Exam 2 Flashcards
How are the demonic and the classical similar?
They are epistemological, and neither are scientific theories
Who was the thinker behind the pathological approach?
Lombroso
What did Lombroso think about human nature and punishment?
That punishment should be tailored to individuals as everyone was different
Which approach was Lombroso critical of?
The classical approach
What did Lombroso believe about deviancy?
He wanted to tie deviancy with biology
What are atavists?
Evolutionary throwbacks (traits from before, that still appear now)
What did Lombroso think about criminals? (As atavists)
Criminals were born criminals because of genetics (Genes can skip generations)
What did Lombroso think about human skulls? How did the size correlate with deviancy?
An average person was more intelligent, having larger skulls compared to a criminal’s
How did he measure skull size?
By stuffing pellets into skulls
How did Lombroso fudge data?
By attempting to wedge more pellets into certain skulls to make his hypothesis accurate
What is a stigmata?
Individual physical characteristics someone shows (Balding, head-shape, ear shape)
Which head-shape was associated with deviancy?
Peanut-heads
According to Lombroso, how can you tell if someone was criminal?
If they were fugly
What is our current justice system based on?
Lombroso’s work and classical theory
What are some issues with pathology?
Empirically flawed, measurements were sloppy, statistical techniques were unrefined, stigmata were social
What was Dugdale and the Jukes study about?
Crime in relation to blood relatives
What was the conclusion of the Dugdale and Jukes experiment?
That genetics had an impact on crime and deviance
Why did Adams criticize the Dugdale experiment?
Found similar rates in the respectable Edwards family
What was Goddard’s study on?
A man having an affair with a barmaid and marrying a proper girl (Both having children)
What were some issues with Goddard’s study?
Disregard the barmaid’s disabilities, admitting to having difficulty obtaining unbiased records
What did Freud believe about the mind?
That it was always in conflict
How did Freud separate the mind?
Into Id, Ego, and Superego
What is believed to have replaced witchcraft?
Drugcraft
What does Pfohl argue about the pathological approach?
That it is wrought with methodological errors, and political repression
What do Turner and Edgley suggest?
Instead of witchcraft, we are quick to turn to medicine and drugs for the answers to our troubles
What was the first sociological approach?
Functionalism
Who is more likely to develop schizophrenia?
People with lower socio-economic status, single people
What did Durkheim believe about deviance?
Believed that deviance is good, because it was functional
What was Durkheim’s definition of crime?
As something offensive (as it threatens the division of labor within society)
What did Durkheim believe about the nature of punishment?
Punishment = vengeance, we do it to satisfy our lust for retribution
What is social mother nature?
Durkheim’s version of Smith’s invisible hand
What are the functions of crime?
Creates boundaries, enhances group solidarity, maintains innovative functions, reduces tension
What is false teleology?
Seeing the outcome as the cause
What is tautology?
Circular reasoning
What are some flaws with functionalism?
False teleology, tautology, no theories of crime and deviance (can explain all factors), non-disprovable, benefical
What was the premise of Erikson’s “Wayward Puritans study?”
Punishments and normal boundaries were clarified, definitions of deviance were based on values within society
What did Davis believe about prostitution?
Prostitution exists as it is functional
How does prostitution exist?
For physiological and sociological reasons
What is social dominace?
Despite how ugly a famous person is, he’ll still have people fawning over him because of his wealth
What is an example of false teleology?
Cooperation is the cause of earthquakes
True or false? Functionalism maintains that even dysfunctional characteristics are somehow dysfunctional. (Famine, assault etc.)
True
Who benefits from sanction deviance and deviants?
For society at large
What is anoestrus?
Unresponsiveness to sexual stimuli
What are the three aspects of prostitution?
The causes, the rate, and the individual factors for seeking a prostitute
What are the functions of prostitution? (According to Davis)
1) Men need sexual adventure
2) Less attractive men cannot get off
3) Prostitutions keep the family intact
What does anomie mean?
Without purpose or normlessness – but can also refer to individuals or societies
What are the two meaning of anomie according to Durkheim?
Anomic division of labor, and anomic state of individuals
What is mechanical solidarity?
Primitive societies who are bonded due to their similarities
Why is deviance seen more harshly in smaller towns?
Communities are smaller, and more inter-connected, people will share the same sentiments
What are organic solidarity?
Modern society, unification through diversity
What causes a (natural) transition from mechanical to organic solidarity?
Anomie
As labour of division grows, what kind of social problems arise?
Human greed
When does anomie occur? (In the context of social institutions?)
When social institutions are unable to morally constrain human desire
How does the pace affect social change?
The quicker it is, the more disruption is caused
What is Marx’s primary causal order?
Class conflict leads to anomie
What are the four types of suicide?
Anomic, egoistic, altruistic, fatalistic
What rates affect who is more likely to commit suicide?
Gender, religion, relationship status
What is altruistic?
Sacrificing yourself for your social group
What is egoistic?
A person who is marginalized might grow depressed
What is fatalistic?
Someone who has no choices in life (Slaves)
What is anomic suicide?
In the absence of normative order, rates increase
What is Merton’s strain theory?
Society puts pressure on people to achieve socially accepted goals when they lack the means to
Why did Agnew develop general strain theory?
To explain why males are more involved in crime and deviancy
What are the three types of strain?
1) Inability to achieve positive goals
2) Removal or threat of removing positive stimuli
3) To present a threat of negatively valued stimuli
How are females more likely to respond to strain?
By self-destructing, more likely to blame themselves and worry about how their anger might affect others
How do males respond to strain?
More likely to lash out and commit crimes, quick to blame others, and less likely to care for the well-being of others
How does Agnew’s strain theory differ from Merton?
Agnew focuses more on emotions about strain, while Merton focuses on social pressure about strain
What are the three points which came from Erikson’s wayward puritans?
1) Crime and punishments were specified
2) Definitions of crimes changed over time
3) Volume of deviants remained constant
Why does poverty protect against suicide?
The less one has, the less he his tempted to extend his needs
