Crime

Question 1

explain ideology and social control (m)

Answer 1

• society suits the powerful and makes sure the powerless stay in their place
• “capitalist ideology” is seen as fact, we are brainwashed to believe this
• this is how the bourgeoisie control the proletariat

Question 2

what did ALTHUSSER say on ideology and social control? (m)

Answer 2

control is maintained by 2 institutions:

• repressive state apparatus (government, police, social control)
• ideological state apparatuses: controls us subtly, through socialisation of accepting capitalist beliefs (media, education, family)
• ISA’s show us who are deviant and divide and scare us, justifying the use of RSA’s

Question 3

what did BOX say on ideology and social control? (m)

Answer 3

• theft and murder shows how crime is socially constructed
• murder is “avoidable killing”, but many of these aren’t seen as murder, they’re seen as less serious
• those who commit “murder” are often poor and less powerful, those who commit avoidable killings are usually rich and powerful
• examples of avoidable killings: workplace health and safety, negligence (e.g. grenfell tower)

Question 4

explain the concept of alienation (m)

Answer 4

• alienation describes the sense of powerlessness, lack of control and disconnectedness of the proletariat, felt through the exploit of work and capitalism
• this can drive people to commit crime

Question 5

what did BONGER say about CAC? (m)

Answer 5

• there is a link between crime and economic situations
• crime can be caused by poverty, poor living conditions and lack of resources
• capitalism creates competition and resource inequality, promoting greed and leading to materialism, racism and violence

Question 6

what did GORDON say about CAC? (m)

Answer 6

• there is lots of focus on violent crime and little on white collar crime despite it’s harm
• in the USA, 9% have committed a crime, and it is seen as normal, a rational response to a situation
• capitalism causes inequality and people committing crime
• e.g. in poor neighbourhoods, there is a lack of jobs, which leads to people committing crimes

Question 7

what did CHAMBLISS say about CAC? (m)

Answer 7

• capitalism creates the desire to consume and the inability to gain enough money to meet desires, so people are lured to crime
• crime keeps some proletariats off the streets and in prison instead (incarceration), this reduces unemployment
• some proletariats can be hired to work in the prisons and CJS
• crimes are committed by all classes, but enforcement of the law makes it look like it’s just the lower classes

Question 8

give some evaluations of marxist explanations of crime (m)

Answer 8

• not everyone in lower classes with poor economic conditions commit crimes
• too extreme and outdated, they ignore the middle class
• the ruling class can’t all be involved in a deliberate conspiracy to control and criminalise the lower classes
• however, modern marxists say that even if it isn’t deliberate, the powerful operate in ways which will benefit them and disadvantage the powerless
• functionalists: capitalism doesn’t create crime as most people obey laws, showing that society has a value consensus

Question 9

what did LEA AND YOUNG say about links between race and crime? (lr)

Answer 9

• they criticise the moral panics which surround black crime, such as the way that the media focus on mugging, and linking to ethnicity in the past
• the media focuses on black people as culprits not victims, causing the public to do so also

Question 10

how do LEA AND YOUNG explain higher crime rates among ethnic minority groups? (lr)

Answer 10

• there are injustices in black and asian communities: many are affected by unemployment and deprivation, meaning that in an industrial society they are “brutalised” into crime
• linking to social class explains why those of Chinese/Indian origin have lower crime rates - although they are ethnic minorities, they don’t tend to live in deprivation, showing that social class must be taken into account
• race and class combine to explain these patterns of offending

Question 11

how does PALMER challenge LEA AND YOUNG? (lr)

Answer 11

• they place too little emphasis on racial discrimination in the CJS
• young black males face many disadvantages compared to white males, so we cannot assume that they commit crime for the same reasons: we must take race and racism into account
• he studied black people in inner city London and found that the media influenced the aspirations of black youths, as they felt that they were treated unjustly
• he also refers to the lack of discipline within families and being let down, by their community, education and wider society

Question 12

what patterns have been found amongst Asians and crime?

Answer 12

• until recently, levels of crime were lower than white people’s: this links to strong family values and not fitting in with police stereotypes
• however, crime amongst young asian males is increasing recently, and this could be due to socio-economic factors

Question 13

what did FITZGERALD AND SUBBIT say about Asians and crime?

