Sociological Theories Of Criminality Flashcards
Explain what sociology is.
The study of human society and human social behaviour.
Human behaviour is not random, but patterned.
Explain the four main social groups
C.A.G.E
Class - Lower/working class.
(Life is more difficult, blocked opportunities, cant achieve things as easily)
Age - Teens & young adults
(Peer pressure, to fit in, more likely to be rebellious, pushing boundaries, boredom)
Gender - Male
(Biological factors such as testosterone, more likely to commit violent crimes)
Ethnicity - Black and ethnic minority groups
(Targeted by the media and society. Life is more difficult as an ethnic minority)
What are the different perspectives on society?
Structural theories - Structuralist Approach
Interpretivist Theories - Interpretivist Approach
Explain the Structuralist approach
Structuralist Approach -Macro theory (top-down approach to society)
Focuses on the society as a whole and how it is structured.
Also focuses on how this shapes and determines our behaviour.
Explain what the Consensus approach is within the Structuralist Approach
Consensus Approach - Functionalism (What holds society together and how this may or may not control crime.
Explain what the conflict approach is within the structuralist approach
Conflict Approach - Marxism (What things cause conflict and division and how this may lead to crime.
Explain the sociological theory of crime
Psychological and biological reasons for crime is rejected.
Explaining crime through social factors.
Focuses on the process of socialisation and learned behaviour
Opportunities and deprivation. People who are more deprived may have less opportunities and can lead to criminal activities.
Explain how inadequate socialisation can lead to crime
(Inadequate Socialisation - someone’s up brining)
Negative influence from family background.
Parents that don’t take responsibility for teaching their children right from wrong. - Children are more likely to take part in criminal behaviour.
Other factors: Lack of discipline, decline in religious values, film and mass media glamorising violence.
Explain how a lack of opportunities in life can lead to crime [MERTON - STRAIN THEORY]
Opportunities are unequal!!
Crime can depend on the legal and illegal opportunities offered in the area.
In areas of high unemployment and deprivation, people may commit crimes for a status and some success.
People use this way instead of the traditional way through educational achievement or job status.
A lack of money can also create blocked opportunities.
Explain how relative deprivation can lead to crime.
People that are relatively deprived can compare themselves to others.
Standards of living can be higher and they may feel as though criminality may be the only way to improve their living standard.
It may also encourage them to commit crimes to gain material wealth that they would otherwise struggle to achieve.
Explain functionalism
The focus on the structure and organisation of a society and how it is organised.
Functionalism can be described using the analogy of the human body.
Society needs a social order, if these needs arent met, it can lead to chaos.
Each part of society is functional for the stability of the whole society.
Explain the structures of society
Rules (Organise our behaviour)
Values (provide guidelines on behaviour)
Norms and values (constant throughout each
Institution - families, education, law.)
Institutions (make up the social structure of society)
[EMILE DURKHEIM]
Explain Durkheim’s idea.
'’Crime is normal and an integral (essential) part of all healthy societies’’
Crime is inevitable .
Society contains many subcultures and lifestyles which will lead to shared behaviours becoming less clear.
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain the two sides of crime and deviance for the functioning society.
Positive - Helps society change and remain dynamic.
Negative - saw too much crime, leading to disruption.
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
What are the two important functions of crime
- Boundary Maintenance & Reinforcing Value Consensus and Social Solidarity
- Adaptation and change
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain Boundary Maintenance & Reinforcing Value Consensus and Social Solidarity
A shared outrage by a society in response to a horrific crime that has been committed.
When people commit a crime they are punished.
Behaviour is a result of positive and negative sanctions.
E.g: ‘Abduction’ of Shannon Matthews - community came together to search and find Shannon.
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain Adaptation and change
New ideas to challenge the existing norms and values by individuals of a society.
Society changes starts with an act of defiance.
If new ideas are supressed, they wont be taken in consideration and the society wont be changed.
E.g: Assisted dying (How people take action for change: riots & protests.)
