Sociological Theories Flashcards
What are the two structural theories
Functionilsim and Marxism
FUNCTIONALISM about (Durkheim)
Emile Durkheim
Sociable normals dictate behavior
ORGANIC ANOLGY each social contruct is an organ and plays a part in society
During PRIMARY SOCILAISATION is not done properly (bad parenting) crime is INEVITABLE and this is called INADEQUETE SOCILASTION
An ANOMIE is a person that feels they don’t fit into society
4 functiosn of crime acording to Durkheim
BOUNDARY MAINTENCE society unites against wrongdoer (murder)
SOCIAL CHANGE a crime that allows for social change (shooting)
WARNING LIGHT tells society something is wrong with it (truancy)
SAFETY VALVE allows people to release frustration (prostitution, Davis husbands)
DURKHEIMS FUNCTIONILSM evaluation
S Durkheim was the first to relise crime has POSTIVE functions
W not functional for its victims
MERTONS STRAIN theory functionilsm
About
Crime happens because of unequal structures
Everybody wants to achieve MONEY SUCCESS however some people experience BLOCKED OPPORTUNITIES
Mertons functionilsm 5 strains
CONFORMIST legitimate
INNOVATION accept goals and find illegal pathways
RITUALISM give yp money success
RETREATISM reject goals and means
REBELLIAN subcultures for Aa they replace the goal
MERTON functionilsm EVALUATION
S he shows that deviant behavior and good behavior come from the same goals
W he ignores the crimes of wealthy people
COHENS substitute theory of functionilsm
He suggest there is UTILITARIAN CRIMES and no NON UTILTARIAN crimes
Delinquent subcultures have deviant values
COHEN evaluation
S CLOWARD AND OHLIN ss how how diffrent neighbourhoods give rise to diffrent illigitmate opportunity’s
W ALSO over estimate working class crime ignoring the wealthy crimes
MARXIST ABOUT
Unequal CAPITILIST society
BOURGEOISIE the RULING CLASS who OWN MEANS OF PRODUCTION
PROLETARIAN the WORKING CLASS who are EXPLOITED FOR LABOUR
CAPTILISM CAUSES CRIME
LAW MAKING/ ENFORMENT BAISED
LAW PREFORMS IDEOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
Marxism evaluation
S shows how enequality causes criminality
S law making / enforment bised corprete crime is rarely prosecuted
W focuses on class rather than other inequalities
W not all captilist contries have high crimes rates japans homicide rates are 1/5 of the USAs
INTERACTIONILSM (labelling theory) about
Crimes and criminals is a social construct
No such thing as criminals just people who have broke a law
LAMERT suggest labelling causes crime
PRIMARY DEVIANCE
SECONDARY DEVIANCE
SELF FOR-FILLING PROPHECY
Evaluation of interactionilsm
S shifts focus to how police create crime based on stereotypes (working class over represented in stats)
S attempts to control deviance causes deviance
W wrongly applies that’s somebody who is labelled is destined for crime (determinism)
W gives offenders a victim status
LEFT REALISM about (quote too)
They belive captilism causes crime
RELATIVE DEPRIVATION people feel that inequality causes crime
“We live in a culture hooked on BMW Nike and gucci”
Subcultures also cause crime
MARGILISATION SEPERATED FROM SOCIETY
RIGHT REALISM about
Focused on tradition
Criminals are by choice
Biological differences make deviance
Inadequate socialisation (nuclear fam)
Rational choice
Left realist evaluation
S importance of poverty
S importance of reality of street crime especially for victims
W fails to explain white collar crime
W over predicts working class crime
RIGHT realism
S flood page et al supports the view of declining family
S FELDMAN people make rational decisions
W ignores increasig gap between rich and poor
W focuses to much on young males
