Crime and Deviance Flashcards
Contains: - Functionalism and Subcultural Theories - Interpretivism and Labelling Theory
How many positive functions of deviance did Durkheim believe there were?
6
What are the 6 positive functions of deviance according to Functionalists?
- Marking the extremes of behaviour
- As a publicity function
- To reflect the issues of the population and legitimise social change
- To strengthen bonds
- To provide a safety valve
- To act as a warning device to show that society is malfunctioning
“He was the first to analyse deviance in terms of a broad sociological theory”. Which Functionalist is this strength about?
Durkheim
What are the two criticisms of Durkheim and his views on deviance?
- Doesn’t explain why people commit crimes
2. Ignores the concept of power and that certain groups have power to make laws which impact those who don’t
When did Merton ‘come up with’ Strain Theory?
1938
Why did Functionalist Merton believe that crimes would be committed?
When the individual is unable to meet their societies’ set goals which is known as a value consensus
Where did Functionalist Merton base his research on?
1930 USA- The American Dream
What is the concept of ‘Anomie’ ?
Durkheim’s phrase- but adopted by Merton.
When an individual feels that they don’t belong due to a disjunction between the goals and the means of reaching them
What are the 5 different strains of ‘Anomie’, who ‘came up with them’, and what is their basic explanation?
MERTON
- Conformist- Whether they succeed or not, their efforts always contain legit reasons.
- Innovator- Want success but reject the accepted ways of achieving it
- Ritualist- Uphold the norms but doesn’t have goals
- Retreatist- Simply retreat from society
- Rebel- Want to set up new norms and attainment methods
What is a strength but weakness of Merton’s Strain Theory?
He uses official crime statistics, however they can be biased as they do not account for unnoticed crime.
What are the key weaknesses of Merton’s Strain Theory?
- Merton assumes that there is a value consensus and that everyone holds the same goal.
- Utilitarian Crime (for money) is the only crime studied and accounted for.
Which theory did the Functionalist Hirshi invent?
Control Theory which studies ‘Why people don’t commit crimes’
In which 4 ways did Hirshi believe that people were connected to society?
- Attachment- Do they care and value other people?
- Commitment- What investments does the individual have?
- Involvement- How busy the person is?
- Belief- Does the person believe that societies values are accurate?
Which Functionalist theory has an evaluation which says, “It recognises the importance of socialisation and control in maintaining a cohesive society”
Hirshi- Control Theory
What are the weaknesses of the Control Theory?
- It assumes that the individuals have broken away from mainstream values- but Merton counters this.
- It doesn’t explain why some people have weaker ties/bonds than others.
- It doesn’t explain the variations in types of crime or deviance.
What a Functionalist Subcultural Theory?
A theory which seeks to explain why it is that delinquency rates are higher among WC males.
What is Cohen’s explanation called, and what does it try to explain?
Status Frustration.
It occurs when people are unhappy with their role or success level so retaliate in the from of delinquency. It is common in schools which have MC values as the WC build their own culture and become the ‘top boy’ by rebelling.
What is a criticism of Status Frustration by Cohen?
It assumes all WC males share MC values from the beginning.
Who’s subculture does Cloward and Ohlin build on, and how does it differ?
Cohen.
They believe that the lack of opportunities for WC males creates 3 individual subcultures rather than just one ‘rebellious’ one.
What are the 3 subcultures that Cloward and Ohlin notice?
- Criminal- Areas with established stable crime, and a hierarchy which enables professional adult crime.
- Conflict- Common in built-up areas which leads to large disorganised crime groups, such as gangs.
- Retreatist- People who fail in all lines of opportunity which leads them to reject society.
What is a weakness of Cloward and Ohlin’s subculture idea?
They ignore power structure, such as who makes the law.
What does Miller’s subculture theory outline?
That the individual may cause a subculture to develop around them, rather than a reactive response which occurs due to failures.
What personality traits does Miller highlight within his subculture studies?
- Trouble
- Toughness
- Smartness
- Excitement
- Fatalism
- Autonomy
What is Matza’s opinion of young people in delinquency? (Subculture)
That there are no defining anti-social values and that people tend to drift in and out of delinquency.
What is Massner and Rosenfeld’s subculture study called?
Institutional Anomie Theory
What do Massner and Rosenfeld think about crime- as shown by their subculture?