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Give three examples of where the breaking of laws & crime led to a change in law.
Homosexuality
Abortion
Assisted dying (not yet has been confirmed)
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Give two examples of laws & crimes that have never changed despite it being clear the value consensus of that crime has changed.
Prostitution -Difficult to change due to sex trafficking
Vagrancy
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
What are two other positive functions of crime?
Acts as a safety valve
(Kingsley Davis)
&
Acts as a warning device
(Albert Cohen)
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain acts as a safety device
Deviance is a way of ‘letting off steam’ in a relatively harmless way
E.g: Extreme Sports - may be illegal but allow people to ‘let off steam’
Video Games - allows a level of violence in a safe environment
Getting drunk - causes them to be disorderly in community
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain acts as a warning device
Deviance sends a message that society’s social order is breaking down.
This prompts governments/ councils to take action.
!!Too much crime means a society is breaking down!!
Can lead to policy changes for a re-balance in society
E.g: Policies about sexual harassment - specifically in the work place
&
Policies about cannabis
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
What is the other negative function of crime?
Anomie (Normlessness)
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain what Anomie (Normlessness) means
Normlessness - A society with no norms
When a society begins to forget the value consensus and take on their own selfish interests.
Too much crime can lead to Anomie.
Periods of stress can make the collective conscience weaken.
During these times people will become more selfish rather than adhering to collective values.
Reinforcing collective conscience can help the situation be bought back under control.
E.g: Covid-19
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain 3 strengths
+ Recognises that crime has a positive side in society
+ Without deviance societies would never move forwards (Stagnant)
+ Durkheim argues that a certain amount of crime/deviance is reality for society but does not indicate how much is the higher amount
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Doesn’t recognise how much deviance/crime is healthy as it can be difficult to judge
- Creates fear for individuals: crime and deviance strengthens social solidarity but overlooks how it can isolate people
- Doesn’t look at what the causes of crime might be (NO REASONS WHY). just that it’s functional, healthy, universal, inevitable and relative.
[MERTON] - STRAIN THEORY Functionalism
(Background)
Explain what functionalists believe
Society is based on mutual agreement (value consensus) and unity (social solidarity).
Everyone has the possibility to succeed.
In a class-based society, people are able to achieve more than others.
Functionalism
Keyword: What does ‘value consensus’ mean?
Shared beliefs, norms and values by a society OR a socially cohesive society.
[MERTON] - STRAIN THEORY Functionalism
Explain the strain theory
People engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means
Frustration can lead to people to resort to criminal means of getting what they want or to lash out in anger or to find comfort for their failure (in drugs)
[MERTON] - STRAIN THEORY Functionalism
Explain 3 strengths
+ Shows how normal and deviant behaviour can arise out of the same goals - conformers and innovators both pursue ‘money success’ but by deviant means
+ Explains utilitarian crime
+ Official statistics show that working class crime rates are higher and Merton highlights the blocked opportunities for the working class.
[MERTON] - STRAIN THEORY Functionalism
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Doesn’t explain non-utilitarian crime (crimes involving an individual)
- assumes there is a value consensus and that everyone strives for money success
- Marxists argues that Merton ignores crimes of the ruling class (white collar & corporate crime)
[MERTON] - STRAIN THEORY Functionalism
Explain the five forms of adaptation to the strain to Anomie
{{An individual’s position in the social structure affects the way they respond to the strain between goals and means.}}
- Conformity [NON-CRIMINALS] - Accepts the culturally approved goals and strive to achieve them legitimately. (Middle Class)
- Innovation [CRIMINALS] - Accept the goals of society but find illegal ways to achieve. (Lower class)
- Ritualism [ACCEPT THE REALITY & MAKE THE BEST OF IT] - Give up striving for success and continue along in a dead-end job. (Lower-middle class)
- Retreatism [THEY GIVE UP] - Drop-outs who reject both goals and legitimate means. (Vagrants, drug addicts, etc…)
- Rebellion [CHALLENGERS] - Reject existing goals and often replace them with new ones with the aim of changing society. (Political activists, religious fundamentalists, etc…)
[MERTON] - STRAIN THEORY Functionalism
Keyword: What does Blocked Opportunities mean?
