Crime and Deviance Flashcards
Robert K Merton (1938) functionalist perspective on causes of crime.
-Structural theory - he didn’t focus on genes and personalities when it came to factors on why people commited crime.
-People’s aspiration and goals are determined by values of their culture
-Some individuals accept the goal of achieving economic success, but lack opportunities through legitimate means.
- Some experience strain between goals they’ve been socialized to strive for and means of achieving them. A condition of anomie develops (normlessness). This makes norms that regulate people’s behavior break down and they turn to crime.
What is strain theory? (Merton)
Idea people may turn to crime when they can’t achieve goals through accepted means. People wanting to achieve but feeling blocked from getting it (e.g due to poverty.)
Becker (1997) Interactionalist, causes of crime
-No such thing as deviant act.
- Behavior is only defined as deviant when someone with power defines it as such.
-Labelling theory (if someone is labeled as a deviant or criminal, they will begin to act as such)
Heidensohn (1985,1996) feminist - work on female conformity in patriarchal society.
-Women have lower crime rates, Heidensohn uses control theory to explain this
-Control theory emphasis social bonds between people. Attaching people to family and friends, social bonds can prevent them from turning to crime, has separate spheres for women and men. Public life spheres are seen as appropriate for men, and home life for women. This helps to explain roles of men and women in social control.
- Marriage ensures women conform, less freedom as kids than men, publicly they’re controlled by male violence and in work men hold power over them.
- They would be more shamed in society if they commited a crime.
Define control theory (Heidensohn)
Social bonds stop people from turning to crime.
- e.g if someone has good relationship with friends, family, etc they’re more likely to follow rules and not turn to crime.
Carlen (1988) feminist - perspective of women, crime and poverty.
-She carried out detailed, unstructured taped interviews with 39 female offenders.
-The women were 15-46 and most were working class.
-They had been convicted of assault, burglary, shoplifting, fraud and prostitution.
-She found women criminal activities were linked to role as caregivers and pressured they face when trying to provide for their family.
- Many women turn to crime due to poverty, lack of opportunities and experiences of victimization.
Cohen’s work on delinquent subcultures.
He explored concept of subcultures as a response to societal pressures.
-Argues lower class youth often experience status frustration due to inability to reach success through conventional means.
-Leads to them rejecting middle class values and turning to subcultures / own criteria for success and status. Often based on toughness and delinquency.
What is the ‘dark figure’?
Crimes and incidents that go unreported in statistics and data.
Criticisms of Merton (1938) on causes of crime. - functionalist
- Focuses mainly on the American dream, neglecting other causes of crime like social inequality and mental health issues.
- Fails to explain why some individuals facing strain do not engage in criminal behavior, highlighting the role of personal choice.
- Does not adequately address crimes committed by higher social classes, as it primarily emphasizes working-class crime.
- Lacks consideration of the influence of community and environmental factors on criminal behavior.
Criticisms of Becker (1997) - interactionalist perspective
- Becker’s labeling theory suggests that being labeled as a criminal leads to further criminal behavior, but critics argue it oversimplifies the complex nature of crime.
- It doesn’t adequately explain why some individuals labeled as deviant do not engage in criminal activities.
- Critics also point out that it may downplay the role of structural factors, such as poverty and inequality, in causing crime.
- The theory can be seen as deterministic, implying that once someone is labeled, they have little choice but to conform to that label.
Criticisms of Heidensohn (1985,1996) feminist perspective on female conformity in patriarchal societies.
- Heidensohn’s perspective may overemphasize the role of patriarchy, potentially neglecting other factors that influence female behavior, such as race and class.
- Critics argue that her focus on conformity overlooks the agency of women and their ability to resist societal norms.
- Some suggest that her view may not account for the diversity of women’s experiences and how they can vary significantly across different cultures and contexts.
- The theory can be seen as too deterministic, implying that women are primarily shaped by societal pressures rather than their own choices and motivations.
Criticisms of Carlen (1988) feminist perspective on women, crime and poverty.
- Carlen’s perspective has been criticized for focusing heavily on the link between poverty and crime without adequately addressing other factors, such as race and social class differences among women.
- Some argue that her emphasis on the role of social bonds and the lack of opportunities may overlook individual agency and the choices women make regarding criminal behavior.
- Critics also point out that her research may not fully capture the experiences of all women, particularly those from diverse backgrounds or those who do not conform to traditional gender roles.
- Additionally, some suggest that her theory could be seen as deterministic, implying that poverty inevitably leads to crime without considering other potential pathways or outcomes for women.
Critisms of Cohen on delinquent subcultures.
- Cohen’s theory has been criticized for oversimplifying the motivations behind delinquent subcultures, suggesting that they are solely a reaction to the failure to achieve middle-class status.
- Critics argue that it does not adequately account for the diversity of subcultures and the various reasons individuals may engage in delinquency beyond class frustration.
- Some suggest that his focus on male delinquency overlooks the experiences and motivations of female delinquents, leading to a gender bias in his analysis.
- Additionally, Cohen’s theory may not fully address the influence of broader societal factors, such as economic conditions and cultural changes, on the formation of delinquent subcultures.
What are the sociologists called that are mentioned?
Merton - functionalist
Becker - interactionalist
Heidensohn - feminist
Carlen - feminist
Cohen
