Crime and Deviance Flashcards
What is DEVIANCE?
Deviance is where a member of society breaks a societal norm - deviates from what is seen as ‘normal.’
What may deviant acts result in?
Sanctions (informal or formal)
FUNCTIONALIST Theory of Social Order
Functionalists are very interested in understanding how society keeps social order or social control.
Norms are a very important part of this and help to keep society orderly and calm.
Without social norms, society would end up in chaos.
Functionalists believe that norms are based on consensus.
What is CRIME?
Act of breaking the law.
What is SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION?
Created by society - a crime is created via social construction.
Laws about crime will vary from place to place and time to time. Each society that decides whether something is a crime.
FUNCTIONALIST Theory of Breaking Norms
Functionalists argue that people who break social norms might in fact play a positive role in society.
Breaking certain norms could introduce a new set of social norms which help society.
MARXIST View on Ruling-Class Power
Marxists argue that the law reflects the wishes of the ruling class (bourgeoisie)
DEVIANCY AMPLIFICATION; what is seen as deviant favours the ruling class and laws reflect this ideology.
Theory of INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL
Most daily life is managed through informal social control.
INFORMAL SANCTIONS; control members of society that break rules (norms). These may be both pragmatic or negative. Primary agents of socialisation and secondary institutions utilise informal sanctions
A peer group may informally sanction a member through the use of gossip.
Theory of FORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL
When informal social control fails, the next level of social control may be needed. This is known as formal social control.
How is anti-social behaviour controlled?
Agencies of informal social control help to keep anti-social behaviour under control.
Schools repeat this message of not committing anti social behaviour through the hidden curriculum; promotes expectations of hard work and honesty.
FUNCTIONALIST View on Gender + Social Control
According to Parsons, informal social control benefits all of society by keeping deviance at a low level.
FEMINIST View on Gender + Social Control
Feminists disagree that informal social control benefits society - informal social control benefits men as it keeps women under control.
Women feel pressure to avoid going out and to avoid breaking social norms.
They are expected to fit in within the expectations of femininity.
MARXISTS View on RELIGION + Social Control
Marxists view religion as an institution that controls the w/c.
Workers are encouraged by religion to work hard and be good citizens. In return, they will receive rewards when they die and go to heaven.
FUNCTIONALIST View on the Police
Functionalists support police involvement but also want society to recognise the other roles that society ignore that the police have.
Functionalists argue that police play a key role in maintaining social order to enable society not falling into chaos.
Functionalists argue that the police are an agency of socialisation.
The police work within schools and communities, acting as an agency of informal social control.
What is COMMUNITY POLICING?
Police maintaining public relations - direct and personal links with the community.
What is ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICING?
Direct style of formal social control.
Police are strict on petty crimes - people will be deterred to commit major crimes if minor crimes are severely punishable too.
MARXIST View on the Police
Marxists see the police as one sided and biased against the w/c.
They enforce a set of rules designed by the bourgeoisie to protect them against the w/c.
FUNCTIONALIST View on the Judiciary
Functionalists believe the courts play a positive role in society; courts keep people under control and protect social order.
Courts protect society from dangerous criminals (prison).
Functionalists also say that the courts remind people of the boundaries of behaviour that shouldn’t be crossed.
The MEDIA is a cooperating institution alongside the judiciary as they communicate court information and statistics to the public.
What is ANOMIE?
Anomie can happen in society, meaning norms are broken or there are no norms. It simply means chaos.
Anomie was developed by Durkheim and also used by Robert K. Merton.
Too much crime will result in ANOMIE.
Theory of STRAIN THEORY of crime
A type of functionalism, developed by Robert K. Merton says everybody in society has the same goals (American Dream).
When people feel struggle to achieve this, they feel strain.
CONFORMITY; Keep working towards the American Dream.
INNOVATION; Try and get success through criminal means (e.g, stealing)
RITUALISM; Give up on trying to be successful and just ‘go through the motions of life.’
RETREATISM; Retreat and disappear from society - disappear into a life of drugs/drink.
REBELLION; Reject the American Dream and have different goals, e.g, destroy the American Dream through terrorism.
What does STRAIN THEORY ignore?
-Middle-class crime
-Ignores the law and the role of the police ( Marxist View )
CHAMBLISS’S Theory of Crime
Crime is committed by both bourgeoisie and proletariat - yet the bourgeoisie are able to get away with more; law enforcement look the other way.
Police focus on w/c crime and can be corrupt; the m/c can also get away with it more.
Theory of the HYPODERMIC SYRINGE MODEL
People in society are subjected to imagery throughout the media, like it’s injected into our minds.
It’s suggested that the media can influence how people behave, act and views that they hold.
This has left people weary of the media and some of what is presented within the media.
Theory of the MEDIA & VIOLENCE
Violence in TV shows, movies and games may encourage people to act in a violent manner.
In the 1990’s, there were parental complaints that the Power Rangers were making children increasingly violent.
Children have access to adult material at a younger age in modern society.
FUNCTIONALIST View of The Media
Functionalists argue that the media can play a positive role in crime.
The media is important in reminding people of right from wrong.
Some crimes shock us into remembering what is appropriate within society.
Punishments are also reported - this could deter others.