Not everyone has an equal chance of succeeding.
People don’t achieve what they want because of blocked opportunities.
[MERTON] - STRAIN THEORY Functionalism
Explain why opportunities may be blocked
Poverty, education, discrimination in employment.
[MERTON] - STRAIN THEORY Functionalism
Explain how strain occurs
When there’s a gap between goals and how to achieve those goals (Blocked opportunities)
[COHEN - SUBCULTURAL STRAIN THEORIES]
Explain the two ways Cohen criticises Merton
- Merton only explains utilitarian crimes
- Merton sees deviance as an individual response to strain. Cohen sees deviance as a collective
[MARXIST THEORY]
Explain the strengths
+ Explains the relationship between capitalism and crime
+ Links to idea that crime is socially constructed by the law makers at the top
+ Explains reasons for non-utilitarian crime & utilitarian crime
[MARXIST THEORY]
Explain the weaknesses
- Some communist countries have high crime rate and the leaders exploit people
- Theories are being ignored: Biological, psychological background and social background
- Ignores freewill (people can choose not to commit crimes)
[MARXIST THEORY]
Explain the Marxist theory
Considers both Utilitarian and non utilitarian crime
Society is unequal
A capitalist society is driven by money and benefits the upper class (Crime is inevitable in a capitalist society)
Communism is based on shared ownership, fairness and classless societies.
The ruling class brainwash the working class.
When the working class are aware of this, they begin to riot and protest which can lead to a revolution in the worst cases.
[MARXIST THEORY]
Explain what Karl Marx believes
Capitalism should be abolished and there should be a move towards communism
[MARXIST THEORY]
What does this theory call the ruling class and working class?
Bourgeoisie & Proletariat
[MARXIST THEORY] - Criminology Application
Explain how the Marxist theory explains crime
Capitalism causes crime as the working class commit crime due to poverty.
Non-utilitarian crimes due to frustration
The ruling class commit crimes due to greed and selfishness. Crimes such as: white collar crimes and corporate crimes
[MARXIST THEORY]
What are the 3 main elements of crime and law from the Marxist view
- Capitalism causes crime
- Law making and law enforcement are biased
- Crime and the law perform ideological functions
[MARXIST THEORY]
Explain law making from the Marxist view
Laws are made to protect the ruling class
[MARXIST THEORY]
What laws might not support the ruling class
Monopoly commission - prevents business owners from getting TOO big
Tax systems/laws
[MARXIST THEORY]
What laws could be introduce to distribute wealth more equally?
The equality act - women getting equal pay & certain groups don’t experience blocked opportunities
[MARXIST THEORY]
Explain the selective law enforcement from the Marxist view
differential enforcement of the law means the same people will be accountable for their actions (working class) but some people wont (ruling class)
[MARXIST THEORY]
Explain the ideological functions of crime and the law from the Marxist view
(Ideology = a set of ideas that conceal the inequality of the capitalist system)
Selective law enforcement makes it appear that crime is the fault of the W.C. which makes them blame the criminals for their problems rather than capitalism
Crime stats and media representation create moral panics about crimes of disadvantaged social groups to shift the focus off ruling class crimes
laws that are seemed to benefit the W.C. are said to be used to benefit capitalism by giving it a ‘caring face’. These laws are rarely enforced
[[ These ideas encourage the W.C. to accept capitalism rather than replace it with a more equal society]]
[INTERATIONISM]
Explain what interactionism is
How and why criminal are labelled as deviant or criminal
Crime is the product of interactions between suspects and police rather than the produce of external factors such as inadequate socialisation or blocked opportunities
[INTERATIONISM]
What approach does Interactionists take
Interprevists
They regard crime and official statistics as social constructs
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Howard Becker
Explain what labelling is
The process of attaching a definition or meaning to an individual or group
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Howard Becker
Explain the Key Idea of the labelling theory
It is not the nature of the act that makes it deviant but the nature of society’s reaction to the act
&
Deviance is in the eye of the beholder
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Howard Becker
Explain how crime is socially constructed
Some actions being labelled as a crime, but can fluctuate and be fluid due to the change in law
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Howard Becker
Explain what Becker thinks about deviants
A Deviant is simply someone to whom a label has been successfully applied
