

What is an A03 evaluation all these explanations of CC?

A

It fails to explain crime by non profit making organisations e,g, the state e.g. communist regimes commit crimes against health and safety.

81
Q

What is another evaluation against all companies commitng CC?

A

Both strain and Marxism seem to over predict the amount of business crime. It is unrealistic to assume all businesses would offend without risk of punishment. e.g. keeping good will with companies you do business with is a reason not to offend.

Alisha's Crime Sociology Flashcards (9 decks)

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