They believe that crime is inevitable as societies based on competition and free-markets (capitalism) adopt an ‘anything goes’ attitude toward getting rich and succeeding.
Which sociological group is Durkheim a part of?
Functionalists
Cohen is a … sociologist. Fill in the gap.
Functionalist
Massner and Rosenfeld are what kind of sociologist?
Functionalists
Which Functionalist believes that young people drift in and out of delinquency?
Matza
Is Hirshi a Marxist or a Functionalist?
Functionalist
Merton (who founded the ‘Strain Theory’) is a Functionalist. True or False?
True
Is Lemert a Functionalist or Interactionist?
Interactionist
Who’s study focuses of ‘weed users’ in Notting hill?
Young
What did Young’s study discover?
That the hostile societal reaction towards crime causes the deviance.
Becker is an Interactionist. True or False?
True
When was Youngs study?
1971
Young and his study of marijuana users is a Interactionist theory/study. True?
True
When was Braithwaite’s study developed?
1989
When was Cicourel’s theory devleped?
1968
Braithwaite (Shaming Types) is a Marxist. True or False?
False. Interactionist
When was Downes and Rock’s theory developed?
2003
Who’s study was developed in 1963 and surrounded the labelling of deviant acts?
Becker- 1963
Cicourel is an interactionist. False?
Nope. Its true!
Are Downes and Rock Interactionists or Marxists, and which Interactionist do they evaluate?
Interactionist.
They evaluate Lemert for the idea of criminal career paths- not everyone deviates.
What is a master status?
When a label becomes the main things that someone ‘sees’ about a person.
What is the Dark Figure of Crime?
Crime which is unrecorded or goes unnoticed.
How did Young reach the conclusion of his study about crime being a societal reaction from the subcultures?
He studied ‘Hippies’ in the Notting-Hill area who were targeted by the ‘Moral Entrepreneurs’ after a marijuana crime surge occurred. They were stereotyped and caught with the drugs which they used sometimes. They retreated into a closed group and began to become outcasts- with long hair. They retreated to drug use which caused further belief that they were drug heavy- even though they weren’t prior to the arrests. This is the self-fulfilling prophecy.
What differs between primary and secondary crime according to Lemert?
Primary- (usually petty) crime which goes unnoticed.
Secondary- crime which gets noticed. This causes the perpetrator to get labelled. This can cause them to retreat into a criminal subculture and career.
Why do Downes and Rock disagree with Lemert’s theory?
They believe that not everyone retreats into the criminal subcultures and criminal career paths.
What is the theory, derived from Cicourel, that studies the ‘Negotiation of Justice’?
This is the idea that Officers have a typical idea of what crime perpetrators look like, and therefore certain people are more likely to get stopped. These are usually WC males, who are from broken homes.
Cicourel also believes that MC people get away with crimes as they can talk to the Moral Entrepreneurs to ‘worm out’ which is aided by the fact that officers don’t believe them to be likely to commit crime due to their background.
What is disintegrative and reintegrative shaming?
disintegrative= shame towards the perpetrator and the crime done, this can create a deviancy amplification spiral and a criminal career path according to Braithwaite. reintegrative= shaming towards the crime rather than the offender in a hope to help them get back on 'track'
“Press exaggeration and distorted reporting”. This creates a what?
Moral Panic
What is the deviancy amplification spiral?
A term labelling theorists use to describe a process in which the attempt to control deviance causes an increase in deviance.
Can you simplify Becker’s idea of the labelling criminal acts?
A deviant is someone who accepts the labels given to them rather than rejecting them and trying again.
What did Becker mean when he used the term ‘Moral Entrepreneurs’
Those who follow and enforce the rules told to them from higher officials.
Give an example of a minor, primary crime.
Not paying a train fare.
Why does Douglas not trust crime statistics when using them to compare suicide rates?
They’re just a social construct as coroners have varying ideas of a suicide. For example, a religious coroner may argue a suicide was accidental due to religious views which see suicide as a sin.
What methods does Douglas argue that are used when looking at suicide?
Qualitative.
Such as examining the suicide note, or unstructured interviews with relatives of the deceased.
When did Douglas formulate his ideas on Suicide?
1967
Why can we ‘ignore’ Atkinson’s view on society based on his theory?