Deviant behaviour is simply behaviour that people label as deviant
It becomes deviant when we create rules and apply them to others
E.g: Smoking cannabis only counts as a crime if society decides to make a law criminalising it and applies it to cannabis smokers
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Howard Becker
Explain who gets arrested & labelled
Middle class & upper class are more likely to be able to get away without being called deviant - Lower/working class are not
Their interactions with control agencies
Their Appearance (Dark hoodies), background and personal biography
The Situation of the offence
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Cicourel
Explain what police though that the typical delinquent had characteristics of
- Young, lower class male
- Black or of ethnic minority
- From ‘rough’ background
-Poor education
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Cicourel
Explain where police most likely get their typifications from
The media as media portrayals of offenders are often similar to police typifications
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Cicourel
Explain the differential enforcements of the law
Not everyone gets delt with in the same way
Cicourel found there was a class and ethnic bias - led to police patrolling working class areas more intensely
Found that police viewed middle class differently from working classes even when behaviours were exactly the same
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Cicourel
What was Cicourel’s view?
Justice is not fixed but negotiable
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Cicourel
Give an example of typifications from police
George Floyd - unnecessary force was used leading to his death
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Lemert
Explain Labelling and Self-fulfilling prophecy
- Primary deviance: involves acta that have not been publicly labelled
- Secondary deviance: results from labelling. Once someone is caught and publicly labelled, their criminality becomes their ‘master status’ - it controls their identity and how others see them. Their criminal label then overrides any other labels that they have
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Lemert
Explain what Lemert argues
Labelling is the cause of crime and deviance
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Lemert
Explain what Self-fulfilling prophecy is
When someone gets labelled as a criminal so they follow through with the label and become one
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Lemert
Explain what ‘master status’ means
It controls their identity and controls how other see them
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Howard Becker
Explain 3 strengths
+ highlighting how bias towards specific groups by law enforcement leads to discrimination through stereotyping
+ Shows how labels given to people can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies
+ shows how crime is socially constructed by the law makers and enforcers
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Howard Becker
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Doesn’t support the fact that criminals can change and rehabilitate
- Deterministic , implies someone is labelled a deviant career is inevitable, however people can have free-will
- Removes the blame from the offender and blames the law enforcement for applying the label and stereotype which sometimes may be accurate
[INTERATIONISM - LABELLING THEORY]
Howard Becker
Explain the deviancy amplification spiral
a term that labelling theorist use to describe a process in which the attempt to control deviance through a ‘crackdown’ leads to an increase in the levels of deviance
More and more control produces more and more deviance
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right Realism
Explain how Right realism thinks about crime
Crime is a rational choice and advocate policies such as ‘zero tolerance’ to tackle crime
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain how Left Realism thinks about crime
Regards crime as a result of an unequal capitalist society due to relative deprivation and support practical strategies such as positive community policing and improving the opportunities for deprived groups to tackle crime
[REALIST THEORIES]
How do both approaches view crime
View crime as a form of ‘‘social problems’’
[REALIST THEORIES]
What political outlook are the right realists
Conservatives
[REALIST THEORIES]
What political outlook are the right realists
Socialist
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain what they believe causes crime
Inadequate socialisation, generous welfare state and lenient or non-existent punishment
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain the Broken Windows theory
When there is an obvious sign of disorder and distress (lack of repair) within an area, it can lead to more serious crimes taking place as people may believe they can get away with it.
