Topic 4: Sociological Theories of Crime Flashcards

1
Q

State the main function of family in society

A

Populate/reproduce people

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2
Q

State the main function of education in society

A

To prepare people for the workplace

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3
Q

State the main function of the workplace in society

A

Allows people to produce things/ add to the system of production.

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4
Q

State the main function of healthcare in society

A

To keep people alive (so that we can carry on working).

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5
Q

State the main function of the criminal justice system in society

A

To maintain order so that the rest of us can live our lives the way we are supposed to

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6
Q

State the main function of religion in society

A

Gives people comfort when their life is coming to an end (the idea of afterlife)

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7
Q

Give one positive effect of crime in society

A

Creates morals within society-if we didn’t have morals, we wouldn’t know right from wrong

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8
Q

Describe functionalism

A

A sociological theory that believes that society ‘works’, society is made up of different institutions, each with a specific function– generally in society we all get on and work together because we have a value consensus and feel a sense of solidarity to one another

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9
Q

What were Durkheim’s key beliefs about crime?

A

Crime has an important function in society and crime is inevitable, normal and a necessary aspect of social life.

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10
Q

What are Durkheim’s 3 functions of crime?

A

Promotes social solidarity, maintains social boundaries and social change

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11
Q

Describe function 1: promotes social solidarity

A

In some, society can be seen as the victim of the crime because it affects everyone, society comes together in a state of collective sorrow and support each other–reaffirms the morals and values of society

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12
Q

Describe function 2: maintains social boundaries

A

It essentially helps society establish what is right and wrong– we need people to cross the boundaries and be punished for it so we firmly know how to behave

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13
Q

Describe function 3: social change

A

Deviance helps societies evolve, we review the way we do things and learn from it

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14
Q

Give an example of a case that Durkheim can be applied to

A

Manchester bombing at Ariana Grande’s concert in 2017

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15
Q

Define ‘anomie’

A

A feeling of unease/panic which occurs during periods of rapid social transition, e.g. war, revolution and technological advances

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16
Q

Define ‘value consensus’

A

When society feels a sense of solidarity to each other and the wider society

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17
Q

Summarise Merton’s Strain Theory

A

Focuses on the mis-match between the goals that people want to achieve in society and the means society offers to get them, society evolves so quickly that it doesn’t always offer people what they need to make them feel that they belong and as a result not everyone has the means to achieve the ‘socially accepted’ goals of society, therefore causing a strain between the goals and the means that cause criminality

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18
Q

State the five reactions to strain

A

Conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion

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19
Q

Describe conformity

A

Accepts both means and goals, accepting the goals of society and accept the legitimate means of doing it, leading to no crime

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20
Q

Describe innovation

A

Accepts goals, rejects means, accepts the goals of society but doesn’t accept the legitimate ways of doing it, leading to utilitarian crime such as theft

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21
Q

Describe ritualism

A

Accepts goals, rejects means, common acceptance of a mundane life–accepting that they won’t have a ‘life of luxury’, leading to no crime

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22
Q

Describe retreatism

A

Rejects goals, rejects means, people who have retreated into their own way of life–they know they will never have the goals, so they behave illegitimately, leading to crimes such as drug abuse, prostitution etc…

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23
Q

Describe rebellion

A

Rejects goals, rejects means, trying to change the goals and change the means of getting it

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24
Q

Summarise Marxism

A

Marxists believe that society is in ‘a constant state of conflict’ as society is divided into two social classes: the ruling class and the working class, marxists believe that the ruling class exploit and oppress the working class, thereby causing a divide in society

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25
Q

According to Marxism, what are the 2 causes of crime?

A

Capitalism itself creates crime, the powerful dictate the definition and enforcement of crime

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26
Q

Define ‘social class’

A

A division of society based on social and economic status

27
Q

Describe ‘capitalism causes crime’ as a cause of crime

A

Marxists believe that crime is a natural consequence of capitalism, capitalists want to maximise their profits as much as possible, often this is done illegally (greed, individualism and self-preservation), capitalism causes exploitation and motivation and desire–working class see what they don’t have, but could have, and are tempted into committing crime

28
Q

Describe ‘the powerful dictate the definition and enforcement of crime’ as a cause of crime

A

The ruling class have power over social institutions and control the criminal justice system- laws, police, courts etc, they are the ones who decide what is considered criminal and how the law should be enforced

29
Q

Name an example of a case where Marxism applies

A

Jordan Belfort (stock broker)— created a ‘pyramid scheme’ to scam people out of their money and make a profit (illegitimate means)

30
Q

Summarise Interactionism

A

Focuses on the meaning we attach to people’s behaviour, interactionists see that our interactions with other people are based on meanings or labels and suggest that Interactionists see that our interactions with other people are based on meanings or labels

31
Q

What two things get labelled?

A

Acts getting labelled as crimes, people getting labelled as criminals

32
Q

How does labelling link to the idea of social construction?

A

The term ‘social construction’ refers to something that has been made or defined by society, rather than simply occurring naturally, exactly like labelling

33
Q

Summarise Becker’s Labelling Theory

A

Becker’s labelling theory looks at how and why certain acts are defined as deviant, essentially no acts are inherently evil- something only becomes criminal when it is labelled to be by others, Becker looks at why people choose to label certain behaviour as deviant and the effect on society

34
Q

According to Cicourel, who is most likely to be identified as criminal?

A

Working-class and ethnic minority youths

35
Q

What impact does labelling and typifications have on crime statistics?

