Theories Flashcards
What is Durkheims functionalist theory?
Crime is healthy and part of social norms. And is needed in society. Creation of jobs and is a warning device.
What is Morton’s Strain theory
Crime is caused bc the lower class do not receive the same opportunities and then resort to crime due to frustration.
Marxism
Karl Marx believes that ppl are not poor financially poor but morally poor.
Capitalism in criminology
The rich exploit the poor, unequal class divide causes the poor to commit crime through anger
Postmodernism
Time is moving fast. Crime and risky behaviour is attractive
Neo Marxism
Black crime in the 70s was a form of political resistance. Riots and demonstrations
Gender
Higher crime rates are in men than women. More rates of homicide are in men ans violent crimes
Race
Races of Black and Caribbean’s, are more likely to be stopped and searched/accused of a crime than any other race. Leading to oppression and riots
The sex role theory
Biological sex determines the offending/victim rates
Gender again
Crime rates of women are lower bc they are controlled in work, home and public
Chivalry theory
Women get less severe punishment than men. They’re the caregiver
Social class
The lower class you are, the more likely you’ll be caught and imprisoned. 35% adults were on benefits in court
Location
Crime is more likely to happen in urban places (town/cities) than it is in rural places.
Media
Media will impact on age, race and locality. Old victims ignored. Black ethnicity is targeted. Location impacts the readers
Youth sentencing
Deter and rehabilitate. Fines. Detention places for serious offences
Positive victimology
People contribute to their victimology. Exaggerate. By characteristics and behaviour
Critical victimology
Crime is caused by the lack of employment in deprived areas. Creating victims
Labelling theory
By labelling ppl, it makes them engage in the label they have. I.e. deviant or criminal
What types of crimes are there
Crimes against a person, crimes against a property and crimes against society
What is volume crime
Not as serious Crime
What is major crime
Crime that involves violence
How is crime functional according to functionalism
Reinforced value consensus
Acts as a safety valve
As a warning device
The creation of jobs
What is Morton’s strain theory’s response to deviance
Deviance is the result of the strain between the societal classes/goals and actually achieving them
What is right realism
There is a root cause of crime- biology poor socialisation and that people have the choice to commit a crime
Right realists- Hernstein and Murray claim what theory
That biology is a cause of crime such as low intelligence
What is the right realists- rational choice theory
Clarke (1980)- ppl are able to choose if they commit a crime due to them having free will and and rational thinking
Left realists
The main cause of crime is relative deprivation, marginalisation, and subcultures
What is relative deprivation
Treating ppl differently for not following expectations or the status of them
Marginalisation
Marginalised groups are those who lack clear goal or representation
Subculture
Committing crime and to achieve goals- goes against the police
Postmodernism theory
Katz (1988) Crime is luring and attractive
Mertons strain theory responses to strain
Conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion
