Chapter 2- Explaining Deviance: The Act Flashcards
What is a Theory?
a set of statements or principles intended to explain a fact or phenomenon.
Early theories of deviance focused on what?
The supernatural
Cesare Lombroso’s Theory of Atavism
explained criminality on the basis of evolution. He suggested that criminals were atavists.
What is an atavist?
Evolutionary throwbacks who biology prevented them from forming to society’s rules
____ theories begin with the assumptions that there is an objective reality that can be understood
Positivist
What is the goal of positives theories
to uncover the laws that govern human behaviour and experiences.
What are the three categories of theories in positivist theory?
Functionalist, learning, and social control theories.
Assumptions of functional theories
The social structure creates deviance
Durkheim’s Anomie Theory
Argued that a certain level of deviance is functional for society.
What is anomie
normlessness
Merton’s Anomie and Strain Theories
Anomie results when the goals become more important than the means, and strain results when there is a structural gap between the goals and means.
Cloward and Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity Theory
The structure and organization of society results not only in differential access to legitimate opportunities but also differential access to illegitimate opportunities.
Agnew’s general Strain Theory
When you have sources of strain accompanied by negative affective states, it can increase the likelihood of antisocial or deviant behaviour.
Cohen’s Status Frustration Theory
Inequalities found in the structure of society are reproduced in the classroom resulting in the formation of delinquent subcultures among lower-class boys
The assumption of Learning Theories
People learn to be deviant