A

Increases them, if people are told they will commit crime, then they are more likely to

36
Q

Explain ‘primary deviance’

A

Acts that have not been publicly labelled, they are often trivial and go uncaught, individuals who commit these acts don’t often see themselves as criminal, we go on about our normal lives because we haven’t given ourselves a label

37
Q

Explain ‘secondary deviance’

A

A result of labelling, people may treat the offender solely in terms of his label, then it can become his master status which leads to a more deviance– shows that the act isn’t actually deviant, society makes it deviant

38
Q

Define ‘master status’

A

A status of an individual that overrides all their other statuses (e.g. deviant overrides father, friend, hard worker etc…)

39
Q

Define ‘self fulfilling prophecy’

A

A process through which an originally false expectation leads to its own confirmation

40
Q

Define ‘self concept’

A

When an individual goes through a crisis of identity

41
Q

Define ‘moral panic’

A

Moral panic is an exaggerated, irrational overreaction by society to a perceived problem

42
Q

Define ‘folk devil’

A

A threat to society’s values

43
Q

Give an example of a case where moral panic occurred

A

Mods and Rockers (1964)–reality of it was minor property damage and a few punches but the media’s exaggeration triggered a moral panic, causing negative labelling of youths and public concern

44
Q

What does right-wing politics usually involve?

A

Embracing the view that certain social hierarchies are inevitable, natural and normal, it supports tradition and authority as well as conservatism

45
Q

What does left-wing politics usually involve?

A

Supports social equality and involves a concern for those in society who are perceived as disadvantaged to others, they believe that there are unjustified inequalities that need to be abolished

46
Q

What are the three main causes of crime according to left realists?

A

Marginalisation, relative deprivation and subcultures

47
Q

What are the three main causes of crime according to right realists?

A

Biology, socialisation and rational choice

48
Q

Summarise left realism

A

Left realists have a left wing political outlook, they see inequality in a capitalist society as the root of crime and argue that the main victims are disadvantaged groups (working class, ethnic minorities and women), they are reformist rather than revolutionary (pro gradual change), focus more on the problem rather than the criminal act

49
Q

Describe marginalisation as a cause of crime

A

Marginalised groups are the ones that lack organisations to represent their interests and lack clearly defined goals and lack legitimate means to change their life, these creates a sense of resentment and frustration which can lead to ‘acting out’ in violence, people that are under-qualified, unemployed or grew up in poverty are most likely to be marginalised

50
Q

Describe relative deprivation as a cause of crime

A

RD is how deprived or badly off someone is in relation to others, increases of RD include the media society becoming more unequal due to cuts in wages and benefits, left realists believe the capitalist system leads people to only be concerned about themselves, causing informal control through socialisation to be weakened and the break up of families, people feel jealous and discontent with what others have= illegitimate means to achieve goals

51
Q

Describe subculture as a cause of crime

A

A subculture is a group’s way of solving the problem of RD, some subcultures turn to crime as a way of solving the problem, groups that share RD play a large part in gang formation and gang crime, they turn to crime because legitimate means are blocked

52
Q

Summarise right realism

A

Right realists have a right wing, conservative political outlook and see crime as a real problem and threat for communities, they are concerned with practical solutions to reduce crime (control and punishment) and take a ‘zero policy’ attitude towards crime

53
Q

What are the three main causes of crime according to right realists?

A

Bio-social explanations, socialisation and rational choice

54
Q

Describe bio-social explanations as a cause of crime

A

Wilson and Herstein (1985) state that biological differences make individuals more likely to commit crime and personality traits associated with criminality such as aggressiveness or low IQ are innate, and therefore some people are more likely to commit crime than others and argued that a selfish society weakens social control, allowing biological factors to dominate behaviour

55
Q

Define ‘socialisation’

A

The process in which individuals learn the norms and values of society, resulting in social cohesion and a functional society

56
Q

According to right realists which agent is best for successful socialisation?

A

A nuclear family

57
Q

Socialisation as a cause of crime: describe Charles Murray’s views on the nuclear family

A

Murray believes that the nuclear family is being undermined by generous welfare benefits, causing a decline in marriage and growth of lone-parent families as fathers no longer need to provide for their families as the government do it for them (creating an ‘underclass’), he argues that lone mothers are ineffective for socialisation and absent fathers mean no role models for young boys, the ‘underclass’ is a cause of crime and a threat to societal values

58
Q

Describe rational choice theory as a cause of crime

A

RCT assumes that we are all rational beings with free will and deciding to commit a crime is a choice based on consequences, essentially it is weighing up cost vs benefit, right realists argue that the crime rate is high because the perceived costs of crime are low and they believe that sentencing is too lenient and that criminals do not expect to receive harsh punishments if convicted

59
Q

What are the 2 similarities between left and right realism?

A
  • Both argue that crime is something that primarily affects the working classes and ethnic minorities
  • Both say that crime is partly to do with the breakdown of the working class communities and community values
60
Q

What is the difference between left and right realism?

A

Different ideas about what causes the breakdown of working class communities– right think that it is these group’s own fault and their own responsibility to turn their life around, left think that it is society’s fault and society’s responsibility to make life equal for all

61
Q

Which theory can be applied to the Columbine high school shooting?

A

Interactionism–Dylan Klebold was seen as deviant (labelling), perhaps this led to him believing he was (self-fulfilling prophecy) and therefore led him to behave in this way, the media also could have had an impact, in particular violent video gaming and music

62
Q

Which theory can be applied to the Nick Leeson case?

A

Marxism–could be applied to Nick Leeson, he grew up as working class, never had much as a child and there may be frustration and anger that comes from that which leads to the desire for more, even if it means using illegitimate means to get it (working class oppressed by ruling class)

63
Q

Which theory can be applied to the London Riots?

A

Realism–apply to London Riots, a way of the working class acting out against consumerism and the people who have so much more than them, this together forms a subculture where people come together in groups who share RD and resort to crime when legitimate means are blocked from them