Unit 2 - AC2.3 - Describe sociological theories of criminality

Question 1

what is sociological theories of criminality

Answer 1

these focus on how society influences whether people become criminal

Question 2

what are the 4 sociological theories

Answer 2

social structure / interactionism / realism / functionalism

Question 3

what does social structure mean

Answer 3

this refers to how peoples place in the socioeconomic structure of their society influences the chances of them becoming a criminal

Question 3

what does social structure mean

Answer 3

this refers to how peoples place in the socioeconomic structure of their society influences the chances of them becoming a criminal

Question 4

what are the 2 theories within social structure

Answer 4

marxism / selective enforcement

Question 5

who created the idea of marxism

Answer 5

karl marx

Question 6

what is a marxist view on criminality

Answer 6

criminal activity is inevitable in a capitalist society

Question 7

what are the 2 classes within society

Answer 7

the ruling capitalist class (bourgeoise) / the working class (proletariat)

Question 8

what is the reason that marxists say the ruling class exploit the working class

Answer 8

profit

Question 9

how many reasons did marx say there are as to why crime is inevitable

Answer 9

4

Question 10

what is the first reason fir crime

Answer 10

the working class are exploited and driven into poverty, then they turn to crime to survive

Question 11

what is the second reason for crime

Answer 11

aggressive advertising creates a desire for goods so people commit crimes to get them

Question 12

what is the third reason for crime

Answer 12

frustration and alienation caused by feelings of inequality due to the wealth divide

Question 13

what is the fourth reason for crime

Answer 13

profit is emphasised within society meaning competition is increased in the high classes leading to crimes like tax evasion, illegal dumping etc

Question 14

what do marxists believe that the ruling class use crime as a means of

Answer 14

social control

Question 15

what do institutions like police & schools encourage

Answer 15

conformity to capitalist values

Question 16

what crimes do marxists believe laws tend to ignore

Answer 16

white collar / corporate

Question 17

what crimes do marxists believe the law gives a higher profile to

Answer 17

street crimes / moral crimes

Question 18

what do marxists believe that the government fabricate

Answer 18

crime statistics

Question 19

what % of gov statistics are said to be false and misleading

Answer 19

42%

Question 20

carson found that ?/200 companies that had broken the law were prosecuted

Answer 20

3

Question 21

what is corporate crime usually punished with

Answer 21

fines

Question 22

what is selective enforcement

Answer 22

choosing to enforce certain laws and not others

Question 23

why do marxists think that the police/gov focus on crimes committed by the working class

Answer 23

to take the attention away from the ruling class who’s crimes tend to have more serious and widespread consequences

Question 24

who do laws appear to protect

Answer 24

working class

Question 25

who do marxists say the law actually protects

Answer 25

ruling class

Question 26

strengths of the marxism theory

Answer 26

the theory covers all classes and crimes / has practical applications

Question 27

weakness of the marxism theory

Answer 27

doesn't address gender or ethnic inequalities / can exaggerate the amount of crime by the working class / some capitalist countries don't have high crime rates like Switzerland and japan so cant be applied everywhere

Question 28

what is interactionism?

Answer 28

how people within a society interact with each other.

Question 29

what is the example of interactionist theory

Answer 29

labelling theory

Question 30

what is the labelling theory

Answer 30

a label is given to someone and then how we interact with them is influenced by their label

Question 31

what is argued about crime and deviance

Answer 31

no act is criminal or deviant itself, it becomes one when we create rules and regulations around the act to make it criminal

Question 32

what is an example of this

Answer 32

homosexuality was made a crime in the 50’s in the UK, but is no longer

Question 33

who identified the two types of deviance

Answer 33

edwin lemert

Question 34

what two types of deviance did lemert identify

Answer 34

primary and secondary

Question 35

what is primary deviance

Answer 35

trivial deviant acres that go uncaught like stealing stationary from work

Question 36

what is secondary deviance

Answer 36

acts that have been labelled as deviant

Question 37

what is a master status

Answer 37

the label given to someone

Question 38

what is the process of interactionism

Answer 38

master status - deviant subculture - self-fulfilling prophecy - deviance amp spiral - moral panic - increase call for action - etc

Question 39

define deviant subculture

Answer 39

a culture including deviance and crime

Question 40

what is an example of interactionism in society

Answer 40

mods and rockers

Question 41

strengths of interactionism

Answer 41

practical applications / shows media’s role

Question 42

weakness of interactionism

Answer 42

doesn’t explain the origins of the deviance /

Question 43

what are the 2 types of realism

Answer 43

right and left

Question 44

what us right realism

Answer 44

right wing conservative political viewpoints that encourage tough crime sentences

Question 45

what is crime related to in right realism

Answer 45

inadequate social control

Question 46

what perspective is the right realism theory in direct contrast to

Answer 46

Marxism

Question 47

what 3 factors do right realists see crime as a consequence of

Answer 47

biological differences / inadequate socialisation / offending as a rational choice.

Question 48

what is an example of inadequate socialisation theory

Answer 48

maternal deprivation / nuclear family

Question 49

strengths of right realism theory

Answer 49

Rettig's research supports the theory / discourages crime

Question 50

weaknesses of right realis theory

Answer 50

overlooks white collar crime / ignores poverty and situation as causes of crime / ignores impulsivity as a consequence of drugs and alcohol as a reason for crime

Question 51

what is left realism

Answer 51

left wing socialist political opinions that see societal inequalities as the reason fir crime

Question 52

what do left realists say the best way of reducing is

Answer 52

reducing inequality

Question 53

who argues that there are 3 related causes of crime

Answer 53

Lea and Young

Question 54

what are the 3 related causes of crime proposed by lea and young

Answer 54

related deprivation / subculture / marginalisation

Question 55

what is relative deprivation

Answer 55

how deprived someone feels compared to others

Question 56

what is subculture

Answer 56

a group who's values may promote crime to achieve the lifestyle they desire

Question 57

strengths of left realism

Answer 57

has practical applications / is seen as a more moral realism theory

Question 58

weaknesses of left realism

Answer 58

fails to explain white collar crime / doesnt explain why many people from working class and deprived backgrounds dont commit crime

Question 59

what is a FUNCTIONALIST view of crime

Answer 59

functionalists see crime as serving a number of functions in society

Question 60

what does emile durkheim see crime as

Answer 60

inevitable because expecting equally committed social values and beliefs from all members of a society is unrealistic

Question 61

what are the 3 functions does crime serve in society

Answer 61

uniting society / shared beliefs / social change

Question 62

what can crime be a warning of

Answer 62

something is wrong in society and it isnt functioning correctly

Question 63

strengths of functionalism

Answer 63

alternative viewpoint / it looks at crime as inevitable and that it has a function