Class, Power and Crime Flashcards
How do functionalists view the law?
A reflection of society’s shared values
How do functionalists view crime?
The product of poor socialization into societies values
What does Walter Miller argue about the lower class?
The lower class has developed an independent subculture which clashes with mainstream culture.
What does ‘Strain theory’ argue?
People engage in deviant behavior when their opportunities for legitimate success are blocked
How does Cohen view working class youths?
Culturally deprived as they have not been socialized into the mainstream, middle class culture
What is delinquent subculture seen as a solution for?
Status frustration
How do working class youths gain status amongst their peers?
Inverting mainstream values such as respect for property (vandalism)
What are functionalist, strain and subcultural theories described as?
Problem takers - Take broad figures for granted and that crime needs to be explained by finding the cause
How do labelling theorists approach class differences in crime?
Search for how and why working class people are labelled as criminal
Why are Labelling theorists described as problem makers?
They don’t see official statistics as valid social facts or useful. Instead crime statistics should be investigated
What do Marxists and Labelling theorists agree on regarding the law?
That the law is enforced disproportionally against the working classes
What do Marxists disagree with labeling theorists on?
They believe that Labelling theories neglect the effects of capitalism on crime
What is Criminogenic capitalism?
The belief that capitalism forces people to commit crime
What does David Gordon argue about crime?
That it is a valid response to the capitalist system and why it appears in all social classes
How do Marxists view law making and law enforcement?
They serve the interests of the capitalist class
What does William Chambliss argue about private property?
They are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy
What does Laureen Snider argue?
The capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of the businesses or threaten their profitability
What does Frank Pearce argue about laws that benefit the working class?
They are in place to keep workers fit for work and give capitalism a ‘friendly face’.
What does the selective enforcement of the law cause in the working class?
It divides the workers as they are told to blame the criminals and not the capitalist system
What are some criticisms of Marxists view on crime?
- Ignores non class inequalities
- Over predicts the amount of crime in the working class
- Not all capitalists society’s have high crime rate
- Ignores inter-class crimes
What are Neo-Marxists?
Sociologists who combine Marxists views with other views such as Labelling theorists
What does Taylor agree with Marxists on?
- Capitalism is based on exploitation
- State creates laws in the interest of the capitalist class
- Capitalism should be replaced with a classless society
What does Taylor criticize Marxists on?
They say its deterministic
What view does Taylor et al take?
neo-marxist
