AC 2.3 Sociological theories of crime

Question 1

What are the different sociological theories?

Answer 1

Social structure theories
- Strain theory
- Marxism
Interactionism
- Labelling
Realism
- Left
- Right

Question 2

What is Merton’s strain theory of criminality? (Functionalist)

Answer 2

• there’s a strain on people who do not have the means to achieve their goals
• they then have to resort to crime
• society approves of legitimate means like getting an education
• poorer class people lack real opportunities so have to turn to illegitimate means

Question 3

According to Merton’s theory, what are the adaptations?

Answer 3

• Conformist (Means and Goals)
• Innovator (Means and Goals and do commit crime)
• Retreatist (No means No goals, do commit crime)
• Ritualist (Means, no goals, given up but don’t commit crime)
• Rebel (create their own means and goals)

Question 4

What do marxists believe causes crime?

Answer 4

• the unequal division between bourgeoise and proletariat
• bourgeoisie control the criminal justice and laws are in place to protect them (they can commit white collar crime and get away with it)
• Proletariat lack control which leads to frustration and aggression (leads to criminality)
• Bourgeoisie boast the things they have/produce. The proletariat want these things but can’t afford them so turn to crime

Question 5

What do marxists believe causes crime?

Answer 5

• the unequal division between bourgeoise and proletariat
• bourgeoisie control the criminal justice and laws are in place to protect them (they can commit white collar crime and get away with it)
• Proletariat lack control which leads to frustration and aggression (leads to criminality)

Question 6

Give 3 strengths of Marxists theory?

Answer 6

• Provides an explanation that covers. all social classes and variety of offences
• Helps to highlight the inequality in criminal justice eg high number of white collar crime go unreported
• Marxism theorists claim that people are driven by greed, which explains why wealthy people commit crime

Question 7

Give 3 weaknesses of Marxism theory?

Answer 7

• Ignores other inequalities like gender and ethnicity
• Not all working class people commit crime, all WC experience the same but don’t all commit crime
• Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates

Question 8

What crime control policies were developed by Merton’s strain theory?

Answer 8

• Tackling poverty
• Education in prison

Question 9

What is the interactionist labelling theory of criminality?

Answer 9

• Edwin Lemert argues that labelling is the cause of crime and deviance.
• Once a person has committed a primary act of deviance, people then label the person as criminal and treat them in terms of their offender status and it becomes their ‘master status’.
• They get rejected by society and are forced into the company of criminals
• This results in a self fulfilling prophecy

Question 10

Give 2 strengths of the labelling theory?

Answer 10

• Can explain why certain groups eg young black males are overrepresented in crime statistics
• Shows the impact of the media on criminality

Question 11

Give 3 weaknesses of the labelling theory?

Answer 11

• Wrongly implies that once a label is applied, a deviant career is inevitable
• Gives offenders ‘victim’ status
• Fails to explain why certain groups are likely to be labelled as criminal

Question 12

What is the left realism theory?

Answer 12

• Left wing, labour approach
• they see inequality in a capitalist society as the cause of crime
• the main perpetrators and victims are the working class and ethnic minority groups
• Lea Young identify three related causes of crime

Question 13

According to left realists Lea and Young, what are the three causes of crime?

Answer 13

• Relative deprivation
• Marginalisation
• Subcultures

Question 14

According to Left realists, Lea and young, how does relative deprivation cause crime?

Answer 14

• The poor feel deprived, they’re not getting what they should, they start to compare themselves to others.
• leads to a ‘bulimic society’ as they feel starved
• a feeling of relative deprivation can make people turn to crime a a way of redressing balance or as a way of venting frustrations
• the feelings of relative deprivation are increasing as a result of materialism and social media

Question 15

According to left realists Lea and Young, how does marginalisation lead to criminality?

Answer 15

• Marginalisation happens to groups in society when they are ignored or overlooked.
• They become frustrated and feel they have no power over the way people are treating them.
• Leads to confrontation with authority

Question 16

According to Left realists Lea and Young how do subcultures lead to criminality?

Answer 16

• Joining a subculture is a way to deal with relative deprivation and marginalisation. Makes them feel less isolated
• They engage in criminal behaviour in these subcultures
• They all have a perception that society doesn’t value them. Leading to them dealing with this in a criminal manner

Question 17

Give 2 strengths of the Left realism theory

Answer 17

• provides an explanation that covers all social classes and a variety of different offences
• Draws attention to the importance of inequality in society and importance of fixing this to reduce crime

Question 18

Give 3 weaknesses of the Left realism theory?

Answer 18

• None of the reasons explain honour crime
• Right realists would criticise for being too soft as there is little focus on punishment
• Does not explain why everyone who been has marginalised/ feels relative deprivation does not turn to crime

Question 19

What crime control policy is informed by the left realist theory?

Answer 19

• Prevent
• A multi agency approach to preventing terrorism
• Left realists argue that crime must involve many other agencies apart from the police

Question 20

Give a strength to Prevent - the left realist crime control policy

Answer 20

• successfully prevented people being drawn into terrorism
• 4 ISIS members arrested in Germany

Question 21

Give 4 weaknesses to Prevent - the left realist crime control policy

Answer 21

• been accused of mainstream discrimination, Muslims are more likely to be referred
• Innocent people are being referred to the programme
• Undermines the relationship between teachers and pupils who feel they have a legal duty to ‘spy’
• Not everyone is aware of terrorist ideologies (eg teachers have to report and they may not be aware) makes it inconsistent

Question 22

What is the right realist theory/

Answer 22

• right wing, conservation outlook
• They reject Marxist and left realist ideas
• There are biological reasons why people commit crime eg brain abnormality, and inadequate socialisation and offending as a rational choice

Question 23

According to right realists what are the three reasons for crime?

Answer 23

• Biological reasons - brain abnormality
• Inadequate socialisation - lack of male role model causes boys to become delinquent, single parents are to blame, there is a growing underclass of non workers dependent on benefits.
• Offending as a rational choice - deciding to commit crime is based on careful calculation. they argue crime rate is high because perceived costs of crime are too low. Criminals see little risk of getting caught

Question 24

Give 3 strengths of the right realist theory?

Answer 24

• has informed government policy on crime (penal populism)
• offers practical approaches to reducing crime (target hardening)
• Bennet and Wright interviewed burglars and found evidence of crime being a rational choice.

Question 25

Give 3 weaknesses of the right realist theory?

Answer 25

• Offending is not always a rational choice - crime is often committed under the influence of drugs and alcohol and they don’t have the mental stability for it to be rational
• Considered discriminatory towards certain groups, which may perpetuate existing prejudice in society
• Criticised by left realists for their heavy focus on individuals

Question 26

What crime control policy has been informed by right realists?

Answer 26

• They argue policies need to focus on preventing offenders making the choice to commit crime
• Target hardening (situational crime prevention) - involves making a crime more difficult to commit
• Penal populism