criminology 2.3 Flashcards
(30 cards)
what is an agent of social control
anyone who helps maintain social control
labelling theory assumption
crime is a social construct and the labels society gives to deviant behaviour results in crime.
key theorist for labelling theory
Howard becker
beckers theory on labeling
Becker says laws are decided by powerful groups. they allow us to label people who don’t conform
what is primary labelling
initial stage of defining deviant behaviour.
is not labeled so person may not see action as deviant.
what is secondary deviance
person is labeled as deviant
who does labelling
agents of social control eg police, teachers, parents.
the media
what is a self-fulfilling prophecy
when a person lives up to the labels they have been given.
consequences of labelling
1: indivdual is labeled by the public as deviant.
2:encourages more deviance.
3: how behaviour is treated could lead to more deviance.
4: a deviant career.
5: deviant becomes their master status.
what is social class
a diversion of society based on social and economic status
what does social structure mean
social structure refers to how society is arranged and organised
what is Marxist assumption of criminality
capitalism is a crime is self due to inequality. it creates competition allow the ruling class to make laws, and force people into crime for material goods.
what is capitalism
a society where government is democratic ( society chooses leader)
property can be privately owned and uneven distribution of wealth. focuses on individuals
what is communism
a society where the government is totalitarian ( government has total control over society) property is owned by the state, wealth is distributed evenly and focuses of a community as a whole.
what its utilitarian crimes and who/why might people commit it
financial crimes such as robbery
lower class people may not feel like they can obtain materialistic goods and steal to obtain it.
what is non-utilitarian crimes and who/why might people commit it
non finacial crimes like graffiti
lower class may commit these out of anger against capitalism
cons of marxist theory of crime
it ignores other causes of crime.
sometimes the criminal justice system acts against higher class.
and other capitalist society like Japan have low crime rates
what does left realism assume
left realism assumes that society is responsible for crime y making people feel deprived and forces people to turn to crime to not feel deprived.
what does right realism assume
assumes individuals are responsible for crimes and society should get tougher on crime.
what is the welfare system
a system that looks after the health of people in a country
what do right realist not think criminals have?
right morals due to not being in a nuclear family (family with 2 parents)
what has the welfare state created in society
the welfare state has created a underclass who commit crime.
what does RCT suggest people do
people weigh the the rewards and punishments of committing a crime.
