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Criminology Diploma > Sociological approach to criminality > Flashcards

Sociological approach to criminality Flashcards

1
Q

What are functionalist theories?

A

Ideas crime has a function

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2
Q

What did Durkheim state?

A

Crime is needed to maintain social harmony

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3
Q

What are the four functions of crime according to Durkheim?

A
  • Boundary maintenance
  • Social change
  • Safety valve
  • Warning light
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4
Q

What is boundary maintenance?

A

Idea crime produces a reaction that unites society against the wrongdoer. This reinforces boundary between right and wrong and reaffirms shared norms.

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5
Q

What is social change?

A

the idea for society to progress, individuals with new ideas must challenge existing norms and values e.g BLM crimes (during riots)

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6
Q

What is safety valve?

A

The idea that low-level crimes allow the perpetrator to ‘let off steam and so they will not commit worse crimes

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7
Q

What is an example of safety valve?

A

Davis argued prostitution acts as a release for men’s sexual frustrations without them turning to rape.

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8
Q

What is a warning light?

A

Idea crime indicates an institution is not functioning properly.

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9
Q

What is an example of boundary maintenance?

A

Revenge porn

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10
Q

What did Merton believe?

A

Believed the root cause of crime is the unequal structure in society and that everyone in society has the same goal (monetary success) however not everyone has an equal chance of achieving this success because society is unequal.

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11
Q

What is a strain?

A

Someone who does not have the same opportunity

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12
Q

What are the four deviant means to achieve monetary success?

A
  • Innovation
  • Ritualism
  • Retreatism
  • Rebellion
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13
Q

What is innovation?

A

Finding illegal ways of achieving goals (utilitarian crimes)

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14
Q

What is retreatism?

A

When an individual gives up on societies goal but carries on the means to get money

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15
Q

What is ritualism?

A

Giving up on societies goals but not the means which is deviant not criminal

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16
Q

What is rebellion?

A

An individual who rejects social goals and means by creating new societal goals by creating deviant subcultures, for example, hippies.

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17
Q

Why is practical application a strength of Durkheim?

A

Was the first to recognize crime has positive functions and so provided a new perspective. therefore he has contributed to criminology

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18
Q

Why is alternatives a weakness of Durkheim?

A

Only looks at role of society and so ignores other factors such as biology so theory has an incomplete explanation

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19
Q

Why is implications a weakness of Durkheim?

A

Realists point out crime is a real problem for victims and society and this theory underplays crime as a problem so it is unethical to suggest it is positive. use theory with caution.

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20
Q

Why is ‘does not consider individual differences’ a weakness of Durkheim?

A

Does not consider individual differences. Does not explain why some people commit crimes and some don’t if it is positive. The explanation is incomplete.

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21
Q

Why is supporting evidence a strength for Merton?

A

Statistics show more working class commit crimes and property crime is the most common crime. The working class is more likely to experience strain and property crimes are for monetary success. the theory is reliable.

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22
Q

why is alternative a weakness for Merton?

A

Ony looks at role of society rather than accounting for biology so theory has an incomplete explanation

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23
Q

Why is methodology a weakness for Merton?

A

Crime stats only reflect the recorded crime. Differential enforcement of law means police are harsher against working class so stats are invalid and do not support the theory.

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24
Q

Why are ethical implications a weakness for Merton?

A

Labels working class as criminals which can lead to stereotyping and discrimination. use theory with caution.

