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WJEC Criminology at PHS > Unit 2 AC2.3 AC3.2 Describe/evaluate sociological theories of criminality > Flashcards

Unit 2 AC2.3 AC3.2 Describe/evaluate sociological theories of criminality Flashcards

1
Q

Functionalist theories - Durkheim’s functionalist theory - Key idea

A

Crime is the inevitable result of inadequate socialisation/anomie

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2
Q

Functionalist theories - Durkheim’s functionalist theory - Boundary maintenance

A

Crime unites society’s members against wrongdoers, reinforcing the boundary between right and wrong

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3
Q

Functionalist theories - Durkheim’s functionalist theory - Social change

A

For society to progress, individuals with new ideas must challenge existing norms and values – this is deviance at first

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4
Q

Functionalist theories - Durkheim’s functionalist theory - Safety Valve: Davis

A

For example prostitution acts to release men’s sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family.

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5
Q

Functionalist theories - Durkheim’s functionalist theory - Warning light

A

Deviance indicates that a society isn’t functioning properly so action can be taken to fix it.

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6
Q

Functionalist theories - Durkheim’s functionalist theory - Strength

A

First to recognise that crime can have positive functions for society

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7
Q

Functionalist theories - Durkheim’s functionalist theory - Limitation

A

Does not suggest what the right amount of crime is for society to function properly

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8
Q

Functionalist theories - Durkheim’s functionalist theory - Limitation

A

Crime is not functional for all – e.g. vicitims

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9
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory - Key idea

A

Crime is the result of unequal access to society’s goal of wealth

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10
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Blocked opportunities

A

Not all have equal chance to achieve wealth – this creates strain for working class people who cannot access wealth legitimately

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11
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Innovation

A

Accept the goal but find illegal ways to achieve it - utilitarian crimes

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12
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Ritualism

A

Give up striving for success. Plod along in dead-end job

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13
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Retreatism

A

Reject goal and means to achieve. Drop-outs e.g. drunks, vagrants

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14
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Rebellion

A

Reject goal and means, replacing them with new ones in order to change society – political radicals and alternative cultures e.g. hippies

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15
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Strength

A

Shows how normal and deviant behaviour arise from the same goals

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16
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Strength

A

Explains why most crime in statistics is property crime and why working class crime rates are higher.

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17
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Limitation

A

Ignores crimes of wealthy

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18
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Limitation

A

Only sees deviance as an individual response

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19
Q

Functionalist theories - Merton’s Strain theory -Limitation

A

Focuses on utilitarian crime only

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20
Q

Function

A

Functionalists argue that everything has a positive role to play in helping society to run smoothly

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21
Q

Structural theory

A

An explanation that focuses on the way in which society is organised

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22
Q

Socialisation

A

Process of learning norms and values

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23
Q

Social solidarity / integration

A

All members of society feel like they belong to the same harmonious unit and most do not deviate from it’s shared norms.

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24
Q

Anomie

A

‘Normlessness’ Society has multiple sets of norms and values that are often conflicting.

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25
Q

Strain

A

Conflict between the pressure to conform to society’s norms in but still achieve it’s main goals of monetary success

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26
Q

Utilitarian crime

A

Crimes committed for financial gain

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27
Q

Subcultural theories - Cohen: Status Frustration -Key idea

A

Crime is a group response to unequal access to society’s goal of wealth.

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28
Q

Subcultural theories - Cohen: Status Frustration - Status frustration

A

Working class boys end up at the bottom of school’s official status hierarchy and feel frustrated and worthless

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29
Q

Subcultural theories - Cohen: Status Frustration -Subcultures

A

Subcultures offer a solution by providing an alternate status hierarchy in which society’s values are inverted – they gain status by being deviant

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30
Q

Subcultural theories - Cloward and Ohlin 3 Subcultures -Key idea

A

Different neighbourhoods give rise to different types of deviant subcultures

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31
Q

Subcultural theories - Cloward and Ohlin 3 Subcultures - Criminal subcultures

A

Arise in areas where there is a longstanding professional criminal network. They select youths for an ‘apprenticeship’ in utilitarian crime and future criminal career

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32
Q

Subcultural theories - Cloward and Ohlin 3 Subcultures - Conflict subcultures

A

Arise where the only criminal opportunities are within street gangs. Violence is a release for frustration and a source of status earned by winning territory from rival gangs.