Answer 13

• the Home Office classifies Asians in one category, yet they may all have different subcultures and cultural backgrounds
• they believe that this has masked different crime patterns within these groups

Question 14

what do BOWLING, PARMAR AND PHILLIPS believe about about Asians and crime?

Answer 14

• they believe that asian stereotypes, especially muslims, have altered
• they’re no longer law abiding with strong community values, their youths are now linked to criminal and deviant activity

Question 15

what does ABBAS say about Asians and crime?

Answer 15

• the stereotype of the “passive asian” has given way to a society of islamophobia after 9/11
• evidence shows that the stop and search of asians has increased significantly over the years
• current concerns about radicalisation led to claims about the targeting of young muslims by the police and harsher punishments being issued by courts

Question 16

what do neo marxists believe? (nm)

Answer 16

• the CCCS produced much neo-marxist analysis, recognising how important class and economic conditions were
• the attitudes of subcultures can be seen as expressions of resistance against capitalist society and class inequality

Question 17

what does TAYLOR, WATSON AND YOUNG’S radical theory of crime say? (nm)

Answer 17

• it says that a fully social theory of deviance must consider the structure of a capitalist society and how it operates to benefit the ruling class
• we must also consider the individuals involved, such as offenders and judges, to consider how to interpret behaviour and actions

Question 18

explain TAYLOR, WATSON AND YOUNG’S fully social theory of deviance (nm)

Answer 18

• must take the marxist understanding of distinction of power
• must consider 1. circumstances around the choice to commit, 2. meaning of the act to the person, 3. effects caused by society’s reaction, including labelling
• they suggest that a person’s class and feelings of frustration may lead to the desire to resist against the capitalist system

Question 19

what did GILROY say about crime? (nm)

Answer 19

• he developed the view of crime as resistance
• he said that ethnic minorities turn to crime to defend themselves in a society that treats them badly
• however, resistance doesn’t need to be a conscious act, but rather a result of anger/frustration that may end up being channelled into frustration and other crime

Question 20

explain CHAMBLISS’ study (nm)

Answer 20

“the saints and the roughnecks”

• he looks at the labelling of boys deviant behaviour and how social class impacts this
  saints: 8 white upper middle class boys constantly involved in deviant behaviour, yet not arrested during the two year study.
• they used their status and good reputation to cheat on tests
  roughnecks: 6 lower-class background boys constantly in trouble with the police, even though their rate of deviance was the same
• they were seen as typical gang members and followed by the public and police much more
• labelling means that poor “tough” kids will be noticed whether their actions are deviant or not
• those who have a good reputation will be invisible when they act defiantly

Question 21

what did HALL study? (nm)

Answer 21

• looked at interactionist ideas of society’s reaction to forms of deviance through social class and economic positions
• looked at “mugging”: a term first used by the British media in 1972. “mugging” isn’t actually a crime, even though the media reported very high statistics
• the term became associated with black males due to stories at the time
• society reacted extremely due to the economic crisis and high unemployment: the ruling class had to use force to control
• racial tensions stirred and competition for jobs was linked to immigration by some politicians
• this, media reporting and police crackdown on mugging created a moral panic and made a public link between race and crime

Question 22

how can we criticise neo-marxism? (nm)

Answer 22

• they ignore that the majority of society conform instead of forming subcultures to resist
• other subcultures existed in the middle class (hippies)
• not all those labelled turn to criminal behaviour
• gender biased (especially CCCS)

Question 23

explain right wing crime reduction (rw)

Answer 23

• crime can be prevented situationally or environmentally
  situational: through target hardening, increasing of security though alarms, encouraging people to be safer
  environmental: town planners design areas to prevent crime, with public, semi public and private space.
• public areas are the most vulnerable as no one has responsibility for them
• CCTV is growing: there is 1 camera for every 11 people in the UK

Question 24

what did CLARKE say about situational crime prevention? (rw)

Answer 24

• theft from phone boxes stopped when aluminium coin boxes were changed to steel
• when steering wheel locks were made compulsory in Germany, theft dramatically reduced

