Social Class Explanations

Question 1

Strain theory (Merton)

Answer 1

WC more likely to feel strain as they are unable to achieve through legitimate means

Therefore, they innovate as a response to blocked opportunities to achieve the goal

Question 2

Subcultural theory (Cohen)

Answer 2

WC boys culturally deprived, they face status frustration as education is a MC institution

Blocked opportunities>alternative opportunities for status>alternative subcultures formed

so commit crime to gain status

Question 3

Marxism (Chambliss)

Answer 3

Capitalism is criminogenic (crime is inevitable)

WC steal/commit crime out of economic necessity/poverty as consumerist society makes WC want advertised products

RC commit crime as capitalism encourages greed e.g. Google Tax Avoidance

Question 4

Neo-Marxism

Answer 4

Capitalism based on inequality and the WC have made a CHOICE to commit crime and fight back against the inequality of capitalism (Robin Hood approach)

Question 5

Labelling Theory (Becker/Cicourel/Pilliavin and Briar)

Answer 5

WC fit typifications held by police leading to differential enforcement:

MC can negotiate their justice and so crime stats aren’t valid

WC overrepresented as they are targeted more due to these typifications> labelling can also lead to SFP

Question 6

Right Realism

Answer 6

Underclass commit crime due to inadequate socialisation, the single parent family is unable to socialise children properly and children lack a discipline figure

Dependency culture and welfare state (perverse incentive)

Question 7

Left Realism (Lea and Young)

Answer 7

WC commit crime but due to relative deprivation and marginalisation. WC feel powerless and unemployment and job insecurity amplify this feeling

In order to get the goods advertised by consumer society WC turn to crime, police need to work w/ WC community to tackle the problems of WC crime