Crime Key Studies Flashcards
(8 cards)
What is the functionalist Mertons strain theory?
Peoples goals and aspirations are shaped by their culture eg. American dream = economic success
Some people experience a strain between the goals and meanings of achieving them, may lead to anomie (normlessness)
And may cause them to turn to crime
What is Beckers interactionist perspective?
She argues deviance is created by society
Powerful social groups create deviance by making own rules
People can develop deviant careers if labelled as deviant (becomes master status and self fulfilled)
What is the feminist Heidensohns control theory?
Women commit less crime because they are more closely controlled in society
In a patriarchal society, women have stronger social control on them which reduces the opportunities to commit crime
At home- controlled by domestic responsibilities
At work- feared by damage to reputation and male violence
What was the feminist Carlens class and gender deal?
She explains why working class women commit crime
She argues they are promised 2 rewards for conforming to society ‘class deal’- money and material items from working hard
And ‘gender deal’ - a happy husband and children
She found wc women turned to crime when these rewards are blocked eg. Poverty, drug addiction
What is the functionalist Cohens subcultural theory?
He argues that delinquency is carried out by groups not individuals (small crimes/ not money motivated)
Wc boys experience status frustration at not succeeding in school
They join/form delinquent subculture to gain alternative status for deviance
Criticisms of mertons strain theory?
-Not clear why some individuals break rules and others conform
-many sociologists believe society based on conflict not shared values
Criticisms of beckers interactionist theory?
- does not explain why individuals deviate in first place
- interactionism sees criminals as victims of labels not people who chose to commit crime
-some argue that structure of society influences behaviour
Criticisms of Albert cohens subculture theory?
-middle class bias
- focused on boys, feminists wonder how far this goes with girls