He believed that all we can have are interpretations, which means that that his account is no more than an interpretation and there is no reason to accept it.
When did Atkinson formulate his theory on Suicide and Coroners examinations?
1978
What did Atkinson discover after talking to coroners and their ideas of suicide?
They had varying but overall typical views of suicide. This means that they classified it as suicide if it had certain elements- such as a large overdose or a suicide note.
Can you give 3 evaluations of the labelling theory?
- It is deterministic- implying that once someone is labelled they stick to this negative career path.
- It fails to explain why people commit primary deviance in the first place.
- It ignores the fact that people may actively decide to have a deviant role in society rather than it being thrust upon them.
What does Lemert discover in his 1962 study regarding Paranoia?
That after not fitting in, people take extra measures to exclude and help with ‘him’, ‘he’ then believes people are conspiring against ‘him’ which causes the secondary deviance. Eventually, this lead to ‘him’ being admitted as a mental patient- with everything ‘he’ says being interpreted as ‘him’ being unwell.
Can you give a ‘Real-Time’ example of how Lemert’s 1962 Paranoia has been replicated?
Rosenhan’s 1972 Study.
‘Pseudo-Patient’. A group of sociologists admitted themselves into a mental institution on count of schizophrenia, and from then on they’re treated as if they’re unwell, even when saying ‘normal’ things and behaving regularly.
What does Goffman’s study regarding Asylums show?
The possible effects of being admitted to a mental institution.
Which study regarding Paranoia was released in 1962?
Lemert
When was Goffman’s study regarding Asylums released?
1961
What are the 2 possible effects of being admitted to a mental institution and why do they occur- according to Goffman?
- Mortification of self -> Killing off old self -> Replacing old self with ‘inmate’
- Resistance
Both occur due to ‘degradation rituals’ such as confiscation of personal items etc.
Why is crime inevitable in a Capitalist society according to Marxist?
Capitalism is based on the exploitation of the WC. Crime is a response to poverty. Crime is the only way to gather consumer goods.
What does Alienation and Lack of Control lead to, according to Marxists?
Non- utilitarian crime.
Give an example of non-utilitarian crime.
Vandalism
Give an example of a Middle Class (white collar) crime?
Tax evasion
How does Marxist Shider (1993) believe the Capitalist state preys on WC Crime?
The Capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws which regulate businesses and threaten profitability.
What was the Marxist Chambliss’ study about?
Chambliss claims the introduction of cash-payable tax in African colonies benefitted Britain as the only way the inhabitants could receive that cash was labouring in the plantations.
How does Chambliss’ study show us that Capitalism exploits the WC, according to Marxist?
The plantation workers were forced to work as they had no other opportunity. The business owners exploited them with little pay and little choice.
What does criminogenic mean?
Crime is inevitable, which is an idea believes by Marxists
What is selective enforcement?
This is the idea that only selected people are targeted more than others. For example, WC and ethnic minorities. It is often the case that police ignore the crimes of the powerful- according to Marxist
Give me an example of selective enforcement.
Courts handing out heavy fines during the London 2011 riots, but few MP were prosecuted over the MP expensed
What is a false consciousness?
When your ideas are created by capitalism, but you see them as your own.
Who introduced the idea of white collar crime?
Sutherland, 1949
A Marxist
What did Pearce- a Marxist, say regarding ideological functions of law?
Laws benefit the ruling classes, such as through health and safety laws, which actually produce a false consciousness that the business cares.
What evidence did the Marxist, Carson discover that shows the way that rules create a false consciousness?
In a sample, of 200 firms, all had broken health and safety laws.
How does the media impact the way that crimes and criminals are perceived- in the eyes of Marxists?
Media presents the criminals as unhinged which hides Capitalism from being the perpetrator.
How to Marxists believe that Capitalism divides WC?
Crime is seen as a WC phenomenon so it divides WC as people turn on each other and blame them.
Can you give a real life example of a white collar crime which Croall discovered?
Crimes against the NHS such as those by doctors or health professionals who falsify prescriptions to collect more money from the NHS.
One GP made £700,000 in 5 years
When was Croall writing? And was he a Marxist?
2001 and yes
What is a crime against a consumer?
Manufacturing and selling of dangerous goods
What is a crime against an employee and can you give an example?