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33
Q

Retreatist subcultures

A

Made up of dropouts who have failed in both the legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures. Often based on drug use.

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34
Q

Subcultural theories - Strength

A

These theories show how subcultures perform a function for their members by offering solutions to the problem of failing to achieve goals legitimately

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35
Q

Subcultural theories -Strength

A

Cloward and Ohlin show how different types of neighbourhood give rise to different illegitimate opportunities and subcultures

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36
Q

Subcultural theories -Limitation

A

Ignore crimes of wealthy and over-predicts working class crime

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37
Q

Subcultural theories -Limitation

A

Assume everyone starts with mainstream goals and turns to a subculture when they fail to achieve them, but some people don’t share those goals in the first place and may be attracted to crime for other reasons.

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38
Q

Subcultural theories -Limitation

A

Actual subcultures are not a clear-cut as Cloward and Ohlin claim. Some show characteristics of all three types.

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39
Q

Subculture

A

A group within society that has it’s own set of norms and values that differ from the mainstream

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40
Q

Status hierarchy

A

System of stratification based on social prestige. This can be linked to occupation, lifestyle etc.

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41
Q

Inverted values

A

Turning society’s values upside down so what is bad becomes good and vice versa

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42
Q

Non-utilitarian crime

A

Crimes committed without financial gain

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43
Q

Legitimate opportunity structure

A

A way to work your way up in society while staying within the confines of the law.

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44
Q

Illegitimate opportunity structure

A

A way to work your way up in society within a criminal or deviant network

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45
Q

Interactionism and labellign theories - Interactionism

A

Sees our interactions with each other as based on meanings or labels. Crime and criminals are social constructions.

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46
Q

Interactionism and labellign theories - Labelling theory

A

No act is deviant or criminal in itself – it only becomes so when others label it as such

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47
Q

Interactionism and labellign theories - Differential enforcement

A

Social control agencies use typifications to label some groups as criminal more than others

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48
Q

Interactionism and labellign theories - Primary and secondary deviance

A

Lemert argues that labelling is a cause of crime, He explains this by distinguishing between primary and secondary deviance

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49
Q

Interactionism and labellign theories - Self-fulfilling prophecy

A

When an offender is labelled, society’s reaction pushes them into further deviance. They have lived up to their label.

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50
Q

Interactionism and labellign theories - The deviance amplification spiral

A

An attempt to control deviance through a crackdown leads to it increasing rather than decreasing. This leads to greater attempts to control and even more deviance

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51
Q

Interactionism and labellign theories - Interactionism and crime statistics

A

Interactionists reject the use of statistics complied by the police because they believe they only measure what the police do (who they arrest) rather than what criminals do (how much crime there actually is).

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52
Q

Interactionism and labellign theories - Young: The Hippies

A

A study in which police attention and labelling led hippies to retreat into closed groups where drug use took over

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53
Q

The Mods and Rockers - The study

A

Cohen uses the Mods and Rockers study to explain the amplification spiral

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54
Q

The Mods and Rockers - Media exaggeration

A

Media exaggeration caused growing public concern

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55
Q

The Mods and Rockers - Moral entrepreneurs

A

Moral entrepreneurs called for a crackdown leading to more arrests, and more concern

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56
Q

The Mods and Rockers - Negative labelling

A

Negative labelling of mods and rockers as folk devils

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57
Q

Evaluating interactionism and labelling theories - Strength

A

Shows that the law is not a fixed set of rules but socially constructed

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58
Q

Evaluating interactionism and labelling theories -Strength

A

Shifts focus onto how police create crime by applying labels – may explain why some groups are overrepresented in crime statistics