Good people move out, criminals move in
Crime flourishes in situations where social control breaks down
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain Urban Decay
When an area has been under a lot of distress and disrepair
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
What causes crime according to right realists
Lack of harsh punishment
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain what Zero Tolerance Policing is
Sorting out smaller crimes in the area to decrease the more serious crimes
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
According to right realism which 3 factors cause crime?
- Biological
- Offending is a rational choice
- Inadequate socialisation
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain how a breakdown in community controls could lead to an increase in crime in the community
No police presence - more vandalism
No money (economy) - disrepair
it encourages crime to happen
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain the neighbourhood watch scheme and how it can help prevent ‘criminal invasion’
People looking out for certain areas
Proactivity communities can help
Gets the community involved to work with the police to help prevent crime
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain Biological differences between individuals
crime is caused by a combination of biological and sociological factors
Biological differences make people more predisposed to commit crime
Personality traits associated with criminality such as aggressiveness, extroversion, risk taking and low intelligence
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain Inadequate socialisation
Effective socialisation can reduce the changes of someone offending by teaching self-control and correct norms and values
Poor socialising can cause crime
Best agency of socialisation is the nuclear family (Father, mother and children) - provides stability and prevents leading to delinquency
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain Offending is a rational choice
Harsher punishments prevent crime
The decision to commit a crime is based on a ration choice; we weigh up the chances of getting caught and getting away with it
Believed that crime rates are high because the perceived cost of crime are low
Criminals that see little risk of getting caught and do not expect severe punishments even if they are convicted
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
What are some reasons for crime being high
On average people spend less than 4 years in prison
Short sentences aren’t long enough to rehabilitate
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain 3 strengths
+ Research shows there is a correlation between run down neighbourhoods and levels of crime (links to the broken windows theory)
+ Offers solutions (E.G: Zero Tolerance)
+ Can explain opportunistic petty crimes and utilitarian crimes such a theft
[REALIST THEORIES]
Right realism
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Ignores social structural issues such as poverty as a cause of crime
- doesn’t explain violent crimes
- Children from a one person family do not always turn to crime
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain what they believe causes crime
inequality in a capitalist society as the root cause of crime
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain what left realists believe the solution to crime is
make society fairer and more equal through gradual reformist change
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain the three related causes of crime
- Relative deprivation
- Subculture
- Marginalisation
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain relative deprivation
How deprived someone feels in comparison to others
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain Subculture
A group’s collective solution to the problem if relative deprivation
Some subcultures turn to crime to solve the problem
They share society’s materialistic goals but legitimate opportunities are blocked so they resort to crime
Not all subcultures turn to crime - some turn to religion
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain Marginalisation
The social disadvantage and regulation to the fringe of society
marginalised groups lack clearly defined goals and organisation to represent their interests in society
E.G: Unemployed youths have a sense of powerlessness, frustration and resentments of injustice. They express this by committing crimes and violence
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain 3 strengths
+ Victims surveys are anonymous, so more likely to be truthful
+ Draws attention to reality so street crime and its effects on victims
+ Draws attention to underlying causes
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Fails to explain white collar and cooperate crime
- fails to consider other reasons for crime: biological or upbringing
- Not everyone who is deprived and marginalised will commit crime
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Explain diversity policing
Recruiting police officers from all ethnic minorities
There is a cultural understanding, they can help bring people together and helps develop relationships
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Marginalisation: Explain some issues that contribute to exclusion of deprived groups
Economic uncertainty and loss of unskilled jobs have unemployment and destabilised family and community life.
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Marginalisation: What do the issues that contribute to exclusion of deprived groups cause?
A growing divide between the rich and poor, leading to an unease in society
[REALIST THEORIES]
Left Realism
Relative deprivation: What are the two factors that are increasing people’s sense of relative deprivation
- Mass media continuously pumps out adverts and messages urging everyone to aspire to material possessions creating a false needs for consumerism
- Society is becoming more unequal due to welfare cuts in benefits, unemployment, job insecurities
