Sociology Crime: Theories Flashcards
Sociology crime: Functionalists
Two key mechanisms
-socialisation
-social control
Sociology crime: Functionalists
Inevitability of crime
Durkheim said socity is becoming normlessness which weakens collective conscience
-diversity of lifestyles and values
-not everyone is equally socialised into Norms and values
Sociology crime: Functionalists
Positive functions
Boundary maintenance
Durkheim
-purpose of punishment is to reaffirm society’s shared rules
-reinforce social solidarity
Conhen
-dramatisation of evil played by the media
Sociology crime: Functionalists
Positive functions
Adaptation and change
Durkheim
-all change starts with an act of deviance
-challenge norms and values
-too little crime = means society is repressed
-too much crime = tear bonds of socity
Sociology crime: Functionalists
Other functions of crime
Davis
Argues prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of mens sexual frustrations without threating nuclear fam
Sociology crime: Functionalists
Criticisms
-Crime doesn’t always promote solidarity
-could have oppersite effect
E.g forcing women to stay inside for fear of attack
Sociology crime: strain theory
Merton
Deviance is the result of:
-the goals encouraged individuals to achieve
-what institutions of society allow them to achieve legitimately
Sociology crime:
The American Dream
Merton
-expected to pursue goal by legitimate means
-study,discipline,hard work
-many are disadvantaged and dinied the oppertunity to achieve it this way
-this leads to deviate further due to American culture
-winning is more important then playing by the rules
Sociology crime: Merton strain theory
Critique 1
-Marxist argue it ignores power of ruling class to make and enforce laws that criminalise the poor
Sociology crime: subcultural strain theories
Status frustration
Cohan
-WC boys suffer status frustration they are given by society
-they reject MC VALUES and joining subcultures
-e.g by gaining respect from subcultures through vandalism
Sociology crime: Merton strain theory
Critique 2
Cohan
-Merton focus on utilitarian crime for material gain like theft
-he ignore crime like assault
Sociology crime: labelling theory
Negotiation of justice
Cicourel
-decisions are influenced by their stereotypes
-this lead to law enforcement showing class bias
-justice isn’t fixed but negotiable
-this leads to MC benefitting
Sociology crime: labelling
Dark figure of crime
-Difference between the official statistics and the real rate of crime
-e.g lots of crime goes unreported
Sociology crime: effects of labelling
Primary deviance
Lemart
Primary deviance refers to deviant acts that have not been publicly labelled
Sociology crime: effects of labelling
Secondary deviance
Lemert
Secondary deviance is the result of labelling