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59
Q

Evaluating interactionism and labelling theories -Strength

A

Shows how attempts to control can create more deviance

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60
Q

Evaluating interactionism and labelling theories -Limitation

A

Deterministic – assumes we have no choice but to live up to labels

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61
Q

Evaluating interactionism and labelling theories -Limitation

A

Gives offenders a victim status

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62
Q

Evaluating interactionism and labelling theories -Limitation

A

Fails to explain primary deviance

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63
Q

Evaluating interactionism and labelling theories -Limitation

A

Doesn’t say where power to apply a label comes from

64
Q

Evaluating interactionism and labelling theories -Limitation

A

Fails to explain why labels are applied to some groups but not others

65
Q

Label

A

A name, meaning, or definition attached to a person or act

66
Q

Primary deviance

A

Acts that have not been publicly labelled – usually trivial and uncaught. Offenders don’t see themselves as criminal

67
Q

Secondary deviance

A

Results from labelling – people treat the offender soley in terms of their label – this becomes their master status

68
Q

SFP

A

The individual lives up to the label they have been given

69
Q

Media exaggeration

A

The media make the story about a crime seem worse than it is

70
Q

Moral entrepreneur

A

Someone of high status who publicly calls for a crackdown on crime.

71
Q

Folk devils

A

A group or individual who is labelled negatively by society

72
Q

Typifications

A

Ideas (usually held by the police) about what a typical criminal is like.

73
Q

Social construction

A

Something that has been made or defined by society rather than occurring naturally.

74
Q

Determinism

A

The idea that our behaviour is caused by an external force outside of our control – we have no free will.

75
Q

Marxism - Key ideas - Inequality

A

Structural theory: the unequal structure of capitalist society shapes behaviour including criminality

76
Q

Marxism - Key ideas -Two classes

A

Society is divided into two main class groups – Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

77
Q

Marxism - Key ideas -Society’s institutions

A

All institutions including the law and criminal justice system work to support capitalism and keep the working class in their place

78
Q

Marxism - Capitalism causes crime -Exploitation

A

Crime is often the only way to survive for the working class as they live in poverty

79
Q

Marxism - Capitalism causes crime -Consumerism

A

Advertising pressures people into utilitarian crimes to get goods

80
Q

Marxism - Capitalism causes crime -Alienation and frustration

A

Inequality causes people to lash out and commit non-utilitarian crimes

81
Q

Marxism - Capitalism causes crime -Greed and the profit motive

A

Capitalism is a dog-eat-dog system and encourages corporate crimes to gain an advantage

82
Q

Marxism - Making and enforcing the law -Chambliss

A

Laws are made to protect the private property of the rich

83
Q

Marxism - Capitalism causes crime -Selective law enforcement

A

White collar and corporate crimes of the rich are much less likely to be prosecuted than working class ‘street crimes’.

84
Q

Marxism - Capitalism causes crime -Example: Carson

A

Out of 200 companies who had broken safety laws, only 3 were prosecuted

85
Q

Marxism - Ideological functions of crime and the law -Ideas about crime and law

A

These are an ideology that conceal the inequality of capitalism

86
Q

Marxism - Ideological functions of crime and the law -Selective enforcement

A

Divides working class by making them blame each other instead of capitalism for the problems they face in society

87
Q

Marxism - Ideological functions of crime and the law -Diverts attention

A

Nobody focuses on the much more serious ruling class crimes.

88
Q

Marxism - Ideological functions of crime and the law -A caring face

A

Laws which seem to benefit working class (e.g. H&S) actually benefit capitalism and make it seem caring

89
Q

Evaluating Marxism - Strength

A

Shows how poverty can cause working class crime and how capitalism promotes greed and encourages ruling class crime too.

90
Q

Evaluating Marxism - Strength

A

Shows how law making and enforcement are biased against the working class and in favour of the powerful

91
Q

Evaluating Marxism - Evaluating Marxism - Limitation

A

Focuses on class and ignores the relationship between crime and other inequalities e.g. race or gender

92
Q

Evaluating Marxism - Limitation

A

Over predicts the amount of working class crime – not all poor people turn to crime.

93
Q

Evaluating Marxism - Limitation

A

Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates (however Marxists point out that in countries with little welfare provision, like the USA, the crime rates are higher).

