Postmodernist Theories

Question 1

postmodernist - social construction

Answer 1

crime is a social construct as it doesn’t reflect the diversity of postmodern society

Question 2

postmodernist - what does crime deny people?

Answer 2

freedom, self-identity & difference

this is how people with power want us to behave

Question 3

postmodernist - a transgressive approach

Answer 3

crime should be a concept of people using power to disrespect/harm those pursuing diverse lifestyles & identities

Question 4

postmodernist - transgressive approach; harms of reduction

Answer 4

power causes a victim to go through immediate loss

Question 5

postmodernist - transgressive approach; harms of repression

Answer 5

power restricts human development

actions not illegal or traditional

Question 6

postmodernist - causes of crimes

Answer 6

peoples identity formed by uncertainty & individual choice
as individuals focus on themselves, it reduces constraints of committing a crime
they have no sense of obligation for others
causes of crime undiscoverable as each crime define the identity of an individual chooses

Question 7

postmodernist - edgework & seductions of crime

Answer 7

crime & anti-social behaviour is a way working-class youth construct their identity as cannot afford to engage in non-criminal leisure based activities (skydiving, paragliding) to generate excitement/thrills of risk-taking
way working-class subcultures can express their masculinity 
diverse range of causes means causes lie in individuals rather than society

Question 8

postmodernist - criticisms

Answer 8

• doesn’t explain why most people don’t use their power to harm others
• fails to recognise that consumer society can lead to dissatisfaction of those who can’t afford to participate
• postmodernist is a re-dscovery of labelling theory and radical criminology as they both suggest crime is a social construct