INTERACTIONIST View on MORAL PANICS
CASE STUDY
Cohen found that the disturbances between mods and rockers were sensationalised by the media to make the subcultures seem more attractive; people joined in the hope of causing more disruption.
This group of people were considered to be ‘FOLK DEVILS’.
How does GENDER SOCIALISATION affect crime?
Boys are socialised to be dominant, active, aggressive and to take risks.
Girls are socialised to be obedient, gentle and caring.
The MEDIA provide all-action role models for boys.
HEIDENSOHN’S View on Social Control & Gender
Heidensohn argues that women live in a male-dominated world and conform more to society’s expectations; women behave in a certain manner and are controlled by societal standards to fit into society - this is known as ‘Female Conformity.’
Heidensohn argues that girls are given less freedom by their parents; they’re controlled by their husbands in their adult lives.
How do FEMINISTS argue against Heidensohn’s theory?
Feminists argue further, stating that the extra social control placed on women is a part of the patriarchal world.
Women can be sanctioned by gossip when acting deviantly, may be labelled as a ‘bitch’ or a ‘slapper’.
Why are ETHNIC MINORITIES more likely to be in prison?
POVERTY AND A LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS
Ethnic minorities typically come from a poorer background and so tend to have poorer qualifications - they may turn to crime as a result of status frustration.
RACISM
Paul Gilroy suggests the police primarily focus on catching black people and that they are institutionally racist.
SCAPEGOATING
Black people are scapegoated to draw attention away from other bigger problems in society (Marxists argue this is capitalistic problems). (STUART HALL)
DIFFERENT NORMS AND VALUES
Ethnic minorities may have norms + values that go against the typical norms of mainstream society - this may lead to criminal or deviant behaviour being committed due to cultural differences.
Why are ethnic minorities more likely to be victims of crime?
POVERTY
There is more crime recorded in deprived areas. Certain ethnic minorities are more likely to live in deprived areas.
RACISM
Ethnic minorities may be victims of race related crime.
THEORY of DEMONISATION of Women
-Women are treated worse by the judiciary and the police in comparison to men; the institutions of social control enforce the demonisation of women.
MARXISTS THEORY of OFFICIAL STATISTICS
-Marxists believe that the police are less severe on recording corporate crime or white collar cime compared to street crime or working class crime.
FEMINIST THEORY of OFFICIAL STATISTICS
-Women may not report a rape or sexual assault as they worry they wont be taken seriously/afraid of being humiliated in court.
-This may also happen with men who suffer domestic abuse ( too embarrassed to tell people )
What is the HIDDEN FIGURE OF CRIME?
The real, much larger, figure of crime is hidden from official statistics - can be linked to INVISIBLE CRIME 9 crime that is not reported or recorded )
What is the MARXIST THEORY of SELECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT?
Biased against the working class - agents of social control and in favour of the ruling class, treating the working class harshly.
POLICE and OFFICIAL STATISTICS
Zero-tolerance policing will increase the numbers of small offences that are prosecuted - however this will then reduce the number of serious crimes.
POLICING ATTITUDES may also affect conviction rates of different groups.
FUNCTIONALIST VIEW on RELIGION
See religion as a positive force that binds society together like glue - religion encourages people to be more aware of and follow social norms and to respect rules and laws for the benefit of everyone.
MARXIST VIEW on JUDICIARY
Marxists criticise the courts for favouring the rich and powerful - they believe the courts are unjust.
Marxists claim that the courts protect the interests of the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor and vulnerable.
NEW RIGHT VIEW on CHANGES IN CRIME
Blames the collapse of the family, weak law enforcement and a failing education system.
The New Right tends to focus on STREET CRIME and YOUTH CRIME which is usually committed by members of the working class.
MARXIST VIEW on the RESPONSIBILITY OF CAPITALISM
Poor people are encouraged to steal through capitalism to gain the things they cannot obtain - wealthier people are more likely to be more secure than poor people (neighbourhoods, house security etc)
NEW RIGHT VIEW on the CULTURE OF POVERTY
Encourages a lifestyle of petty crime - everyday lifestyle. (poor community)
Charles Murray said there was an UNDERCLASS which contribute to crime an delinquency.
DURKHEIM’S VIEW on CRIME AND SOCIETY
Durkheim says that people share collective sentiments that can be affected when laws are broken - collective sentiments are the ideas that we all share about what is wrong and what is right in society.
DURKHEIM’S VIEW on the NECESSITY OF CRIME
Durkheim argues that crime is inevitable and necessary for society to work properly ; crime reminds us of our collective sentiments and makes society feel stronger and more cohesive.
COHEN’S VIEW on CRIMINAL SUBCULTURES
Cohen says that subcultures exist due to cultural and material deprivation - w/c people lack the resources to obtain success.
This links to STATUS FRUSTRATION.
MARXIST VIEW on MORAL PANICS
Marxists believe that the upper class benefit from moral panics as these distract people from the real problems residing within capitalism.
The ruling class defect attention away from themselves by blaming the w/c for problems in the world.
What is CHIVALRY THESIS?
Pollak developed the Chivalry Thesis ; Pollak argues that employers often feel sorry for women who had broken the laws or rules of society - it suggests that men’s perspectives were influenced by the stereotypes of women.
In simple terms, it means that WOMEN are LESS LIKELY to be convicted of a crime than men are.
