crime + deviance: class, power + crime Flashcards
marxists + neo marxists
what are the 3 main elements of Marxist view of crime?
-criminogenic capitalism
-the state + law making
-ideological functions of crime
what is meant by criminogenic?
crime is inevitable in capitalism as capitalism is criminogenic - by its very nature it causes crime
how does capitalism cause crime?
-poverty may mean crime is the only way for w/c to survive
-crime may be the only way to obtain consumer goods encouraged by capitalist advertising
-alienation + lack of control may lead to frustration + aggression
what does Gordon argue?
crime is a rational response to the capitalist system so it is found in all social classes although official stats make it appear to be a w/c phenomenon
who do Marxists believe law making + law enforcement benefit?
the interests of the capitalist/ ruling class
what is selective enforcement?
while powerless groups such as w/c and minority ethnic groups are criminalised, the police + courts tend to ignore crimes of the powerful
how do the law, crime and criminals perform an ideological function for capitalism?
laws are passed that appear to benefit w/c such as health safety when they often benefit ruling class such as keeping workers fit for work
how do laws create false consciousness amongst workers?
gives capitalism a ‘caring’ face
what is an example of these laws not being rigorously enforced?
after a new law against corporate homicide was passed, in 8 years there was only 1 successful prosecution
what is the effect of the state enforcing the law selectively?
makes crime appear to be a working class phenomenon
this divides w/c by encouraging workers to blame criminals for their problems, not capitalism
how do the media contribute?
by portraying criminals as disturb interviews so concealing the fact that it is the nature of capitalism that makes people criminals
why is the Marxist approach criticised?
-ignores relationship between crime + non-class inequalities (gender + ethnicity)
-too deterministic + over predicts amount of w/c crime
-not all capitalist societies have high crime rates e.g. Japan
how do Neo marxist views agree with marxists?
Taylor et al agrees that
-capitalist society is based on exploitation + class conflict
-state makes + enforces laws in the interest of capitalist class
-capitalism should be replaced by a classless society
how does Taylor et al criticise marxism?
for being too deterministic
instead what view does Taylor et al take?
voluntaristic, view that we have free will
how do Neo marxists view crime?
as a meaningful action and a conscious choice from an actor
what is a ‘fully social theory of deviance’ that Taylor et al try to create?
a comprehensive understanding of crime + deviance that would help to change society for the better
what are the 2 main sources of the ‘fully social theory of devaince’?
-marxist ideas about the unequal distribution of wealth
-ideas from interactionism + labelling theory about effects of deviant labels + societal reactions
in their view, what are 6 aspects needed in a complete theory of deviance?
1) wider origins of the deviant act
2)immediate origins of the deviant act
3)the act itself
4)immediate origins of social reaction
5)wider origins of social reaction
6)the effects of labelling
why is Taylor et al criticised by feminists?
its ‘gender blind’
focuses excessively on male criminality and the expense of female criminality
how do left realists criticise Taylor et al?
-critical criminology romanticises w/c criminals as being people who fight capitalism
-they ignore the effects of crime on w/c victims
how does Burke criticise critical criminology?
it is too general to explain crime + too idealistic to be useful in tackling crime
