crim unit 2 Flashcards
sociological theories
functionalism as an explanation for criminality
Functionalists like Emile Durkheim see society as a stable structure based on shared norms, values, and beliefs.
Crime is inevitable – some crime will always happen because every society has individuals that have been inadequately socialised. This makes them more likely to deviate from the norms. However, while crime is inevitable it must be kept to a certain amount: too much crime causes a state or normlessness (anomie). Too little crime causes a lack of freedom and change.
the 4 key functions of crime
Boundary Maintenance: Crime causes a reaction that unites society against the wrongdoer(s), reminding them of the boundary between right and wrong.
Social Change: In order for society to progress, individuals with new ideas (seen as deviant) must challenge existing norms and values.
Safety valve: Some deviance should be allowed to happen in order for everyone to follow the norms and values more consistently.
Warning light: Deviance gives an indication that something isn’t functioning correctly.
strain theory - Merton
Merton believes that the root cause of crime is the unequal structure of society. He focused on America and the idea of the “American Dream” – which values financial success achieved through legitimate means.
Not everyone has an equal chance of gaining financial success, because American society is unequal.
Opportunities for working-class people are often blocked due to poverty, poor schooling, less job opportunities etc. This causes a strain between the ideal goals and the legitimate (legal) means. This strain leads people to commit crime in order to achieve their goals.
strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist explanations of criminality
Strengths of the functionalist explanations of criminality –
Merton shows how normal and deviant behaviour can arise from the same goals.
Durkheim recognised that crime can have a positive role in society.
Merton’s theory helps to explain trends in crime statistics.
limitations of the functionalist explanations of criminality –
Durkheim is not clear on how much deviance is needed for society to function efficiently.
Merton ignores crimes of the wealthy.
Merton ignores non-utilitarian crime and views deviance as an individual act, thus ignoring group deviance.
interactionism and labelling as an explanation of criminality
Interactionism sees our interactions with others as being based on meanings (or labels).
Labelling theory –
This theory argues that no act is inherently deviant or criminal, it only becomes so when we create rules and laws that make them deviant/criminal – thus labelling it.
Social control agencies, like the police, may label different groups in different ways due to having typification’s – an ‘ideal’ offender stereotype.
Once a label has been placed on a person or group, it’s very hard to remove it.
Interactionists argue that agencies of social control (such as the police) label certain groups a criminal more than others.
strengths and weaknesses of interactionism theory
Strengths of interactionism theory –
It shows how attempts to control deviant can actually cause more deviance.
Labelling theory shows that the law is not fixed.
Limitations of interactionism theory –
The theory doesn’t explain why people commit primary deviance in the first place.
It emphasises the negative effects of labelling on the offenders, giving them a victim status. This ignores the real victim.
The theory implies that once someone has been labelled, a deviant career is inevitable.
marxism as an explanation of criminality
All institutions within society are designed to maintain inequality and the exploitation of the proletariat, and this includes the Criminal Justice System.
Capitalism is criminogenic –
Marxists argue that crime is inevitable in a capitalist society for several reasons:
The constant exploitation of the working class (proletariat) puts many in poverty.
Capitalism continually pushes a consumer culture, resulting in utilitarian crime (e.g., theft) to obtain goods.
Inequalities cause feelings of frustration and alienation, resulting in non-utilitarian crime (e.g., vandalism).
Capitalism is a ‘dog-eat-dog’ system, and profit is a motivation for greed. This encourages the capitalists to commit corporate crime.
Strengths and weaknesses of Marxist explanations of crime
Strengths of Marxist explanations of crime –
It explains how law making and enforcement are biased against the working class.
It shows how poverty and inequality can cause working class crime.
It also shows how capitalism encourages greed and upper-class crime.
Limitations –
It over-predicts the amount of working-class crime.
Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates.
This area ignores the relationship between crime and other inequalities.
right realism, strengths and weaknesses
Right realism –
Right realists hold a right wing, conservative view.
They see crime – in particular street crime – as a growing problem, and are mainly concerned with finding practical solutions for reducing crime.
They believe that the best way to reduce crime is through punishment and control.
Causes of crime – biological differences, rational choice theory, inadequate socialisation.
Strengths of right realism -
There is research to support rational choice theory. Rettig found in his research found that the level of punishment influenced his participants likelihood to offend.
Right Realism can help explain some more opportunistic crimes such as theft.
Limitations –
Rettig’s research was an experiment, so might not be able to be applied to real life.
Not all crimes are the result of rational decisions. Violent crime is often more impulsive.
left realism, strengths and weaknesses
Left realism –
Left realists hold a left wing, socialist view.
They see crime as being a result of the capitalist society creating inequalities.
They believe that the best way to reduce crime is to make society more fair and equal.
Causes of crime – relative deprivation, subculture, marginalisation.
Strengths of left realism –
This theory brings attention to the importance of poverty, inequality, and relative deprivation as underlying causes for crime.
It brings forward the realities of street crime and its effects.
Limitations of left realism –
Left realists over-predict the amount of working-class crime.
Not everyone who experiences relative deprivation will resort to crime.
surveillance theory
Surveillance theory -
Surveillance involves monitoring people in order to control crime.
The panopticon -
Foucault believes that in modern society, we are being increasingly controlled through self-surveillance, he calls this ‘disciplinary power’.
Foucault makes reference to the Panopticon prison design to support his argument.
Synoptic surveillance –
Mathiesen argues that surveillance doesn’t just come from above (Panopticon), but also from below, which he calls the Synopticon. This is where everyone watched everyone.
Example: Motorists can monitor the behaviour of others through dashcams.
Actuarial justice and profiling –
This term comes from the insurance industry, as an actuary is someone who calculates the risk of certain event happening.
Feeley and Simon argue that actuarial justice is a new form of surveillance because its aim is to predict and prevent future offending.
strengths and weaknesses of surveillance theory
Foucault’s work has caused more research into surveillance – especially into the idea of an ‘electronic Panopticon’.
This theory has helped researchers to identify other forms of surveillance.
Limitations –
Foucault exaggerates the extent of control i.e., there has been research to show that some prisoners will still resist controls.
Surveillance may not change people’s behaviour.
Subcultural theories to explain criminality
Cohen agrees with Merton that crime and deviance are a result of the working class failing to achieve by the legitimate means.
However, he criticised Merton in 2 ways:
Merton sees deviance as an individual response to strain, ignoring the fact that a lot of deviance happens in or by groups, especially young people.
Merton focuses on utilitarian crime (materialistic), and largely ignores crime with no economic motive.
Status frustration - occurs because these youths do not have the same skills, behaviours, and habits as those of the middle class. As a result, they become frustrated and then avoid school or become delinquent.
Cloward and Ohlin
Cloward and Ohlin believe that different neighbourhoods give rise to different deviant subcultures:
Criminal – Appears in areas where there’s a longstanding professional criminal network. It provides youths with an ‘apprenticeship’ in utilitarian crime.
Conflict – Appears when the only criminal opportunities are within gangs. Violence provides a release for frustration and a source of status.
Retreatism– Made up of dropouts who have failed to achieve legitimately and illegitimately.
strengths and weaknesses of subcultural theory
Strengths of subcultural theory –
These theories show subcultures offer their members solutions for failing to achieve through the legitimate means.
Cloward and Ohlin show how different subcultures can emerge based on the neighbourhood.
Limitations of subcultural theory –
These theories ignore crimes of the wealthy and over-predict the amount of working-class crime.
They assume that everyone starts with the same mainstream goals.
Actual subcultures aren’t as clear-cut as Cloward and Ohlin claim.