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25
Why is 'can't explain all crimes' a weakness for Merton?
Cant explain non-utilitarian crime or white-collar crimes as they have no strain so the theory is incomplete.
26
What is interactionalist theories?
Believes criminality is a social construct (only criminal if labeled) Suggests social interactions create the meaning of criminals
27
What are the three interactionalist theory steps?
- Differential enforcement of law - Labelling and self-fulfilling prophecy - Deviance amplification sprial
28
What is the differential enforcement of law?
Social control agencies such as the police label criminals and enforce the law harsher against these groups. Black people are over three times more likely to be arrested than white people
29
What is labeling and self-fulfilling prophecy?
Labeling someone as a criminal encourages them to become a criminal. The societal reaction to a primary deviance could lead to secondary deviance.
30
What is primary and secondary deviance?
Primary- One small deviant act so insignificant to the public Secondary- As a result of labeling, the offender may be rejected from society and so joins a deviant sub culture.
31
What is a deviance amplification spiral?
Attempt to 'crack down' leads to labeling and leads to more crime. E.G when police attention turned to week smoking hippies, they were labeled as drug addicts which led to police raids and arrests. Hippies retreated into a deviant subculture with week as their central activity.
32
What is the order of interactionalist theory, starting from primary deviance?
Primary deviance, labeled, differential enforcement of the law, secondary deviance.
33
Why is supporting evidence a strength of interactionalist theories?
Differential enforcement of the law. Black people 3x more likely to be arrested than white people which proves law is enforced more on certain groups so theory is reliable
34
why is practical application a strength of interactionalist theories?
Differential enforcement of the law. can be used to improve policing and make it fairer by training programs to remove bias. the different enforcement of the law shows police stats are inaccurate and must be used with caution
35
Why can interactionalist theories not explain all crimes?
cant explain crimes such as white collar as they are never labeled as criminal so incomplete explanation
36
Why is interactionist theories not a full explanation?
can not explain primary deviance which may involve biology
37
What is Markisms overall idea?
Argues there are two groups in society and the unequal structure of society shapes behavior
38
What word describes capitalism as stated by Markists?
Criminogenic
39
What are the three ideas by Markists proving capitalism is criminogenic?
- Capitalism causes crime - Making and enforcing the law - Ideological functions
40
Why does capitalism cause crime? (Markism)
- Causes WC to become poor so they have to commit utilitarian crimes to survive. - Capitalists promote consumer goods WC can't afford so they have to commit utilitarian crimes to obtain - Capitalism causes greed in capitalists. High competition and motivation for profit promote greed which leads to corporate crime -
41
Why does making and enforcing the law cause crime? (Markism)
Markists believe law-making and enforcement are serving the interests of the capitalist class. William Chambliss argues the law is made to protect the rich and law is enforced selectively (harsher on the WC)
42
What is ideological functions? (Markism)
- Crime and law hide the inequality of capitalists - Selective enforcement makes it look as if the crime is the fault of the WC, taking attention away from the capitalist class - Laws that appear to benefit the WC benefit capitalists whilst making them look caring
43
Why is supporting evidence a strength of Markism?
Selective enforcement. Stats show WC commit most crime and corporate crime is rarely prosecuted. Law is enforced harsher against WC so higher crime stats.
44
Why is 'explaining all types of crime' a strength of Marxism
Explains why WC would commit utilitarian and non-utilitarian crimes. Also, explains white collar crimes so complete explanation
45
Why is an alternative explanation a weakness of Marxism?
Only focuses on society so ignores biology. explanation is incoomplete
46
Why is 'too much focus on class' a weakness of Marxism?
Ignores the relationship between crime and other inequalities such as ethnicity and gender. Black WC are three times more likely to be arrested than the white working class. needs to consider other factors.
47
What do right realists see as a problem?
Street crime
48
What do right realists believe need to be done to reduce street crime?
'crack down'
49
What are the three causes of crime according to right realists?
- Biological differences - Inadequate socialization - Rational choice theory
50
Explain why biological differences cause crime (right realism)
Some people are predisposed to crime due to biology Personality traits such as aggression are innate (within since birth) and make a person more likely to commit crime
51
Why does inadequate socialisation cause crime according to right realists?
They believe nuclear families are needed for effective socialization Nuclear families are being undermined by welfare benefits for single parents. Murray states this promotes people to be single parents.
52
What is the underclass (right realism)
Created by welfare dependency and fall to socialise their children properly (absent father means no discipline for boys)
53
What is the rational choice theory? (right realism)
Assumes we are rational beings with free will. Deciding to commit a crime is a choice based on a rational calculation of the consequences. Crime rate is high because cost is low
54
Why is supporting evidence strength for right realism?
Rettig gave students a scenario of an opportunity to commit a crime and found the degree of punishment determined if they committed it. Proves they weigh up risk and reward.
55
What multiple factors do right realists explain?
It acknowledges the role of biology and individualistic theories while researching the role of society. More likely to be a full explanation
