Postmodernism

Question 1

What to postmodernists stress about society?

Answer 1

S = rapidly changing - marked by chaos, uncertainty + risk
S = fragmented - diversity go groups with diff. lifestyles/ interests
= growing individualism, expressed via consumer culture (individual consume values, IDs which they wish to adopt)

Question 2

What to postmodernists argue about crime?

Answer 2

= social construction
Based on narrow legal definition ( = outdated) + reflects metanarrative of law
No longer reflects the diversity of postmodern S

Question 3

Give 7 characteristics of a postmodern S

Answer 3

1. Globalisation
2. Fluid + complex IDs
3. People = individualistic
4. Secularisation
5. S = characterised by diversity
6. S = risky
7. Metanarratives have lost influence (religion, science)

Question 4

Give 5 characteristics of a modern S

Answer 4

1. Religion has strong influence
2. Family values = powerful
3. Segregated + stable gender roles
4. Science = seen as the answer to S’s problems
5. ID = fixed + based on social structures (class, gender, ethnicity)

Question 5

How do Henry + Milovanovic argue that we should study c+d?

Answer 5

So its not just about breaking laws
BUT also about people using power to show disrespect for other by causing them harm
- should study SOCAIL HARMS instead

Question 6

What are the 2 forms of social harm ID by Henry + Milovanovic?
Describe them both

Answer 6

1. Harms of reduction: when power = used to cause V to experience some immediate loss/ injury
2. Harms of repression: when power = used to restrict future human development (harms threatening human dignity + respect)
   e. g. crimes motivated by prejudice/ hate of group or individual

Question 7

How does Henry + Milovanovic’s concept of social harms effect the way that c+d is studied?

Answer 7

It widens the ‘criminal net’ by including actions not traditionally taken seriously/ perceived as the current crime ‘problem’

e.g. Alcohol, smoking, catfishing, legal highs

Question 8

Explain how postmodernism can be used to criticise other theories which claim to provide an explanation for c+d, in terms of social structure + core values

Answer 8

Postmodernists claim S = now characterised by fragmentation of this social structure
Metanarratives (e.g social class) = replaced by uncertainty + individual choice
Growing focus on individualism often results in little respect for others
Individualism of ID in post-modern S means that SOCIAL causes of crime = UNDISCOVERABLE
Each crime = one-off event of individual expressing whatever ID they choose + = motivated by inflate number of individual cases (e.g. Lyng’s edgework)

Question 9

How can Henry + Milovanovic’s idea of social harm be used to criticise OCS?

Answer 9

OCS only show illegal acts
Ignores social harms which can be legal
e.g. catfishing

Question 10

Explain how postmodernist can be used to criticise other named theories
e.g. Merton’s strain theory

Answer 10

All other theories OVERGENERALISE

e.g. Merton’s strain theory = too deterministic
Ignores that people have free will
Reasons for committing crime = individualistic