94
Q

Structural theory

A

An explanation that focuses on the way in which society is organised

95
Q

Capitalism

A

An economic system in which there are 2 classes. The ruling class exploit the working class for profit.

96
Q

Bourgeoisie

A

The ruling class. They own the means of production. They exploit the working class for profit

97
Q

Proletariat

A

The working class. They have to sell their labour in order to survive.

98
Q

Institution

A

A complex, integrated set of social norms. E.g. the law, the education system, the family etc.

99
Q

Consumerism

A

A society which values the buying or consuming of goods

100
Q

Utilitarian crime

A

Crimes committed for financial gain.

101
Q

Corporate crime

A

Crime committed by, or on behalf of, a company

102
Q

Ideology

A

A set of ideas of beliefs

103
Q

Criminogenic

A

Causes crime

104
Q

White collar crime

A

Crime committed by an employee within the workplace

105
Q

Selective enforcement

A

When the law in applied differently to different people

106
Q

Realism - Left Realism and Crime: Lea and Young - Political outlook

A

Left wing, socialist. See inequality in capitalist society as root cause of crime. Crime reduction by making society fairer and more equal.

107
Q

Realism - Left Realism and Crime: Lea and Young - Cause: Relative deprivation

A

The media and growing inequality make people unable to afford the lifestyle that is promoted to them. Some turn to crime to gain what they think they should have.

108
Q

Realism - Left Realism and Crime: Lea and Young -Cause: Subculture

A

Criminal subcultures share society’s materialistic goals – legitimate opportunities to achieve them are blocked so they turn to crime.

109
Q

Realism - Left Realism and Crime: Lea and Young -Cause: Marginalisation

A

Marginalised groups (e.g. unemployed youths) have no goals or organisations to represent their interests. Their frustration leads them into non-utilitarian crime

110
Q

Realism - Evaluating Left Realism-Strength

A

Draws attention to importance of poverty, inequality and relative deprivation as causes of crime

111
Q

Realism - Evaluating Left Realism-Strength

A

Draws attention to reality of street crime especially effects on victims from deprived groups

112
Q

Realism - Evaluating Left Realism-Limitation

A

Henry & Milovanovic: Fails to explain crimes of the powerful

113
Q

Realism - Evaluating Left Realism-Limitation

A

Over-predicts working class crime. Not all poor people turn to crime.

114
Q

Realism - Evaluating Left Realism-Limitation

A

Focus on inner-city high-crime areas makes crime appear to be a greater problem than it is

115
Q

Realism - Right Realism and Crime - Political outlook

A

Right wing, conservative. See crime as a growing problem. Best way to reduce it is via control and punishment

116
Q

Realism - Right Realism and Crime -Cause: Biological differences

A

Wilson and Hernstein: Some individuals have biological traits which make them more prone to criminality

117
Q

Realism - Right Realism and Crime -Cause: Inadequate socialisation

A

The underclass is welfare dependent and does not havethe right norms and values. Lone mothers mean boys lack a male role model and turn to gangs

118
Q

Realism - Right Realism and Crime -Offending is a rational choice (RCT)

A

People weigh up the costs and benefits of committing a crime before deciding to do it. They have free will.

119
Q

Realism - Right Realism and Crime -Felson: RAT

A

For a crime to occur there needs to be a motivated offender, a suitable target, and lack of a capable guardian

120
Q

Realism - Evaluating Right Realism-Strength

A

RCT is supported by Rettig’s study where students choice to commit crime was determined by severity of punishment

121
Q

Realism - Evaluating Right Realism-Strength

A

Feldman’s study also found that people would commit crime if risks were low/rewards high

122
Q

Realism - Evaluating Right Realism-Strength

A

Bennet & Wright: Burglars said risk of being caught was important in deciding decision to commit the crime

123
Q

Realism - Evaluating Right Realism-Strength

A

May explain some opportunistic crimes such as petty theft

124
Q

Realism - Evaluating Right Realism-Limitation

A

Rettig & Feldman’s studies were lab experiments – not like real life

125
Q

Realism - Evaluating Right Realism-Limitation

A

Bennett & Wright studied convicted burglars. May not be the same as successful ones!

