Sociologists Flashcards
Social control:
What does functionalist Durkheim believe about control theory
We all share values values in society known as the ‘collective consciousness’
:: law represents the collective beliefs of society.
Social control:
What did Hirschi state about durkheims control theory
1) Argued that since criminal/deviant actions benefit a criminal, it’s remarkable how little crime there is.
2) people make rational calculations of whether or not to commit crime
Social control:
What does Hirschi state about social bonds?
If one of the four elements of social bonds are weak/broke a person has more to gain from crime :: commit criminal acts
Social control:
What are the 4 social bonds Hirschi speaks of?
1) Attachment to others
2) commitment to conformity
3) involvement in conventional activities
4) A belief in the morality and validity of social rules
Nature vs Nurture:
What did Lombrosso argue about the nature argument
1) Lombrosso argues that you are born criminal and have criminal genes
2) criminals have certain ‘atavistic features’ characteristic of crime
Nature vs Nurture:
Name 3 of Lombrosso atavistic features
- large jaw
- high cheekbones
- hawk like nose
- fleshy lips
Nature vs Nurture:
Describe the case of Brian Duggan in the ‘born evil’ argument
- Brain Duggan murdered a 7 year old girl in 1983, and a 27 year old nurse.
- Neuroscientist Dr Kent Kiehl scanned Dugans brain and found he didn’t understand why people cared what he had done
- found a lack of activity in the part of the brain which causes emotions
Nature vs Nurture:
What are Gibbons and Jones (1975) 3 explanations of deviancy?
(1) Biological
(2) Psychological
(3) Social causes
Nature vs Nurture:
Name an evaluation point of Gibbons and Jones (1975)
All 3 points assume that the cause of deviant behaviour is out of the individuals control, not allowing for free will etc.
Nature vs Nurture:
What does Freud argues to support Gibbons and Jones
Early childhood experiences could distort the personality and cause deviant behaviour (defective primary socialisation)
Nature vs Nurture:
What does Eysenck (1970) argue to support Gibbons and Jones
Talked of the “neurotic extrovert” -the person that has a personality that can’t respond to training, leading to anti social conduct (psychological problems)
Crime statistics:
What does Paul Wiles argue about crime statistics
Quotes the “hidden figure of crime” as only 40% of crimes are reported to the police.
Crime statistics:
What does marxists such as box argue about crime statistics?
1) The OCS does not record some crimes such as fraud or corporate crimes (white collar crimes)
2) White collar crimes are often victimless and therefore isn’t reported so doesn’t appear in statistics
Crime statistics:
What does feminist Heidensohn (1989) argues about crime statistics
1) Women do not report crimes for fear of reprisals from the criminals themselves
2) Don’t report sexual violence due to embarrassment
Crime statistics:
What does Feminists Walklate and Carol Smart argue about crime statistics
When women report rapes it is often them placed on trial and therefore women are less likely to report these crimes.
Crime statistics:
What interactionalist study critics crime statistics
The Macpherson Report found that the Metropolitan police were institutionally racist and therefore ethnic minorities were labelled as criminals.
Crime statistics:
Why does Mencap (2013) disagree with crime statistics
Found that many crime victims complain that they are not take seriously by the police
Crime statistics:
Name an example of a case where undereporting would’ve led to inaccuracy in crime statistics
In 2015 the Rochdale child abuse cases suggests that the police under and misrecord crimes against vulnerable children
Crime statistics:
Who made a flow chart illustrating the production of official crime statistics?
What year?
Sanderson (1994)
Crime statistics:
What did Short and Nye (1957) find about self report studies? Where?
In the USA, he found no correlation between class and offending whereas court data showed a link, with poor boys being convicted more frequently and treated more harshly.
Crime statistics:
What did Graham and Bowling (1995) find about self report studies
They found that all genders and social classes committed although lower social classes admitted to more serious crimes.
Crime statistics:
What did Farrington (1997) find about self report studies?
Performed Cambridge study of Delinquent Behaviour of 400 working class boys born in 1953. He found by the age of 32 96% had committed at least one of 10 specified offences (Burglary, theft, assault etc)
Crime statistics:
Name some questions in Campbell’s (1981) self report study
- I have ridden a bike without lights after dark
- I have planned well in advance to get into a house and take things
- I have smoked dope or taken pills
Crime statistics:
What did Farrington (1992) say to positively evaluate self report studies
Self report studies teach about those who develop criminal careers
