postmodernist views of crime Flashcards
do post modernists think that crime is a social construct?
yes
why do postmodernists argue that using a legal definition of crime is no longer useful?
it reflects feeligs of those in authority.
what is henry and milovanic’s study called?
transgressive approach
what is the transgressive approach?
current definitions of crime created by narrow sector of society. notion of social harm is more useful to analyse if action is criminal.
what are henry and milovanic’s two forms of harm, explain both?
harm of repression - when people cannot develop themselves bc of restricted opportunities so gov is guilty of harm as person is attacked for being different.
harm of reduction - one individual experiences loss/injury so violence/theft are harms of reduction.
includes actions which are legal or not taken very seriously.
who came up with liquid surveillance?
bauman
what is liquid surveillance?
idea that technology constantly surveys us and targets content/ads. eg cctv.
may be a problem eg if being gay is illegal and your phone hears you say it.
who came up with edgework theory?
lyng.
what is edgework?
people enjoy emotional intensity of risk and excitement so young people may participate in crime.
who may edgework appeal to?
young w/c men who lack means of achieving respect and status legitimately.
what study can edgework be linked to?
miller’s focal concerns - excitement.
what does Haan’s study talk about?
normally, little is done to compensate victim.
redistributive justice may be meeting with victim to explain consequences or offender explain why.
what are some principles of redistributive justice?
harm repaired
participation is voluntary
fair and unbiased to both
safe and respected
how do postmodernists explain crime?
due to rising individualism, each crime is a one-off event expressing whatever identity an individual chooses, motivated by infinite number of individual causes.
AO3 of postmodernists explanations of crime?
doesn’t explain why most people don’t harm others or why some groups engage in acts of harm.
recognises other dimensions to causes of crime.
offers explanations for non-utalitarian crime.
postmodernist methods of controlling crime?
growing emphasis on private crime prevention. eg private security firms controling private ‘public’ places eg security guards in shops.
policing policies become localised and community based. eg sharia courts in muslim communities.
surveillance controls everyone, not just criminals.
what does foucault talk about?
society is like panopticon (prison where prisoners are watched 24/7).
power is centralised and surveillance penetrating more into private aspects of life eg cctv.
accompanied by growth of ‘gated communities’.
data collected on individuals eg boots card.
AO3 of postmodernist control of crime?
explains developments such as cctv and consumer tracking.
what is self surveillance?
people monitoring their behaviour due to fear of judgement, especially new mums.
arguments that surveillance is a good form of social control?
reduces fear of crime.
helps fight against terrorism as links can be made.
provides evidence.
arguments that surveillance is a bad form of social control?
ruling class can shape w/c behaviour.
no evidence that it reduces most crimes.
lack of privacy.
who talks about surveillance societies?
lyon
what are surveillance societies?
modern society has reached a point where there is no privacy but so routine that we don’t notice it.
who talks about disciplinary societies?
foucault