A crime which harms the people working for a company.
Street we found in 1997 that asbestos was killing 3500 people a year, and people were working in these conditions.
Pollution. What kind of crime is this an example of?
Environmental
What is an example of a financial fraud crime?
False Accounting
Can you give an example of how UK is participating in a state-corporate crime?
The UK sells Saudi Arabia weapons which they drop on Yemen. We do not report them or stop selling as we earn money from it, and we ally with Saudi.
How is Marxism described to be too deterministic?
It assumes all people who are WC will commit crime, even though some don’t
Why does Traditional Marxism get evaluated negatively? Give 2 reasons- not deterministic though.
- It ignores the relationship between crime and non class variables such a gender and ethnicity.
- Left-realists argue that it ignores intra-class crime- which is crime committed WC to WC
Give one negative evaluation of WC crime?
The criminal justice system doesn’t always side with the ruling class.
What are the 5 arguments that Croall uses to suggest why white collar crimes aren’t regarded a serious problem for the general public?
- They’re hard to detect
- There is often no victim
- They are hard to investigate
- Institutional protection.
- Offenders less likely to be found guilty
What does Box (1883) claim results in corporate crime?
Merton’s strain theory can be applied.
When companies aren’t reaching their maximum goal or profit, they may use illegal ways. For example, extension of working hours or pay cuts.
What is Sutherland (1949) key study of crime?
Differential association. This is when we learn crime from the people that we socialise with.
What is an example of Sutherlands study on differential crime/?
Geis (1967) found individuals joining companies with illegal price fixing were often socialised to do it too.
What do Deviant Subcultures have to do with corporate crime?
Companies face problems of achieving corporate goals so may adopt deviance to reach these. Also, culture of businesses may encourage people to be more competitive and ‘up for’ committing the crime.
What are the techniques of neuralisation?
Individuals invent justifications for their interactions to make their deviant acts more acceptable.
What article did Blair write in 1993 that signalled the Labour party was seeming to become harder on crime?
“We should be tough on crime and tough on the underlying causes of crime.”
Who ‘came up with’ the techniques of neutralisation?
Sykes and Matza (1957)
What is an example of a technique of neutralisation?
When a company says ‘they should’ve read the small print’.
What is de-labelling and how does it impact corporate crime?
Nelken (2012)- This is the process of companies avoiding labelling through expensive lawyers, police not wanting to investigate etc.
What does Marxist Pearce (1976) argue that is linked to the severity of corporate crime?
Corporate crime is the exception which reduces a crisis for capitalism?
Which Marxist calls corporate crime a, ‘mystification’ and why?
Box (1993) Individuals believe that corporate crime is less serious and harmful as it is unseen.
What is an evaluation of Marxist views on Corporate crimes?
It fails to explain the reasons for corporate crime in non-profit business such as the police.
What are the 3 things that both left and right realism suggest about crime?
- It is a real problem (not socially constructed)
- Crime needs to be addressed
- Crime is mostly linked to poorer people.
Who/What do Left Realists believe are the causes for crime?
The conditions society creates for poor people
Who/What do Right Realists believe are the causes for crime?
The poor themselves
Why do Right Realists blame the poor for crime? (3)
- Inadequate socialisation
- Culture of poverty
- Biological reasons
Why do Left Realists blame the poor for crime? (3)
- Creation of Subcultures.
- Marginalisation
- Relative Deprivation
How do Right Realists believe crime should be tackled?
Harsh Punishments
How do Left Realists believe crime should be tackled?
- Tackle structural causes such as inequality and poverty.
2. Police/ Community relations
What are the 4 things regarding crime that all Realists are concerned about?
- Concerned with increased numbers of crime control
- Realist about the solutions of crime
- Realist about the causes of crime
- Question the view that poverty is linked with crime
What ‘political/ideological’ branch is Right Realism linked too?
The New Right
Give 2 examples of Right Realists in Politics?
Thatcher and Reagan
“Individuals are more likely to commit crime when constraints on behaviour are weakened”. Did Right or Left realism say this?
Right
When were the Right Realists Wilson and Hernstein writing?
1985
What did Wilson and Hernstein argue about positivist sociology?