126
Q

Right wing

A

The view that social inequality is inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable

127
Q

Conservative

A

Averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values. Favours competition and meritocracy.

128
Q

Socialisation

A

Process of learning norms and values

129
Q

Capable guardian

A

Someone such as security guard or police officer who acts as a deterrent to crime

130
Q

Left wing

A

Supports social equality and often in opposition to social hierarchy. Wants to support the disadvantaged and reduce inequality.

131
Q

Socialist

A

Believes in cooperation and collective ownership. Favours equality and social welfare.

132
Q

Relative deprivation

A

Feeling poor or disadvantaged in comparison to those around you

133
Q

Subculture

A

A group within society that has its own set of norms and values that differ from the mainstream

134
Q

Marginalisation

A

Being on the outside of society

135
Q

RCT

A

Rational Choice Theory

136
Q

RAT

A

Routine Activity Theory

137
Q

Surveillance Theories - Foucault: The Panopticon - Key idea

A

In today’s society people engage in self-surveillance. We are also under electronic surveillance. Surveillance has become an increasingly important form of crime control.

138
Q

Surveillance Theories - Foucault: The Panopticon -The panopticon

A

A prison designed so that guards could see all prisoners, but prisoners did not know if they were being watched or not.

139
Q

Surveillance Theories - Foucault: The Panopticon -Self-surveillance

A

Prisoners had to assume they were being watched and behave properly just in case.

140
Q

Surveillance Theories - Foucault: The Panopticon -Disciplinary power

A

Foucault argues this design is now everywhere in society and disciplinary power and self-surveillance now reaches every individual.

141
Q

Surveillance theories - Mathiseson: Synoptic Surveillance -Key idea: The Synopticon

A

As well as surveillance from above, we are now surveilled from below as well – everybody watches everybody.

142
Q

Surveillance theories - Mathiseson: Synoptic Surveillance -Example

A

Motorists cyclists can monitor the behaviour of others with dashcams or helmet cameras. This may change the behaviour of others – they exercise self-discipline

143
Q

Surveillance theories - Actuarial Justice and Profiling-Actuarial

A

Comes from the insurance industry – an actuary is someone who calculates the risk of certain events happening e.g. how likely it is for your house to be burgled

144
Q

Surveillance theories - Actuarial Justice and Profiling-Feeley and Simon

A

Actuarial justice is a new form of surveillance. It aims to predict and prevent future offending. It uses statistical information to reduce crime by compiling profiles of likely offenders.

145
Q

Evaluating surveillance theories - Strength

A

Foucault’s work has led to more research into surveillance and disciplinary power – especially the idea of an electronic panopticon

146
Q

Evaluating surveillance theories - Strength

A

Researchers have identified other forms of surveillance such as actuarial justice and profiling

147
Q

Evaluating surveillance theories - Limitation

A

Foucault exaggerates the extent of control e.g Goffman shows how some inmates of prisons and mental hospitals resist controls

148
Q

Evaluating surveillance theories - Limitation

A

Surveillance may not change people’s behaviour as Foucault claims. E.g. studies show that CCTV may fail to prevent crime because offenders often take no notice of it.

149
Q

Surveillance

A

Close observation, especially of a suspected criminal or criminal target

150
Q

Panopticon

A

‘All-seeing’

151
Q

CCTV

A

Closed Circuit Television – security cameras

152
Q

Synopticon

A

Everybody watches everybody

153
Q

Disciplinary power

A

Power that is exercised over people, to develop their capacity for self-control, or to encourage them to conform to society’s norms and values

154
Q

Self-surveillance

A

When people have to regulate their own behaviour because they know they could be being watched.

155
Q

General criticisms of sociological theories - The underlying causes

A

Sociologists disagree with each other about the causes of crime

156
Q

General criticisms of sociological theories -Overprediction

A

Don’t explain why not every disadvantaged person turns to crime

157
Q

General criticisms of sociological theories -Biological and Psychological factors

A

Neglect factors that might explain why one person might turn to crime but another person in the same social position might not

WJEC Criminology at PHS (30 decks)

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