Theories of Crime

Question 1

What is the functionalist approach?

Answer 1

Crime and deviance are a result of structural tensions and lack of moral regulations in a society. When ones desires are not fulfilled, it can lead to deviancy.

Question 2

Durkheim?

Answer 2

The theory of anomie: the undermining of traditional norms and standards of a society. When the standard on how to behave in a context are unclear, people are anxious, so non conformity and deviance is inevitable.

Question 3

Durkheim and deviance?

Answer 3

He argues deviance is necessary for two reasons:
1- Adaptive function, brings about change
2- Boundary maintenance, solitary and clarifying norms

Question 4

Merton?

Answer 4

Analyzed crime in US. He used official stats and focused on lower wc crime. Anomie is the strain between ones cultural values and their personal lived reality. This causes tension and people respond in 5 ways.

Question 5

What are Merton 5 responses?

Answer 5

1- Conformists
2- Innovators
3- Ritualists
4- Retreatists
5- Rebels

Question 6

Cohen?

Answer 6

Cohen looked deviance as a collective response to the society’s structure. Young boys, frustrated by their status in society, formed delinquent subcultures- like gangs. Rejected mc values and embraced nonconformity.

Question 7

Functionalist normalization?

Answer 7

Some argue deviance has gone beyond the acceptable limit, but instead of lowering it, it has become more normalized- media example. Many normalized behaviours have negative consequences on individuals and society.

Question 8

Interactionist approach?

Answer 8

Argue c+dare a social construction, no crime is inherently deviant, so why are some groups targeted more?

Question 9

Labelling perspective?

Answer 9

Deviance is the product of deviance and non deviance interaction. The terms by which deviance is defined by are determined by the wealthly for poor, men for women, older for younger. Example of experimental drugs.

Question 10

Becker?

Answer 10

Deviant identities are a product of other factors other than deviance: country of origin, manner of speaking, clothing. It is a caue of the labelling process. He studied marijuana- deviants taught non deviants as a sign of acceptance.

Question 11

Lemert?

Answer 11

Created a model to understand ho deviane can coexist and/or become central to ones identity: primary devi- secondary deviance (can become the master status)

Question 12

Farrington?

Answer 12

First offences are ususally between 8 and 14 and this can predict future criminal behavior- studies show parental education programs help prevent this.
He argues prisons can have the paradoxical effect of provoking crime, this is called deviancy amplification.

Question 13

Criticism of labelling?

Answer 13

The main criticism is that it does not take into conisderation of ther factors that might lead to future devaincy, other than labelling. Being in prison might give more opportunites for crime.

Question 14

New criminology:

Answer 14

Created by Taylor, Walton and Young, they argue deviant behavior is a deliberate act, often political in nature. The inequalities of the capitalist system leads to deliberate involvement in crime and deviance. They reject any other anwer, such as labelling, anomie. Memebrs of counter-cultural groups, like anti-war movement, challenge the existing order.

Question 15

Stuart Hall?

Answer 15

Studies ‘muggings’ taking place in the UK. Many media reports were on a wave of muggings, which targeted young black men as the perpetrators. This firthered the marginalization of immigrants in the UK. According to Hall, this was a molar panic, caused by the state and the media to distract people from the stuctural flaws of society.

Question 16

Inequalities in law (new crim)

Answer 16

As inequalities increase, the law has become a powerful tool to maintain order. However, the law favors the wealthy, and is oppressive towards the poor. It focuses on petty crimes, instead of focusing on more impactful crimes, like corportate, maybe also for the difficulty of implication.

Question 17

Left Realism?

Answer 17

Argues that crimes is a real problem that is harmful for the wc. There is reliable evidence that crime is on the rise, and the public should be concerned.
They argue victim surveys are a reliable source that official stats. They also say as crime increase in marginalized areas targeted the poorest in society.

Question 18

Subcultures and inequalities (left realism)

Answer 18

Subcultures develop in inner cities, and derive from political marginalization and relative deprivation. They argues social exclusion is caused by the failure of racial integrations schemes.

Question 19

Left ‘Realistic’ Proposals:

Answer 19

Law enforcement is accountable to communities, instead of using ‘military’ technqines that reduce public support. Minimal policing, elected by people and responsible to them, to regain public trust. Pragamtic, policy oriented approach.

Question 20

Critics of left realism?

Answer 20

Focus on individual vicitms is too narrow, only focus on visible crime, neglect other offences like corporate crime.

Question 21

Control Theories?

Answer 21

Crimes occurs when impulses to commit criminal activity are stronger than the social and physical controls that deter it. People act defiantly if it benefits them, most crimes are opportinistic, ‘situational decisions’.

Question 22

Hischi?

Answer 22

Humans are selfish, make calucluated decisions: weight benefits and risks and decide if its worth the risk. 4 bonds binding us to society:
1- attachment- family, friends
2- beliefs- respect- for law and authority
3- commitment- to conventional lifestyles
4- involvement- in mainstream activities

Question 23

Parsons?

Answer 23

Argues most people conforms, are law abiding because they want to be socially desirable and its casued by socialization.

Question 24

Tyler?

Answer 24

Why do people abide the law? Their personal morality and think the law is legitimate. They evaluate each law according to their morality, if they agree they comply, if not they break it. Like smoking marijuana. When criminal justice system works well, people will abide the law.

Question 25

Right Realism?

Answer 25

Developed from Reagan and Thatcher’s success in ther 70s. Crime is cause by moral degeneracy, the decine of individual responsibility, welfare dependence and liberal education.

Question 26

Right ‘Realistic’ Policies?

Answer 26

Extended police powers, new prisons built, more funding to cjs. Consequence was growth in prison population, might be seen as a good thing, or as a policy failure- accepting people will inevitable turn to crime.

Question 27

Environmental Criminology?

Answer 27

Crime as a result of increase in opportinuties, women work, increased consumerism, more technologicl products home, more ‘motivated offenders’

Question 28

Measures of env crim?

Answer 28

Situational crime prevention, tranforming the context:
1- surveillance, cameras, policing
2- target hardening, locks, alarms.

Question 29

Zero tolerance policy?

Answer 29

Targets petty crimes, but does not address underlying issue of crime. We are moving towards and armoured society, cause of widening gap, ultra rich and ultrapoor..

Question 30

Consequences of env crim?

Answer 30

Moving target from one place to another, pooer districts usually.

Question 31

Broken Window Theory?

Answer 31

Idea that small signs of social disorder lead to more serious crimes. But what is social disorder? This has led police putting crimes in their hands, uncontrolled, crimes go down, but police abuse reports go up.