Question 25

what did PAINTER AND FARRINGTON find about environmental crime prevention? (rw)

Answer 25

-crime decreased 45% in experimental areas where street lighting was improved

Question 26

what is the right wing policy on control? (rw)

Answer 26

• they have a zero tolerance policy: agressive policing of minor and anti social crime (e.g. drugs). This means that things such as vandalism should be tackled straight away to show that it isn’t tolerated and emphasise shared norms and values
• this theory believes that crime will reduce if social control is increased and a law abiding culture is reinforced

Question 27

what does ZIMRING say about the right wing control theory? (rw)

Answer 27

• this policy is said to have a significant effect on crime rates in the US: homicide rates in NYC declined by 82%
• however, it is difficult to prove whether or not it is down to these factors

Question 28

what did WILSON AND KELLING say about right wing control theory? (rw)

Answer 28

• they said that we must prioritise the police’s role in order maintenance, e.g. by increasing foot patrols
• we should focus more on preventing crime then catching criminals, as this will save money and reduce crime

Question 29

what does MURRAY say about right wing control theory? (rw)

Answer 29

his ideas on the welfare state and the family links to the new right

• he argues that the overgenerous welfare system encourages feckless behaviour
• benefits should be cut: if families can’t afford kids, they should be adopted
• involving the community in sanctioning reckless behaviour is more effective than tolerating it

Question 30

explain the right wing view on punishment (rw)

Answer 30

• they favour harsh punishment, known as retribution, based on the idea that the punishment must fit the crime
• these harsher regimes are popular in the USA: “3 strikes and you’re out” policy
• harsher penalties also led to public shaming, which links to functionalist ideas of “degradation ceremonies” and how they reinforce “collective conscience” and acceptable behaviour boundaries
• on a practical level, imprisoning offenders takes them off the streets, so reoffending will not occur

Question 31

what does MURRAY say about punishment? (rw)

Answer 31

it is a choice that has to be made: if crime rates are to be removed, we must take the prisoner off the streets

Question 32

how can we evaluate right wing policies? (rw)

Answer 32

• they don’t address the underlying cause of the crime: changing people is difficult and expensive, which can explain why some policies are abandoned
• crime may not be addressed, just moved somewhere else
• harsh punishments, e.g. death penalties, are challenged as there is little evidence that they work as a deterrent: places which have death penalties have higher crime rates than those that don’t
• if someone doesn’t think they will get caught, the penalty is irrelevant

Question 33

how does DAVIS criticise right wing policies? (rw)

Answer 33

he says that cities will be segregated and a culture of fear is created, which can lead to negative racial views

Question 34

explain left wing policies on crime prevention (lw)

Answer 34

-they see social structure as the main cause of crime, and focus on issues such as inequality, deprivation and social exclusion
-they want long term prevention, focusing on structural changes to tackle the social causes of crime
examples of these changes: reducing income inequality by raising the minimum wage, raising living standards for poorer families and reducing unemployment through things like apprenticeships

Question 35

explain left wing policies on control (lw)

Answer 35

• they focus on the relationship between the police, CJS and the community
• they talk about multi agency working: co operation between agencies in society (police, social services, media, religion, schools and education) all play a part in improving a persons moral context
• they believe that more communication is needed with families and individuals at risk, allowing early intervention

Question 36

explain what LEA AND YOUNG say about policing (lw)

Answer 36

• the public lacks confidence in the police: military style policing equals less co operation, which leads to more military style policing
• trust and co operation will help the relationships
• the over policing of minor crimes (e.g. delinquency) and underpricing of more serious crimes (e.g. domestic violence, white collar crime) is the problem

Question 37

explain left wing policies on punishment (lw)

Answer 37

• they focus on the rehabilitation approach, which aims to reintegrate the offender back into society, having addressed the causes of offending
• helping the offender address the issues that caused their crime and making them see the damage is the best way to prevent re offending, e.g. through community service
• another way is restorative justice, which relates to the square of crime and looks at the impact of offending on the victim, community and offender
• this encourages them to take responsability
• this RJ varies: for minor offences the victim can have a say in what happens to the offenders, and for extreme offences the victim can be asked if they want to be involved and the offender must listen to them

