Social Structure - Marxism

Question 1

What did Karl Marx say about society?

Answer 1

Society is criminogenic - meaning it is a natural development of a capitalist society, highlighting greed and personal gain

Question 2

What are the 3 reasons for why crime is caused?

Answer 2

Relative Deprivation
Absolute Poverty
Marginalisation/Alienation

Question 3

What is relative deprivation and how can it lead to crime?

Answer 3

Where you are deprived off something in comparison to others who aren’t, this can cause crimes such as theft or fraud

Question 4

What is absolute poverty and how can it lead to crime?

Answer 4

When individuals can’t afford/have the basic necessities, in order to survive these individuals are forced to commit crimes, such as theft, vagrancy (begging or sleeping on the streets)

Question 5

What is marginalisation/alienation and how can it lead to crime?

Answer 5

The feeling of isolation within society - lead to people becoming frustrated and committing aggressive/violent crimes

Question 6

What do Marxists believe about law enforcement?

Answer 6

Law enforcement is selective - targets working class individuals and is more lenient towards the upper class crimes

Question 7

What are the strengths of Marxism?

Answer 7

Highlights how inequality within society influenced crime - does not blame the WC
Highlights selective law enforcement - more lenient towards UC

Question 8

What are the criticisms of Marxism?

Answer 8

Ignores other inequality’s that may cause crime, for example gender, race
There are many prosecutions for white collar crime - may not be lenient towards the upper class