Studies of crime Flashcards
Durkheim (Functionalist)
- Crime can be functional and dysfunctional
- Crime can perform positive functions
E.g. social regulation
- Crime can perform positive functions
- A limited amount of crime is necessary
- Believes that all social change begins with some form of deviance
- In order for change to occur, yesterdays deviance becomes todays norms
Merton
- Developed the strain theory
- Explains the rising crime rates in the USA in the 1940s. Said that social structures within society may pressure citizens to commit crime e.g. the American dream. Individuals may commit crimes such as drug dealing to gain financial security.
- Developed the concept of anomie to describe the imbalance between cultural gangs and institutionalized means
- Says that the working class is most likely to turn to crime.
Cohen (Functionalist)
- Status frustration theory
- W/C subcultures emerge due to being denied status in society
- Could lead to boys, in particular, joining together against the school, for example, possibly leading to gang membership.
Cloward and Ohlin (Functionalist)
ILLEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY STRUCTURES
- Combine the theories of Merton and Cohen to identify different criminal subcultures in contemporary America
- Argued that there was a legitimate opportunity structure
- Also identified illegitimate opportunity structure which is available through gang membership.
Marx
- The appearance of consensus is an illusion
- Values are manipulated by the working class
- Laws do not reflect a shared value system, but the imposition by one class od its ideology
Chamberliss (marxist)
- Laws protecting private property are the cornerstone of capitalism
- Ruling class dominate law-making systems
Snider (marxist)
- The capitalist state won’t pass laws that will regulate their business or harm their business in any way.
Taylor et al
New Criminology
Social theory of deviance
Gordon (marxist)
- Crime is a rational response to capitalism
- Law enforcement is selective and will sweep over M/C offenses.
Walton and young
- We should abandon grand narratives of previous theories and focus on practical solutions to crime.
Becker
- Labelling deviance leads to it being amplified
Lemert
- Unlabelled primary deviance has few consequences for the individual concerned
Cicourel
- Agents of social control
- produce delinquents through two stages involving
subjective and biased judgement
Jones
- Greater investment into particular areas where crime is high is needed
- Right realist parties in USA failed to prevent crime rate rising
S. Cohen
- Media creates a moral panic about delinquency
- Media tends to amplify deviance
Braithwaite
- Disintegrative and reintegrative shaming
Murray
- The welfare system allows the underclass to continue rejecting norms and values
- Criminal activity should be more expensive
- E.g. harsher punishments
Felson
- Routine activity: For a crime to take place
- Motivated offender
- Suitable target
- Lack of capable guardian
Wilson and Kelling
Broken window theory:
states that visible signs of crime, anti-social behaviour, and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder, including serious crimes.
Wilson
RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
- Crime is a rational choice - Gains outweigh the chance of getting caught
Lea and young Left realists
- Some groups offend more because of systematic inequality e.g. black youth.
- 3 causes of crime:
- Relative deprivation
- Subcultures
- Marginalisation
Kinsey lea and young
Police system is flawed
Lyng (Postmodernist)
Edgework - the thrill of crime
possible cause
Young
- Different crimes are under/over policed
- Crime is rooted in social inequality
Bowling and Phillips
- High rates of robbery by black people -> more racial profiling -> self-fulfilling prophecy
Gilroy
- The myth of black criminality
Hall
- Statistics do not reflect reality
Pollack
- Mens duty of protection towards women stops them from prosecuting them
- Official statistics on gender and crime are extremely misleading and do not account for the true extent of female criminality
Heidesohn
- Criminality is ‘malestream’
- Women are socialised away from crime
Carlen
- Female offenders reject ‘gender deal’ - being outside of social control = more likely to offend
Sutherland
- Criminal behaviour is learned from family /friends/associates