Question 38

how can we evaluate left wing policies? (lw)

Answer 38

• long term strategies can be challenged as unrealistic and ineffective
• restorative justice can be a problem as it relies on the co operation of all parties, and this doesn’t always happen

Question 39

how does MURRAY evaluate left wing policies? (lw)

Answer 39

America attempted these policies in the 60’s/70’s, but it didn’t provide long term effects and couldn’t be funded for a long period of time

Question 40

how did MARSHALL evaluate left wing policies? (lw)

Answer 40

the majority of individuals do co operate. and failures to not take part are much lower than failures to pay court fines

Question 41

explain the left wing view on crime (lw)

Answer 41

• they focus on issues of societal power and inequality, and argue that people at the bottom are victims of their circumstances, and that equality should be the goal of society
• the state should intervene to share wealth and ensure that everyone has equal chances: an unequal system creates situations which may lead individuals into deviance, so blame the system not the deviant
• deviance can be a result of desperation, reaction to labelling or resistance against inequality
• the law is not applied equally: crime is defined and enforced by those in power

Question 42

what is MURRAY’S view on crime (rw)

Answer 42

• inadequate socialisation can lead young people from the underclass to develop a dependancy culture and a lack of respect
• over generous welfare payments encourage feckless behaviour
• they see illegitimacy as a greater indicator of criminality than poverty alone: girls without fathers are emotionally damaged, and boys without fathers have poor impulse control
• MURRAY AND HERNSTEIN consider the impact of cognitive ability on criminal behaviour, and they tried to show a link between low IQ and crime

Question 43

explain the right wing view on crime (rw)

Answer 43

• they focus on individual achievement, believing that equality isn’t possible and that talented people should be given the incentive to work hard by being rewarded accordingly, they get what they deserve
• the state shouldn’t intervene as everyone is responsible for their own actions: when these views are applied to crime, it focuses on the individuals bad choices and poor socialisation, leading to following the wrong norms and values
• right wing thinkers blame the criminal for their actions
• when considering solutions to crime, they focus on tougher penalties and stricter forms of control

Question 44

how can we evaluate MURRAY? (rw)

Answer 44

• IQ evidence is questionnable, as it ignores factors like poverty and how IQ’s may influence it
• race and IQ is racist, as ethnic minorities are more likely to be arrested and sentenced more harshly: this is because of racism, not their IQ

Question 45

explain right wing control theory

Answer 45

• this theory asks why people don’t commit crimes, saying that those with strong family ties and social bonds have a strong sense of morality and are unlikely to commit crimes
• there are four social bonds: attachment, commitment, involvement and belief

Question 46

what are the differences between left and right realists?

Answer 46

left realists: study the impact of society and the inequalities that someone faces

right realists: study the socialisation and norms and values of the offender

Question 47

which sociological theories can be seen as right realist?

Answer 47

functionalism, the new right

Question 48

which sociological theories can be seen as left realist?

Answer 48

marxism and feminism

Question 49

what do left realists believe?

Answer 49

• they accept that white collar and corporate crimes are significant, but they argue that left thinkers exaggerate this type of crime and ignore others
• they focus on the increase of street crime and fear surrounding it: they don’t believe that this increase is down to moral panics

Question 50

explain MATTHEWS AND YOUNG’s square of crime (lr)

Answer 50

• it’s an important reminder that crime arises at an intersection
• any understanding of the role of the offender and the victim must be put with an understanding of the role of public opinion and informal control, which is expressed though media, peers, ect
• the 4th element: role of the state (formal agencies), such as the government, police and the CJS
• the police and CJS clearly intersect, since the public can influence government policy and police practice, and vice versa

Question 51

what is YOUNG’s exclusive society? (lr)

Answer 51

• relative deprivation and societal exclusion leads to the breakdown of communities and families and an increase in crime: this leads to fear and scapegoating, which causes more divisions
• this is leading to a less tolerate society, where people react more harshly to those excluded and those who are alienated tend to be blamed for criminal activity, leading to further decisions

Question 52

how can we criticise left realism?