56
Why is methodology a weakness for right realism?
Rettig's experiment is hypothetical so might not reflect real behavior. Students may lie due to social desirability bias. Also, students are immature which will reflect in their answers. Can't trust methodology to support theory
57
Why is ethical implications a weakness for right realism?
Bias against the underclass will stereotype single parents. leads to labeling and discrimination must use with caution
58
Why can't right realists explain all crime?
Explains street crime but not white collar
59
What do left realists believe is the problem?
Inequality
60
How do left realists reduce crime?
To make society fairer
61
What are the three causes of crime according to left realism?
- Relative deprivation - Subcultures - Marginalisation
62
What is relative deprivation?
How 'bad off' you feel in comparison to someone else. It is increasing as media promotes goods and society is becoming unequal due to the economy.
63
Why does relative deprivation cause crime?
Crime is committed to reducing relative deprivation. This perceived unfairness leads to some resorting to crime to obtain what they feel they deserve.
64
Why do subcultures cause crime?
Left realists believe subcultures function to solve the problem of relative deprivation. Deviant subcultures share the same materialistic goals but commit crimes to achieve them as their opportunities are blocked.
65
What are the three types of subcultures?
- Criminal subcultures - Conflict subcultures - Retreatist subcultures
66
What is marginalisation?
When groups lack organizations to represent their interests and lack clearly defined goals.
67
Why does marginalization lead to crime?
Leads to powerlessness and frustration which is expressed through crime
68
Why is supporting evidence a strength of left realism?
Crime stats Merron found the working class was more likely to commit crimes. WC experience more relative deprivation and marginalisation. the theory is reliable.
69
Why is practical application a strength of left realism?
Draws attention to inequality and the importance of poverty. Can provide advocate organisations to speak on behalf of marginalised groups can reduce non-utilitarian crimes.
70
Why can't left realism explain all crime?
Can explain all WC crimes but can't explain white-collar crimes as criminals do not fit in the categories because upper-class experience less relative deprivation. incomplete explanation
71
Why can't left realism explain individual differences?
Not everyone who has experienced relative deprivation or marginalization commits crimes. Must be other factors such as genetic.
72
What are all of the sociological theories?
- Functionalist (Durkheim and Merton) - Interactionalism - Marxism - Right realism - Left realism
73
What are the three policies to reduce crime from Merton's theory?
- Policies to tackle poverty - Equal opportunities in school - Education in prison
74
Explain policies to tackle poverty (Merton)
Better welfare benefits, wages, and job security so better opportunities for monetary success.
75
Explain equal opportunities in school (Merton)
Treating WC pupils equally reduces failure rate, making them less frustrated
76
Explain education in prison (Merton)
1/2 of UK prisons have a reading age of 11 or below. better education means more chances of getting a job for monetary success.
77
What is the evidence for Mertons theories and policies?
Reduces strain so reduces crime Countries with more inequality E.G USA have more crime. Societies that spend more on welfare, jail fewer people
78
What are the three policies under the labeling theory?
- Decriminalisation - Diversion policies - Reintegrative shaming
79
explain decriminalization (labelling theory)
Decriminalising minor offences leads to less young people labelled as criminals so less secondary deviance
80
Explain diversion policies (labelling theory)
Working with the justice system to avoid labeling aims to keep offenders out of the justice system.
81
Explain reintegrative shaming (labeling theory)
labeling the act as opposed to the actor. encourage others to be more accepting. less labelling means less secondary deviance.
82
What is the evidence for labeling theories and policy?
Shows they can help deal successfully with minor crimes and young offenders. Avoiding labeling prevents a 'deviant career'
83
What are the three policies surrounding right realism?
- Situational crime prevention - Environmental crime prevention - Penal populism
84
Explain situational crime prevention (right realism)
Based on rational choice theory if cost is increased, decreased reward, crime will be less likely
85
Explain environmental crime prevention(right realism)
Broken window theory Environmental improvement theory (tackle all signs of disorder) and a zero-tolerance policing strategy
86
Explain penal populism (right realism)
Rational choice theory harsher punishments should deter criminals
87
What is the evidence for right realism and policies?
- SCP- criminals will just move to easier targets so won't stop crime, just move it - ZTP- Found to be effective in NYC. - PP- No evidence it puts people off crime.
88
What are the four policies for left realism?
- Policies to reduce inequality - Democratic policing - Multiagency approach - New labour policies
89
Explain policies to reduce inequality (left realism)
providing good jobs and houses to all which will reduce relative deprivation and tackles inequality
90
Explain democratic policing (left realism)
Aims to win back pubic support via fair policing
91
Explain the multiagency approach (left realism)
Where multiple agencies work together to achieve the same aim E.G no knives better lives
92
Explain new labour policies (left realism)
Tough on causes of crime E.G 'communities that care' programs in deprived areas.
93
What is the evidence on the effectiveness of Left realism policies?
PCSOs (community support officers) were introduced to build better relationships. Many forces stopped prioritizing low-level crimes Evidence that multi-agency campaigns are successful.

Criminology Diploma (16 decks)

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