Strain Theory (Week 5) Flashcards
What are the two types of strain theory?
- the general strain theory
- the anomie strain theory
- relative depravation
What is the definition of crime?
Natural
Violation of general societies’ consensus
Essentially SOCIAL phenomenon
Relates to nature of society
What should be the response to crime?
Provide more opportunities
Reduce strain
Re socialise offender
What are three branches of theory of strain?
Social ecology (social disorganisation and built environment)
Opportunity theory (disjuncture with societal goals and individual means to attain those goals)
Subcultural theory (group responses to strain from inequality and marginalisation)
What the the operation of the CJS?
Neutral - individual rehab - with social programs
What is the nature of the offender?
Determined by social pathology
How is society characterised?
By collective conscience
Structured around division of labour
Cohesion built by defining criminal behaviour
What is the cause of crime?
Social strain (opp. structures)
Learned behaviour
Result of social disjuncture or strains in society
Linked to division of labour and collective conscience
What is the focus of analysis of strain theory?
Structure of opportunities
Nature of social learning
Youth subcultures
How can crime be prevented?
Expanding opportunities
Fostering healthy peer group activity
What are some responses to strain acc’ Merton?
Conformism Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion
How is crime learned?
- technique
- motivations
- rationalisation (redefine legal code within subculture)
What does Durkheim say about suicide?
Rates acc’ to countries predominant religious orientation. THEREFORE can’t be explained in terms of indiv’ choices or psychological factors RATHER is social phenomenon
What is an example of shaw and McKays social ecology and disorganisation theory?
Immigration settlement patterns in U.S. Cities Successive waves linked to crime Settling = chaos/tensions Like minded indiv' associate Economic deprivation Pushes delinquent acts
How is crime seen in strain theory in summary?
As normal, committed by normal people in abnormal situations
What does derkeim say crime is?
A social process (anomie and social solidarity)
Where does shaw and McKay say crime comes from?
Disorganisation of poor, and a lack of cohesive identity in society
What does Merton say is the cause of crime?
A disjunction or difference between goals and desires and a means to achieve or attain those goals
What does Sutherland and Cressy say is the cause of crime?
Social interactions (learned technique, motivation and rationalisation from criminal associations)
What does Cohen and cloward and ohlin say about the cause of sub-cultural formation?
It is a response to lack of opportunities supplied by society to working class youth
What does Agnew see as important with criminality?
The lack of opportunities + alienation + criminal behaviour (important relationship/cause of crime)
He looks at circumstances of criminalisation
What does Cohen see crime as?
A collective behaviour
Different aspirations of indiv’ who have experienced or lived in other classes and systems
What does Matza say about crime them?
That ultimately the response of youth is to form own excitement
Who say all classes have the same goals and what are they?
Cloward and Ohlin ($$$)
Who links environment and the nature and extent of crime?
Shaw and McKay
Which theorist and what relates to GST?
Agnew: strain = crime More so if indiv' thinks that strain is - insurmountable - unjust - subject to limited social control - person is subject to (-ve)pressure
Are you gonna flipped ace this exam?
Hell yes
Derkeims anomie strain theory influenced who and what?
Merton, and his theory of general depravation
What does general deprivation theory say causes crime?
gaps between:
What told should desire
vs.
what actually able to achieve (through legit pursuits)
What is anomie?
Lack of social regulation
Where norm-lessness abounds
High anomie =conscience collective weakened or failure to ensure society members have internalised rules of conduct
What constitutes a disfunctional society acc’ to Durkeim?
Overemphasis of egoism (each endeavouring for personal interest)
What are the five propositions of crime by Durkeim?
Crime is normal Crime is functional Crime marks boundaries of public toleration and morality Punishment sustains social cohesion Sign of social health
Who says crime appears in all classes and levels?
Merton (armed robbery, tax evasion)
Crime is a result of an offender having….
Inadequate/inappropriate means to achieve goals relative to others in society
A criminal and their activities are seen as…
A product of specific kind of social order
Determined by wider societal forces
Have few conscious choices re: avail options
The source of strain is?
From society (not indiv) Associated with structural opportunities and cultural processes
Broadly speaking strain theory:
Sees crime: violation of general consensus and is social phenomenon
Sees strain: as creator of pressure, which necessitates coping behaviours (some are deviant under some circumstances)
What about limitations?
Crime for the thrill of it
Crime not driven by $$$ or material gain
Crime with no strain
What are the types of strain acc to Agnew?
Vicarious Anticipated Loss of positively valued stimuli Loss of legal avenue to attain goal Experience of negatively valued stimuli
The people who are incapable to positively react to to strain are more likely to commit crime since they experience:
- high level of criminal coping skills
- high level of criminal social associations
- low level of support or role models
- low social control
- exposure to crimes with high benefit and low costs
Critique of strain theory?
Accepts status quo too quickly - rather than seeing goals of society as moulded by those in power - sees goals as genuine consensus - when there are those who disagree - such as church arguing against materialistic goals of society
