crime and deviance theorists Flashcards
(36 cards)
Durkheim- Functionalism
Positive functions of crime- boundary maintenance, adaption and change. crime is inevitable and universal
Merton- Functionalism
Strain Theory- deviance is the result of a strain between the goals a culture encourages individuals to achieve and what the structure of society allows them to achieve. E.g. issues with the American Dream. Deviant adaptions- Conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion.
Cloward and Ohlin- Functionalism
Different subcultures- different neighbourhoods provide different illegitimate opportunities for young people to learn criminal skills. three types of subcultures- criminal subcultures, conflict subcultures and retreatist subculture.
A. Cohen- Functionalism
Status frustration- can’t achieve middle class life style so commit crime out of their frustration
S. Cohen- Interactionism
Folk Devils and Moral panics- reaction to the mods and rockers based on a press reaction. leads to deviancy amplifications.
Becker- Interactionism
Labelling theory- powerful label the lower status individuals as a form of social control
Lemert- Interactionism
primary deviance- acts not publicly labelled.
secondary deviance- acts which are labelled. leads to a master status and a deviant career.
Chambliss- Class and Crime
laws protect private property- so support the bourgeoisie
Gordon- Class and Crime
Crime is a rational response to capitalism- it exists in all classes
Taylor et al- Class and Crime
To fully understand crime, you need to look at- wider origins of deviant acts, immediate origins of the deviant act, act itself, social reaction
Young- Realism and Crime
there is an increase in crime from the 1950’s- particularly working class crime. crime is worsened in a media saturated society
Murray- Realism and Crime- Right
argues that the crime rate is increasing because of a growing underclass or ‘new rabble’ that is defined by their deviant behaviour and those who fail to socialise their children properly
Clarke- Realism and Crime- Right
argues that the decision to commit crime is a choice based on a rational calculation of the likely consequences
Lea and Young - Realism and Crime- Left
Three causes of crime- relative deprivation, subcultures, marginalisation
Wilson and Kelling- Realism and Crime-
Broken Windows theory- zero tolerance on all deviance. the ideas of ‘sweat the small stuff’ so serious crime does not happen
Heidensohn - Gender and Crime
Observes that gender differences are perhaps the ‘most significant feature of recorded crime’. Most crime appears to be committed by males. there is patriarchal control of women at home, in public and at work. less opportunity to commit crime
Pollak- Gender and Crime
Chivalry Thesis- men are socialised to act in a chivalrous way towards women which leads to less women being accused of criminal acts
Carlen - Gender and Crime
Double standards exist in the CJS- women are judges against their female role as girls, daughters, wives
Parsons- Gender and Crime
Sex role theory- women perform traditional female roles therefore they have less opportunity to commit crime
Messerschmidt- Gender and Crime
the social construct of masculinity leads to men committing crime. they use crime as a way to assert authority- more common in white middle class youths, white working class youths and black lower class youths.
Adler- Gender and Crime
women are liberated from patriarchy- so crimes are becoming more similar to men
Hall et Al- Ethnicity and Crime
Moral panic over black muggers- example of how an ethnic group became a scape goat
McPherson report- Ethnicity and Crime
report which looks into the Stephen Lawrence case- identified institutional racism in the CJS.
Phillips and Bowling- Ethnicity and Crime
Police over police and under protect ethnic minority groups.
