Social Distribution Of Crime: Class

Question 1

What is the Sutherland crime rate associated with?

Answer 1

High incidences of crime in loner socio-economic classes

This refers to the statistical correlation between crime rates and socio-economic status.

Question 2

What does Merton’s strain theory suggest about the lower class?

Answer 2

The lower class is associated with poverty

Merton’s theory explains how societal structures can lead to deviance when individuals cannot achieve culturally approved goals through legitimate means.

Question 3

What percentage of the prison population comes from the poorest 20% of the population?

Answer 3

14%

This statistic highlights the over-representation of impoverished individuals in the criminal justice system.

Question 4

According to statistics, how much more likely are poor people to be burglarized?

Answer 4

2 times as likely

This statistic illustrates the vulnerability of poorer households to crime.

Question 5

What does the labelling theory emphasize?

Answer 5

Self-fulfilling prophecies

The theory posits that labels assigned to individuals can influence their behavior and identity.

Question 6

Who is associated with disproportionality in crime focus?

Answer 6

Chambliss

Chambliss argued that societal focus on certain actions can lead to misrepresentation of crime statistics.

Question 7

What does Marxism attribute crime to?

Answer 7

Class inequality and capitalism

Marxist theory posits that economic structures create conditions for crime, particularly among the working class.

Question 8

According to Gordon, what is crime a rational response to?

Answer 8

Capitalism

This perspective suggests that individuals may commit crimes as a means to survive within a capitalist society.

Question 9

What concept is associated with Murray in the context of the New Right?

Answer 9

Underclass

Murray’s theory discusses how the underclass is perceived to lack instrumental values and is influenced by crime.

Question 10

What does left realism suggest about the causes of crime?

Answer 10

Society causes crime

This approach emphasizes the social context that leads individuals to commit crimes, including factors like deprivation and marginalization.

Question 11

What are two key concepts discussed in relation to crime and society?

Answer 11

Subcultures and relative deprivation

These concepts explore how social groups and feelings of deprivation contribute to criminal behavior.

Question 12

Fill in the blank: According to labelling theory, labels can lead to _______.

Answer 12

self-fulfilling prophecies

The expectation created by labels can influence individuals to act in ways that confirm those labels.