unit 2 sociological theories of crime - marxist theories

Question 1

marxism: key ideas.

Answer 1

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Question 2

inequality

Answer 2

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

Question 3

two classes

Answer 3

society is divided into two main class groups - bourgeoisie and proletariat

Question 4

society’s institutions

Answer 4

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

Question 5

capitalism causes crime

Answer 5

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Question 6

exploitation

Answer 6

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

Question 7

consumerism

Answer 7

asvertising pressures people into utilitarian crimes to get goods

Question 8

alienation and frustration

Answer 8

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

Question 9

greed and the profit motive

Answer 9

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

Question 10

marking and enforcing the law

Answer 10

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Question 11

chambliss

Answer 11

laws are made to protect the private property of the rich

Question 12

selective law enforcement

Answer 12

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

Question 13

example: carson

Answer 13

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

Question 14

ideological functions of crime

Answer 14

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Question 15

ideas about crime and law

Answer 15

these are an ideology that conceal the inequality of capitalism

Question 16

selective enforcement

Answer 16

divides working class by making them blame eachother instead of capitalism for the problems they face in society

Question 17

diverts attention

Answer 17

nobody focuses on the much more serious ruling class crimes

Question 18

a caring face

Answer 18

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

Question 19

what are two strengths of the marxist theory of crime and law?

Answer 19

shows how poverty can cause working class crime and how capitalism promotes greed and encourages ruling class crime too, shows how law making and enforcement are biased against the working class and in favour of the powerful

Question 20

what are three limitations?

Answer 20

focuses on class and ignores the relationship between crime and other inequalities e.g race or gender, over predicts the amount of working class crime - not all poor people turn to crime, not all capitalist societies have crime rates

Question 21

what is a corporate crime?

Answer 21

crime committee by a company

Question 22

what is selective enforcement?

Answer 22

when the law is applied differently to different people