Answer 52

• they’re challenged for their lack of evidence on the motives of offenders
• their views are similar to radical criminologists, but left realists focus on practical solutions (which is seen as unrealistic)

Question 53

what does the right realist WILSON talk about? (rr)

Answer 53

• he challenges mainstream criminology, suggesting long term crime trends can be accounted for by 3 factors
  1. young males are most likely to commit crime (agressive, short term prospects)
  2. changes in benefits, the costs of crime and job availability
  3. social and cultural changes in society can influence norms and values, which may effect the extent to which people are tempted towards deviance
• these factors are largely uncontrollable, and poverty isn’t the root of crime as many poor people don’t commit
• If social order is maintained and police visibly clamp down, there will be less temptation to commit crime and more informal social control: but if there is the impression that no one cares, previously law abiding people may join in with deviant behaviour

Question 54

what do WILSON AND KELLING say about community? (rr)

Answer 54

• community will change its behaviour in the face of low level disorder by staying inside more and not getting involved, meaning that crime will happen more often with no one to challenge it
• this can lead to the development of urban decay and crime flourishing: people move away, and an area has a downwards spiral
• once an area has a criminal culture, there is little point in trying to police it

Question 55

what do WILSON AND HERNNSTEIN talk about? (rr)

Answer 55

• they stated that “wicked people exist”
• there is a biological element to criminal behaviour, and these “criminal traits” will be heightened if they lack proper socialisation
• In a strong nuclear family, criminal trends may be stopped as the right norms and values are taught
• some families (single parent or ones that lack commitment to societal n+v’s) don’t provide the necessary socialisation
• these ideas are close to the new right and blame criminality on the individual

Question 56

how can we criticise right realism?

Answer 56

-it plays down the causes of offending by focusing on the failures of social control and punishment

Question 57

how does YOUNG criticise right realism?

Answer 57

he argues that deviance and control can’t be studied separately as they are part of the same equation

Question 58

what does BECKER argue about deviance? (i)

Answer 58

• deviance is socially constructed and labelling someone can have serious effects on them
• the label can become a master status, and people respond to the person by using this label, meaning that the deviant identity will control them
• the label can become a “self fulfilling prophecy”, with people making decisions based on this deviant view
• difficult to escape master status, can feel isolated or judged differently, so may find it difficult to conform to society’s rules
• “deviant career” may start if someone joins a deviant subculture/group that may support/justify deviant identities or activities: the person will see themselves as deviant, so DID becomes controlling and affects choices and lifestyle

Question 59

what does PLUMMER say about deviance? (i)

Answer 59

-“deviant career” can be applied to the labelled homosexual
-label becomes master status, they internalise it and start to pursue a “homosexual career”
(could involve joining a homosexual subculture and acting camp)

Question 60

what did BECKER say about behaviour? (i)

Answer 60

• behaviour only becomes deviant when it has been labelled as such
• it’s sometimes only when a public accusation is made that behaviour becomes a serious issue

Question 61

what was MALINOWSKI’s study on public shaming? (i)

Answer 61

• Trobriand islands in the South Pacific, incest between cousins seen as deviant but was quite common, people turned a blind eye
• however, when a man was publicly accused of this, it caused uproar in the community and he eventually committed suicide due to the shame

Question 62

what did LEMERT say about deviance? (i)

Answer 62

• he said that society’s reaction to behaviour is more significant than the behaviour itself
• PRIMARY deviance: acts not publicly labelled as deviant, seen as acceptable. Many people commit these acts but it doesn’t impact their self concept
• however, if the deviant behaviour attracts negative social reactions, it will start to affect the individuals self concept
• this leads to SECONDARY deviance: when someone consciously engages in deviant behaviour as an expression of their deviant self concept that they have been given

Question 63

what did MATZA say about deviance? (i)

Answer 63

• he argues that many youths will drift in and out of deviance: they feel a moral obligation to obey the law and pressure to pursue subterranean values (risk-taking, agression and greed)
• when a youth commits a deviant act, they will use techniques of neutralisation to justify the act and stop a deviant identity from initially forming

Question 64

what are the 5 techniques of neutralisation? (i)

