Crime and Deviance Flashcards
Why do functionalist argue crime is inevitable ?
- It is universal
- Not everyone is socialised correctly
- Different groups develop their own subcultures (which weaken the collective conscience of society)
Positive functions of crime (according to Durkheim)
a. Boundary maintenance: Reaffirms societies shared rules and reinforces social solidarity.
b. Adaption: Challenging existing norms and values gives rise to a new culture so society doesn’t stagnate (e.g. suffragette).
Criticisms of functionalism .
- Doesn’t explain how much deviance is needed
- Ignores the victims
- Crime doesn’t always promote solidarity e.g. women fearing attacks so stay in doors.
What are Hirschi 4 social bonds ?
(1) Attachment
(2) Commitment
(3) Involvement
(4) Belief
The family is crucial in developing theses bonds.
What does Merton’s strain theory argue ?
People engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals.
Means VS goals
What are Merton’s 5 types of adaption to strain ?
(Goals - Means) • Conformity (✔✔) • Innovation (✔✘) • Ritualism (✘✔) • Retreatism (✘✘) • Rebellions (✘✔, ✘✔)
Evaluation of Merton
+ Explains official statistics of crime
- Assumes there is a value consensus
- Ignores group deviance
- Only accounts for utilitarian crime
What is status frustration ?
Cohen argues it’s when w/c boys are left at the bottom of the status hierarchy due to the inability to succeed in a m/c dominated education system.
So, resorts to an alternative status hierarchy where status can be achieved.
What are Cloward and Ohlin : 3 subcultures
“Different neighbourhoods provide different illegitimate opportunities”
- Criminal (apprenticeship
- Conflict (criminal network)
- Retreatism (double failures)
Evaluation of Cloward and Ohlin
+ Explains different types of working class deviance
- Deterministic
Millers : Focal concerns
Argues w/c have their own values and cultures that are passed down.
Examples: Excitement, toughness and fate.
Matza : Drift theory
Young people will drift in and out of crime as are susceptible to peer pressure.
What are statistics of ethnicity in crime ?
- Black people are over represented - they are 7x more likely to be stopped and searched.
- 2.8% of the population but 11% of prison population.
- White people are underrepresented at every stage of the CJS.
What are alternative sources of statistics (victims surveys)
Identify the ethnicity of the person who committed the crime against them.
Shows crime is intra-ethnic (within rather than between ethnic group).
- Relies on memory
- Excludes crimes by and against organisation
What are alternative sources of statistics (self-report studies)
Individuals disclose their own dishonest and violent behaviour.
Similar rates of offending between blacks and whites.
Challenges stereotypes.
Why might ethnic minorities have different rates of crime ?
- Police racism
- Weaken cases against ethnic minorities (more likely to be dropped)
- Harsher sentences written by prohibition officers
How does left realism explain ethnic differences ?
Argue statistics represent real differences.
Due to;
• Relative deprivation
• Marginalisation
• Subcultures
How do Neo-marxism explain ethnic differences in statistics ?
They believe they are socially constructed resulting from discrimination.
Gilroy : Myth of black criminality
Gilroy argues black criminality is a myth created by racist stereotypes due to the police and CJS acting on these stereotypes.
Ethnic minorities crime can be seen as a form of political resistance.
+ Romanticises street crime
Hall et al : Policing the crisis
Hall argues the 1970s saw a moral panic over black muggers to distract problems caused by capitalism.
Gender patterns in crime .
- Most crimes are committed by males (4/5 offenders)
- Females commit more property offenders
- Males are more likely to repeat offenders
Do women commit more crime ?
a. Female crimes are less likely to be reported.
b. Women’s crime are less likely to be prosecuted or more likely to be let off likely.
Describe the chivalry thesis .
Men are socialised to act in a chivalrous way towards women. So, the CJS are thus more lenient with women.
Is there bias against women ?
Feminists argue the CJS is biased against women as females are treated more harshly when they deviate from gender norms.
This creates a double standard against promiscuous.
Describe the functionalist sex role theory .
Argues due to socialisation; males are more likely to be aggressive explaining high involvement in violent crimes.
Girls are socialised to be caring and nurturing these characteristics discourage involvement in crime.
What is patriarchal control ?
i. Control at home - This reduces the opportunity to offend.
ii Control in public - Due to the threat of male violence.
iii. Control at work - Women’s subordinate position reduces their opportunity to engage in crime, e.g. glass ceiling.
Describe the liberation thesis .
Alder argues women are becoming liberated from the patriarchy so commit typically male offences.
Why do men commit crime ?
Messerschmidt :
Argues masculinity is a social construct but some men have subordinated masculinity.
White m/c - subordinate masculinity for education.
White w/c - masculinity is constructed around sexist attitude.
What is globalisation impact on masculinity .
Globalisation has led to a loss of manual jobs leading to men having to demonstrate their masculinity through violence.
Illustrated by Winlow’s bouncers study.
