Neo-Marxism Flashcards
What are the two factors for why crime/deviance happens?
1) where did the crime originate?
2) how has society reacted to this crime?
What are the three factors for where did the crime originate?
1) the wider origins of the deviant act
2) the immediate origins of the deviant act
3) the act itself
1) Why does crime happen in capitalist societies and give context?
So crime happens not because people are bad or evil it will be due to the inequalities and poverty. In the 1970s it was a period of considerable social class in Britain - decline in key industries.
2) Why does the individual commit crime and give context?
Humans are rational beings. So a poor person may choose crimes that relate to poverty and a rich person may choose crimes that increase their power.
Inner city riots happened, conflict in Ireland
3) Was the act a form of rebellion against capitalism and give context?
The mugging according to the police was more likely to be young afro Caribbean males
What are the three factors for how has society reacted to this crime?
4) The immediate origins of societal reaction
5) The wider origins of the societal reaction
6) The effects of labelling on the deviants future actions
4) What are the reactions of those around the deviant and give context?
They try to understand the reasons for the different forms of social response.
Media outrage so moral panic. The reaction by the police was negative and stereotypical
5) Who defines actions as deviant and labels others and give context?
Capitalist society will have acts and some are treated more harshly than others.
Scrapegoat - young afro Caribbean males were blamed
6) How the deviant responds to social reactions and give context?
They may react in a positive or a negative way - self fulfilling or negating prophecy
A sense of injustice people will lose faith in the justice system
