Sociological Theories

Question 1

According to Durkheims functionalist theory why is crime inevitable

Answer 1

That some people are inadequate, socialised and likely to be more deviant. As well as behaviour rules becoming less clear and contridict what people agree on

Question 2

What is boundary maintence in Durkheim’s functions of crime

Answer 2

Crime produces reaction that unites society members against the wrongdoer which reminds than what is right and wrong

Question 3

What is social change for Durkeims functions of crime

Answer 3

Society progress individuals with new ideas must challenge existing norm and values, first seen as deviant

Question 4

What is safety values according to Durkheims functions of crime

Answer 4

Argues prostitution act to release mens sexual frustration without threating the nuclear family

Question 5

What is warning lights in Durkeim’s function of crime

Answer 5

Deviant indicate that institution isn’t functioning proper

Question 6

What is Merton’s strain theory

Answer 6

crime occurs when there aren’t enough legitimate opportunities for people to achieve the normal success goals for society. ‘strain’ between goals and ways of achieving.

Question 7

In Merton’s Strain theory what is the american dream

Answer 7

Ways of encouraging individuals to pursue a goal of success which was largly measured in terms of wealth and material possession. People need to be ambitious, talented and work hard to achieve this

Question 8

what is Merton’s concept of anomie

Answer 8

describes the imbalance between cultural goals and institutionalised means . imbalance society causes anomie strain or tension between goals and means which produce unsatisfied aspirations

Question 9

In the 5 adaptations to strain what is conformity

Answer 9

Pursing cultural goals through socially approved means

Question 10

What is innovation in the 5 adaptations to strain

Answer 10

Socially unapproved or unconventional means to obtain culturally approved goals. EG: drug dealings for financial gain

Question 11

What it Ritualism in strain theory

Answer 11

Same socially approved means to achieving less elusive goals

Question 12

What is retreatism in the 5 adaptations of strain

Answer 12

Reject both cultural goals and means of obtaining, find a way to escape

Question 13

What is rebellion

Answer 13

Reject cultural goals and means then work to replace them

Question 14

Albert Cohen status frustration is a subcultural theory on crime. What does he find wrong with Mertons strain theory

Answer 14

Sees subcultural deviance as a group response to failure, not individual
Focuses on non-utilitarian crime (ones not for gain) eg vandalism

Question 15

In Albert Cohen what is status frustration

Answer 15

Find new ways of gaining status, such as swearing at teachers or trying to be a rebel to get credit for other reasons than normal means

Question 16

What does Albert Cohen means by alternative status hierarchy

Answer 16

Ways they can win respect from peers through delinquent actions. Inverts society values

Question 17

In Cloward and Ohlin what is a criminal subculture

Answer 17

Arise where there is longstanding professional crime network they select suitable youths for ‘apprenticeship’ in utilitarian crimes and future crime career

Question 18

What is a conflict subculture in Cloward and Ohlin subcultures

Answer 18

Arise where only criminal opportunities are within street gangs. Violence provides a release for frustration and source of status earned by winning territory from rival gangs

Question 19

In Cloward and Ohlin subcultures what is retreatist subcultures

Answer 19

Made up of dropouts who failed both legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures

Question 20

What is meant by labelling theory

Answer 20

When something isn’t seen as bad or deviant until we decide to put rules against that thing. EG smoking cannabis is only illegal because laws against it was put into place

Question 21

What did Piliavin and Briar find

Answer 21

ideas of who police where arresting based of stereotype and when crime was committed. Young males at night in high crime area are more likely to get arrested

Question 22

What is primary deviance in labelling theory

Answer 22

Involves acts that have not been publicly labelled. Often trivial and mostly go uncaught. Such as travelling on public transport without paying

Question 23

What is secondary deviance

Answer 23

Results of labelling, people may treat offender solely in terms of label, becomes master status or controlling identity. Seen as thief overriding all his other statuses such as dad, churchgoer workman

Question 24

How does the offender being rejecting by society help them become a self fulfilling prophecy

Answer 24

Person becomes outcast of community and so get that label. hang around other people with same label and then become self-fulfillibg to what label said they were

Question 25

What did Cohens study of mods and rockers and young study of hippies find

Answer 25

That use of drugs are not central to hippies lifestyle and went undetected police attention increased attention to this. Leads them going into the fact they went into police who did the same act

Question 26

In an interactionist crime satistics how they complied by police what is meant by

Answer 26

Police stereotype working class makes a typical criminal they all spend more time pushing groups. Due to police stereotypes statics would be full working class males meaning statistics are therefore a social construct and not true measure of crime

Question 27

What are the 2 classes marx thing society are split into

Answer 27

Bourgonie (rich who profit) Proletoriat (poor who wants wages)

Question 28

According to marx why does capitalism pushing consumer goods cause crime

Answer 28

People will commit theft to obtain those items

Question 29

Why would inequality lead to crime according to marx

Answer 29

Inequality causes feelings of alienation and frustration lead to non-utilitarian crime (violence and vandalism)

Question 30

How does capitalism actual cause crime among capitalist themselves

Answer 30

Is a dog-eat-dog system and profit motive promotes greed. Encourages capitalism to commit corporate crimes (tax evasion, breaking health and safety laws) gain an advantage

Question 31

How does law enforcement cause selectivity by marxs

Answer 31

Its against the working class and not the upper class. White collar crime and corprate crime of the rich are less likely to be prosectued than working class 'street' crimes

Question 32

what is a white collar crime

Answer 32

Use of position to commit crime and normally for their own financial purpose

Question 33

What is a corporate crime

Answer 33

Done to benefit the companty. EG not buying all the right equipment for the safety of their staff

Question 34

Out of the 200 companies who broken laws about health and safty how many did carson find were prosecuted

Answer 34

3

Question 35

How many successful prosecutions were made in eight yeats of corporate homicide

Answer 35

1

Question 36

What do right realism believe about crime

Answer 36

Crime is seen as growing problem and concerned with practical solutions to reduce crime. Favour control and punishment over rehabilitation and tackling poverty

Question 37

Right realists reject marxs and argues crime comes from three factors. What factors

Answer 37

Biological differences inadequate socialisation offending is rational choice

Question 38

What is meant by being biological different between individuals

Answer 38

according to Wilson and Herrnstein, people more likely to commit crime id their view personality traits associated with criminality, aggressiveness, risk taking or low intelligence are innate

Question 39

What is meant by inadequate socialisation

Answer 39

teach someone self control and correct values that will be less likely to offend Could get affected how family is being run. People will no longer need a father figure at home due to state taking responsibility of what farther used to do

Question 40

In inadequate socialisation what did Murray mean by 'underclass'

Answer 40

When people fail to socialise their family properly. Lack of father might not get disciple proper. lead them not knowing what is right and wrong fully and so joins a gang

Question 41

What did right realist believe about offending being a rational choice

Answer 41

We have free will. We commit crime it is out of choice. We judge the risk and cost and reward benefit. means that where crime is happening is because of low the crime is how soft people could be

Question 42

What is meant by Felson's routine activity theory

Answer 42

need to be motivated offender Satiable target Absence of pf a capable guardian

Question 43

What is left realism and crime

Answer 43

believe capitalism and inequality are seen as root causes of crime. Main victims are the disadvantaged groups

Question 44

According to left realism why is crime higher in working class areas

Answer 44

high levels of unemployment and deprivation. They also think police take crime against these people less seriously.

Question 45

What is Relative deprivation

Answer 45

that crime is rooted in it and how deprived or badly of someone feels relation to others Media continually pump out messages urging everyone to aspire to material possessions promoting what youth calls 'culture hook'