Answer 64

1/2/3. denial of responsibility/injury/victim

4. condemnation of the condemners
5. appeal to higher loyalties

Question 65

what did YOUNG say about deviance? (i)

Answer 65

• he looked at drug taking amongst alienated youths, who seeked each other out and smoked marijuana as a solution to their problems
• powerful groups saw them as a threat, so justice was taken through mass media and the CJS
• society’s reaction caused more problems: they were given a negative label so much that they were led to accept the public perceptions of them and live up to the label (SFP)
• this can be explained through the process of deviancy amplification

Question 66

explain YOUNG’s process of deviancy amplification (i)

Answer 66

stage 1: criminal or deviant act is performed
stage 2: media reports this act
stage 3: media coverage creates a moral panic
stage 4: public outcry makes police crackdown or a change in the law

Question 67

what is anomie?

Answer 67

societal instability caused by the breakdown of standards and values

Question 68

what are the 5 modes of adaption?

Answer 68

1. conformity
2. innovation
3. ritualism
4. retreatism
5. rebellion

Question 69

what are the 5 modes of adaption and what are they used for?

Answer 69

1. conformity
2. innovation
3. ritualism
4. retreatism
5. rebellion
   these modes are responses to failure to achieve goals, spoken about in MERTON’s strain theory

Question 70

how can we define focal concerns?

Answer 70

focal concerns are concerns relative to a social class, e.g. fighting

Question 71

how can we explain the term “bulimic society”?

Answer 71

a bulimic society is a society in which people are encouraged to achieve, but prevented from society’s actualisation

Question 72

how can we explain the term “bulimic society”?

Answer 72

a bulimic society is a culture in which citizens are encouraged and made to feel included by society in the worship of success, money, wealth and status but are excluded from its realisation

Question 73

what do those in power think about the “carnival of crime”?

Answer 73

• tolerate as a necessary safety valve, but constantly try to limit and control transgressive behaviour as it is a threat to social control; so the response of authorities to deviance tends to be an increase in control
• activities that cannot be stamped out by use of law and force sometimes become regulated and “mainstream”, so loose their appeal

Question 74

how can “carnival” be explained?

Answer 74

carnival can be explained as a way for people to let off steam, a necessary safety valve

Question 75

what is MERTON’s strain theory?

Answer 75

• there are clear goals and clear means to achieve these goals
• crime and deviance occurs when the goals are emphasised more than the acceptable means

Question 76

what does MERTON mean by a strain towards anomie, and how does American culture emphasis this strain?

Answer 76

• if alternative means to achieve become acceptable then anomie will occur: so a strain is when the goal becomes more important than the means
• in American culture, the goal of success and money has become the root of society, and Americans feel pressure to achieve: there is not as much emphasis on legitimate ways to achieve as on the goal itself

Question 77

how can we evaluate MERTON’s strain theory?

Answer 77

• he assumes that the goal of financial success is universal, but there are many other goals (e.g. family, love)
• there are many reasons to display deviant behaviour other than financial success
• someone may fall into more than one mode of adaption

Question 78

what does KATZ argue about subcultural theories?

Answer 78

• explanations that focus on characteristics don’t take into account the ways people are driven into crime, e.g. what makes a person give into crime? A physical fight could just be a display of toughness, so crime is presented as having selfish motivations
• however, when he discusses crime as an “expression of identity”, e.g. being a badass, there are still links to ideas from subcultural theorists, such as MILLER

Question 79

what does KATZ argue about subcultural theories? (cc)

Answer 79

• explanations that focus on characteristics don’t take into account the ways people are driven into crime, e.g. what makes a person give into crime? A physical fight could just be a display of toughness, so crime is presented as having selfish motivations
• however, when he discusses crime as an “expression of identity”, e.g. being a badass, there are still links to ideas from subcultural theorists, such as MILLER

Question 80

what is LYNG’s concept of edgework? (cc)

Answer 80

• in his exploration of risk taking behaviour, he uses the concept of edgework, which refers to exploring the edges that exist along boundaries in cultures and doing activities that push and test these
• it can lead to intense emotions, such as fear and exhilaration, and by mastering these, you can feel a sense of control and accomplishment if you get away with it
• seen as both an escape from the restrictions of modern society and a way of coping in an increasingly complex postmodern society