It tended to look for causes of crime to be external from the individual. They argue being a criminal is a choice and that it is made up of those not properly socialised. They argued that immediate gratification has become paramount in society.
Why did Wilson and Hernstein claim some people were more likely to commit a crime?
Those not properly socialised. EG; New Right claims that lone parent families have this impact, especially when headed by women.
Who did Wilson and Hernstein claim committed the most crime?
Young men living in cities.
What family structure did Murray claim committed more crime?
Lone Parent- he claimed they created “lazy, immoral, drug addicts as young people”
Which of these two are considered right realists?
- Rihanna
- Charles Murray
- Jock Young
- Wilson and Hernstein
- Murray
4. Wilson and Hernstein
What characteristics did the Right Realist, Murray, find were common with underclass criminals?
Illegitimacy, violence and unemployment.
What does Right Realism do with theories?
It generally takes other theories and updates them to relate to what they’re studying.
How was Subcultural Theorist, Hirshi, used to describe crime in Right Realism?
Control Theory/ Bonds of Attachment.
-We all face temptation to commit crime, but we don’t all succumb to it because people have strong ties with things like community (Bonds of Attachment).
Which two ‘Right Realists’ claim criminals have poor self-control?
- Wilson and Hernstein
2. Hirshi
How do Wilson and Hernstein suggest that the cost of crime should be increased- give 2 examples?
- Making buildings harder to break into
2. Security guards
What does “the cost of crime” phrase mean?
It is the cost of getting caught.
How do other Right Realists (not Wilson and Hernstein) believe that the cost of crime should be increased- which measures (2)
- Extensive informal social controls from the police (etc) such as working with local communities to teach and prevent criminal damage.
- More prisons are longer sentences
How do Right realists believe that the Prisons should be changed?
They should be more uncomfortable. For example, prisons shouldn’t have XBOX or anything of that sort to make them ‘desirable’.
What is the Broken Windows Theory?
The idea that when buildings look damaged, they encourage damage to the area by making it seem run down. It also means that the house prices decrease, which leads to ‘undesirable’ people occupying the area.
When did Left Realism emerge?
1980s as a reaction to ‘law and order’ Conservatism and the vacuum in radical left thinking regarding crime control.
TRUE OR FALSE?
Left Realists are critical of theories which see longer crime sentences and more prisons as the solution to rising crime.
True
Which group of people do Left Realists oppose? A or B- and why?
A: Marxists, Neo-Marxists and Radical Feminists
B: Functionalists, Subcultural Theories and Liberal Feminists
A: Marxists, Neo-Marxists and Radical Feminists
This is because they see the ‘idealism’ as ignoring the real victims of crime. For example, if someone stole your phone, they would blame Capitalism for not enabling them to have the phone, rather than the person who stole your private property.
What did Wilson and Hernstein, and Murray claim was a big cause in the number of crimes?
Low intelligence
What evidence is there to dissect Wilson and Hernstein, and Murray’s idea that low intelligence was a cause of crime?
Lilly et al claimed that IQ differences account for 3% of crime.
When was Right Realist, Clarke writing?
1980
What did Right Realist, Clarke discover?
The Calculation of Likely Consequences
This is the ‘cost of crime’ or ‘rewards vs risk’
When was Felson writing?
2002
What did the Right Realist, Felton claim?
People commit crime when there is a motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of capable guardian.
What are ‘Incivilities’?
Graffiti, Litter, Noise.
This is part of the Broken Windows Theory
Who discovered the broken windows theory?
Wilson and Kelling
Who were Wilson and Kelling?
Right Realists.
Broken Windows theory.
What are Wilson and Kelling’s (Right Realists) idea of Zero Tolerance policy?
This is the zero tolerance if undesirable behaviour. For example- prostitution, public drunkenness, and begging. These areas should be policed heavily to make sure people feel safe in the area.
Why is Wilson and Kelling’s Zero Tolerance Policy possibly unhelpful?
It displaces the crime- just moves it, rather than exterminating it.
When was the Zero Tolerance policy introduced in New York?
2004
Can you give 3 strengths of the Right Realism approach of Zero Tolerance- created by Wilson and Kelling?
- Addresses the immediate causes of crime and provides policies
- Recognises the importance of community control
- It recognises the importance of ‘nipping in the bud’ of minor offences to ensure that it doesn’t impact the community