Neo-Marxist/Radical Criminologist Explanations

Question 1

What two theories make up Neo-Marxism?

Answer 1

Marxism
Interactionism

Question 2

What Neo-Marxist sociologists discuss crime?

Answer 2

CCCS (Hall and Jefferson, Cohen, Hebdige)
Chambliss
Taylor, Walton, and Young
Hall

Question 3

What are the two Neo-Marxist studies?

Answer 3

Hall- ‘Policing the Crisis’
Chambliss- ‘Saints and the Roughnecks’

Question 4

What did the CCCS find?

Answer 4

• Style can be seen as an expression of resistance.
• Jefferson- Teddy Boys
• Cohen- Skinheads
• Hebdige- Punks, mods

Question 5

Who discussed the ‘full social theory of deviance’?

Answer 5

Taylor, Walton, and Young

Question 6

What are the three things the ‘full social theory of deviance’ must consider?

Answer 6

1. Circumstance (around choice)
2. Meaning of act (to that person)
3. Effects caused by society’s reaction (labelling, deviancy amplification)

Question 7

What do Neo-Marxists say about crime?

Answer 7

Resistance can be the result of anger/frustration which may be channelled into violence and crime

Question 8

Who talked about ethnic minorities?

Answer 8

Gilroy

Question 9

What does Gilroy say?

Answer 9

• Ethnic minorities turn to crime to defend in society that treats them badly.
• Resistance can be the result of anger/frustration which may be channelled into violence and crime.

Question 10

What was ‘The Saints and Roughnecks’ study?

Answer 10

• Chambliss looked at labelling and public perception of boys’ deviance and how social class impacts this.
• ‘The saints’ were 8 white upper-class boys who were constantly involved in deviance (drinking and vandalism), but none were arrested in the 2-year study.
• They were able to use their status and ‘good reputation’ to get out of classes, cheat, and gain higher grades than they deserved.
• ’The Roughnecks’ were 6 boys from lower class backgrounds who were constantly in trouble with the police, though the rate of deviance was the same.

Question 11

What conclusive points did Chambliss make about ‘The Saints and Roughnecks’ study?

Answer 11

‘Labelling means poor tough kids will be noticed’
‘Other kids will be invisible’

Question 12

What was ‘Policing the Crisis’?

Answer 12

• Hall looked at interactionist ideas of reactions to deviance through class and economic conditions.
• In 1970, there was an economic crisis with high unemployment, with strikes, protests, and racial tensions, linking to class.
• ‘Mugging’ was first used by British media which reported high statistics on this though they could not prove them.
• The term became quickly associated with Black males.

Question 13

How can Neo-Marxism be criticised?

Answer 13

• Doesn’t explain how the label starts. Criminal behaviour starts before the label.
• Feminists say it only focuses on men.
• Can have middle class subcultures. (hippies)
• Postmodernists say class is less relevant today.
• Not all labelled turn to crime.
• Ignore how most people conform to capitalism.