Question 81

how did YOUNG explain underclass criminality? (cc)

Answer 81

• he believes that working class deviance is about misbehaviour, rebellion and frustration
• we live in a bulimic society, and he discusses the intensity of exclusion felt by the underclass, saying they feel resentment and humiliation
• uses the idea of anomie to describe the feelings that todays society brings
• he sees deviance as both an expression of EXCLUSION and a desire for INCLUSION

Question 82

what do KATZ AND JACKSON-JACOBS argue about crime and deviance? (cc)

Answer 82

• as social mobility happens and large sections of society move away from their origins through educational and career opportunities, those who are left behind in inner cities have to make sense of their failure
• they argue that “gangs are made glorious”
• childhood friendships are turned into matters of pride, with phrases such as homeboy and bredrin becoming a badge of respect
• gangs are a way for those who have failed in society to maintain status and respect

Question 83

how do cultural criminologists view criminal subcultures?

Answer 83

• they view criminal subcultures as a way to express their identity, their resistance of society and the power struggle that they face
• FERNELL doesn’t see crime as a rational decision making process, but a result of anger, humiliation, excitement and fear

Question 84

what does DURKHEIM believe about anomie? (f)

Answer 84

-he believes that a small amount of crime and deviance prevents anomie as long as it is punished
-however, if a society allows too much crime/deviance without punishment or if value consensus breaks down, this can lead to a state of anomie, which threatens the stability of the whole society
-anomie happening may lead to an increase in deviant behaviour, such as looting and violence
anomie can occur if: there’s a sudden change in government, a disaster which leads to the destruction of order or a major economic upheaval

Question 85

what is social solidarity? (f)

Answer 85

the sense of cohesion felt in society, all members of the society feeling part of the whole

Question 86

how does DURKHEIM believe social solidarity can be promoted? (f)

Answer 86

• certain events bring people together to promote this, such as crime
• shared outrage over a crime will lead to people expressing public temper, which promotes social solidarity as everyone is outraged together
• in society all members share a set of values: collective conscience
• this leads a community to control itself, using sanctions to ensure that anyone who steps out of line knows it’s wrong
• may be expressed through shock, outrage or horror after hearing about the events

Question 87

what do functionalists say about boundary maintenance?

Answer 87

• members of any society must learn the boundaries of what is acceptable behaviour
• crime and deviance aid this by showing members where the boundaries of right and wrong are through publicly punishing those who stray beyond the boundaries
• to ensure this is carried out, any deviance must be identified and punished, which involves the agencies of social control

Question 88

explain the study on public shaming and condemnation (f)

Answer 88

• the decline of public punishment happened at the same time as the development of newspapers, which took a similar function
• tv and social media now perform this role
• boundaries and societies reactions change over time, showing how societies progress over time
• example: used to see homosexuality as wrong, but now it is legal and we have gay marriage

Question 89

how does COHEN see deviance as a safety valve? (f)

Answer 89

• deviance can allow an individual to “let off steam” to prevent worse deviance
• studied prostitution: in society the morally acceptable expression of sexuality is constricted to the family to promote the raising of children
• can lead to a conflict for men who have sexual urges they feel the need to satisfy, which can lead to promiscuity and rape
• prostitution provides a safe outlet for these sexual urges in a way that is less threatening to the family

Question 90

how can we evaluate DURKHEIM? (f)

Answer 90

• he doesn’t actually explain why individuals commit crime: if we all share a value consensus then why do some people break the law?
• doesn’t explain why some people commit deviance more than others and why different people are deviant in different ways
• doesn’t consider the negative effects of deviance on individuals (e.g. victims) or issues such as who creates the law and who has the power to dodge it

Question 91

what does DURKHEIM believe about crime? (f)

Answer 91

• he saw crime as a healthy and inevitable part of society
• society will always have deviance, as if not, petty actions could be classed as crimes
• if crime didn’t happen then we would have a “society of saints”
• functionalists also believe in value consensus, which is important for society to function effectively and for social order to be maintained (if people don’t know these values, then anomie will occur)