Recent Sociological Approaches to CrimePart 1

Question 1

Who created the General theory of crime

Answer 1

Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990).

Question 2

The General Theory of Crime

Answer 2

Rational and predictable

Question 3

The General Theory of Crime on criminal offenders

Answer 3

-Individuals always liable to crime – this is constant throughout life

-Low self-control, impulsive, self-centred, active, physical, adventuresome

-Level of self-control depends on quality of parenting received in child’s formative years.

Question 4

Criticism on The General Theory of Crime

Answer 4

-mixed results when put to empirical testing. (theory VS real life test)

-Tautological – circular reasoning (repetitive)

-not that successful in predicting serious forms of violence

Question 5

The Life Course Perspective

Answer 5

-Problem behaviours are age-related, not constant

-Crime increases during adolescence and early adulthood, then declines.

-Life course data has demonstrated that men who desist from crime were rooted to strong social ties with family and community.

-Focus on turning points: employment, marriage, close-call

Question 6

Victimization (Macmillan, 2000):

Answer 6

-being victimized by crime affects adult income

-timing of victimization is important

Question 7

Criticisms of The Life Course Perspective

Answer 7

More life course research needed re: females

Question 8

Tanner and colleagues (1999)

Answer 8

Effects of delinquency on employment status in adulthood were more pronounced for males than for females.

Question 9

who came up with General Strain Theory

Answer 9

Agnew

Question 10

Agnew

Answer 10

-Agreed with Merton that strain can incite criminal behaviour

-Suggested there are several types of strain that can lead to criminal behaviour:
1. inability to achieve positively valued goals
2. removal or the threat to remove positively valued stimuli
3. actual or anticipated negative or harmful stimuli

Question 11

Criticism of General Strain Theory

Answer 11

How do we measure strain?

Question 12

What is the basic idea of the Agnew theory?

Answer 12

The basic idea for this theory is that these stressful experiences are anger-producing and that anger and frustration may lead to crime and aggression.

Question 13

Males are said to be _____in social control and to socialize in large, hierarchical peer groups. Females, on the other hand, form _____________________ that help to ____. Because of this, males are more likely to respond to strain with ______

Answer 13

Males are said to be lower in social control and to socialize in large, hierarchical peer groups. Females, on the other hand, form close social bonds in small groups that help to alleviate strain. Because of this, males are more likely to respond to strain with crime