sociological theories

Question 1

functionalism

Answer 1

everything in society has its function even crime

Question 2

how does society work according to functionalism?

Answer 2

society works best when everyone follows the social norms

Question 3

socialisation in functionalism

Answer 3

norms need to reinforced
you need to be socialised to avoid crime
the less socialised you are the more likely to be anti-social
learn through family
law reinforces values

Question 4

collective conscience in functionalism

Answer 4

a collective conscience is shared in society but criminals do not share the same values

Question 5

what happens when proper socialisation does not occur

Answer 5

an anomie will occur (moral confusion)

Question 6

crime is inevitable what does that mean?

Answer 6

too much crime is bad
no crime means society won’t develop

Question 7

how does crime affect society?

Answer 7

adaption and change
boundary maintenance
‘safety valve’

Question 8

what does functionalism not give?

Answer 8

does not explain why crime happens

Question 9

strain theory

Answer 9

based on the American dream

Question 10

what are the 5 strategies developed when looking at strain theory?

Answer 10

conformity
innovation
ritualism
retreatism
rebellion

Question 11

conformity

Answer 11

comply to the rules and use legitimate means to achieve goals

Question 12

innovation

Answer 12

develop illegitimate means which leads to deviance or crime

Question 13

ritualism

Answer 13

going by rules but not expecting to succeed

Question 14

retreatism

Answer 14

giving up on goals

Question 15

rebellion

Answer 15

giving up on mainstream goals and creating their own

Question 16

American dream and strain theory

Answer 16

everyone wants to succeed and do better creating competition and strain

Question 17

what is Marxism

Answer 17

looks at the society and social class division

Question 18

bourgeoisie

Answer 18

the ruling class

Question 19

what are the 2 class divisions

Answer 19

bourgeoisie
proletariat

Question 20

proletariat

Answer 20

the working class

Question 21

what are the 3 explanations of crime for Marxism

Answer 21

capitalism is criminogenic
selective law making and enforcement
ideological function of the law/state

Question 22

capitalism is criminogenic

Answer 22

inequality and poverty causes vandalism as well as creating envy and greed

Question 23

selective law making and enforcement

Answer 23

law reflects the ruling classes the higher classes are under-policed and the lower classes are over-policed

Question 24

ideological function of the law/state

Answer 24

ideological status appears and defined by ruling class means social control so benefits themselves

Question 25

labelling theory

Answer 25

looks at why actions are deviant not why groups commit crimes

Question 26

what are the 3 main consequences of labelling

Answer 26

deviancy amplification (crime increases by public reaction) self-fulfilling prophecy (expecting someone being criminal can push them to do it) deviant careers and 'master status'

Question 27

deviant careers and 'master status' steps

Answer 27

1) public labelling can lead to social rejection 2) may encourage further deviance 3) accepting label - deviant career may emerge 4) the label can become a master status and may ignore others not in a deviant group

Question 28

right realism

Answer 28

supports capitalist views and believe crime is due to people and aim to make crime harder to commit

Question 29

what are right realisms explanation of crime

Answer 29

biological factors socialisation rational choice

Question 30

solutions for crime according to right realism

Answer 30

situational crime prevention environmental crime prevention target hardening zero tolerance

Question 31

biological factors (right realism)

Answer 31

blame the individual and blame crime as a mix of biological and social factors

Question 32

socialisation (right realism)

Answer 32

blames the lower classes for not socialising their children properly

Question 33

rational choice (right realism)

Answer 33

people think rationally about why they commit crimes so criminals foresee little risk of being caught and weak punishments

Question 34

left realism

Answer 34

blames society to be divided by capitalism

Question 35

what are the 3 explanations of crime? (left realism)

Answer 35

relative deprivation marginalism subculture

Question 36

relative deprivation (left realism)

Answer 36

crime is caused by poverty itself due to the media people can see just how poor they are and can lead to resentment

Question 37

marginalism (left realism)

Answer 37

certain groups find themselves on the edge of society and may feel powerless

Question 38

subculture (left realism)

Answer 38

groups in society possess their own values so they may form a deviant subculture

Question 39

2 main solutions (left realism)

Answer 39

intervention community based approaches