Sociological Evaluations Flashcards
Advantage of marxism
Shows poverty and inequality causing lower class crime
Advantage of Marxism
Shows how law making/enforcement can be biased against proletariat
Disadvantage of Marxism
Ignores non-class related issues as a cause of crime (gender, ethnicity, age)
Disadvantage of Marxism
Not every capitalist society has high crime rates
Advantage of Strain Theory
Shows how shared goals can lead to deviant/normal behaviours
Advantage of strain theory
Shows that WC turn to crime as they are less likely to achieve goals legitemately
Disadvantage of Strain Theory
Ignores crimes with a non material motive
Disadvantage of Strain Theory
Ignores deviance of subcultures/groups - sees crime as an individual response.
Advantages of Functionalism
First theorist to notice positive function for crime
Disadvantages of Functionalism
Doesn’t specify how much deviance society needs
Disadvantage of Functionalism
Crime does not have a positive function for victims
Advantage of labelling theory
Highlights how media and typography create stereotypes
Advantage for labelling theory
Explains why certain groups appear to have higher crime rates (deviancy amplification, policing bias)
Labelling theory
Deterministic - not everyone becomes a self fulfilling prophecy
Disadvantage of labelling theory
Doesn’t explain primary deviance, or why some acts are labelled above others
