Sociological theories Flashcards
Functionalist theory - D
DURKHEIM - society is a stable structure based on shared norms, values and beliefs
Boundary maintenance - society is reminded of boundaries with right and wrong
Social change - new ideas challenge the old ideas for society to progress, seen as deviance at first
Safety value - maintain units in society, eg prostitution helps release mens sexual frustration
Warning light - deviance indicates something isn’t working, eg truancy rates in education
Functionalist theory - M
MERTON - society is unequal causing a block in success so they find it illegitimately, working class have it blocked by poverty causes crime and deviance
Innovation - accept society’s goals but find illegal ways of doing it, iltiltarian crimes
Ritualism - gives up striving for success
Retreatism - drop outs who reject the goal, eg drugs
Rebellion - reject goals and replace with new goals with aim to change society, eg hippies
Labelling theory summary
no act is criminal/ deviant, only is from the rules we create eg, cannabis
social control agencies (police) label certain groups as criminals resulting in differential enforcement as its enforced more against one group than the other
Marxism
unequal structure of capitalist society shapes peoples behaviour
1 - Bourgeoises, the ruling class owns production (banks and businesses)
2 - Proletariat - labour is exploited by the capitalists
the bourgeoisie control the working lass pushing them to crime due to frustration
leads to proletariats committing economic crimes
leads to bourgeoisies commit white collar crimes to gain financial advantage
LAW is enforced selectively towards the working class as the bourgeoisie make the laws
Right realism summary
conservative - main concern is to reduce crime through punishment as its increasing
Left realism summary
capitalists - to reduce crime we need a more equal society as the main victims are disadvantaged groups and the high levels of crime are in the working class
Left realism factors
Marginalised groups can feel powerless if they have no one representing their interests eg, unemployed youths
Relative deprivation - Lea&Young
1 - the media - urging to aspire to material items
2 - society - more unequal due to benefit cuts, so people commit crimes to obtain what they feel is theirs
Criminal subcultures - shared societies can prevent crime
Right realism factors
biological differences - Wilson&Herrnstein, personality traits associated with criminality are innate (stopped)
Inadequate socialisation - nucleur families are best for socialisation, if the father is absent then the child will find a delinquent model
rational choice theory - deciding to commit a crime is based on consequences (risks,costs,rewards) - crime rate is high as perceived risk is low
Marxism evidence
Pillavin&Brair - young males more likely to be arrested
SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY - Lemert, by labelling certain crimes as deviant, society encourages them to do so
Marxism causes
1 - Primary deviance - acts that are often unlabelled as they don’t view themselves as criminals
2 - Secondary deviance - results from labelling where people treat the offender based on the label which overrides over statuses (mother and father)
offender is rejected by society causing them to commit crime - deviance amplication spiral
