2.3- sociological crime theories

Question 1

Durkheim

Answer 1

crime is innevitable, because
Boundary maintenance
Social change
safety value-DAVIS 1937
warning light
S- holistic, supporting studies
W- applicabilty (social classes), pred validity, victims

Question 2

Mertons strain theory

Answer 2

crime= unequal structure+ money success
blocked opportunities and strain
conformists,innovators,ritualists,retreatist, revellists
S- explanatory power
W- imposed etic, reductions (w.c crime)

Question 3

subculture theories

Answer 3

deviant subcultures=
COHEN 1955- agrees with merton deviance results from innovatos, however group response+n.u crime
Cloward and Ohin 1960
-crim subculture
conflict subculture
retreatist subculture
S-theoretical consitency, explanatory power
W- rich reductionist, imposed etic

Question 4

Marxism

Answer 4

bourgeousie vs proleteriat
capitalism=criminogenic:
exploitation, inequality, consumerism, greed
WILLIAM CHAMBLIS 1975,
selective law enforcement
S- explanatory power,
W- class reductionist, Japan= 1/5 of homocide rates of USA, socially sensitive

Question 5

Interactionilsm

Answer 5

Crim= social construct
Labelling theory, Lermert 1972 (1st + 2nd deviance)
Cizeroule 1968- police use typificatipns
Deviancy amplification spiral, Jack young 1971- hippies
S- explanatory power, supporting studies
W- environmental determinism, morality

Question 6

Right wing

Answer 6

RW, see crime as growing problem, concerned with practical solutions by control and punishment
reject marxism
Biological differences- Wilson and Hernstein 1985
Inadequate socialisation- Murray 1990
-offending is RCT
s- feildman 1977 found RCT theory true
Flood page et al 2000 found no family= crime
w- emphasis on w.c
RCT cant explain influenced crime

Question 7

Left realism

Answer 7

LW, inequality in capitalist society cause of crime, argue disadvantaged groups= more crime
Relative deprivation- Lee and young argue advertising= crime, Young 2002 relative deprivation downwards
Subcultures- crim subculture- blocked opportunity
Marginalisation- Lee and young 1984- marginalised groups are ones that lack organisations to present them (jobless youths)= crime
S- focuses on poor
W- class refuctionist, unexplained crime

Question 8

Survaillence theories

Answer 8

Foucalt:the panopticon 1975
Synoptic survaillence-Mathiesen 1997
S- stimulated research
W- goffman 1961- prison resist control