Sociological Theories of Crime: Structuralists Flashcards
What is sociology?
The study of society.
List the 8 Social institutions:
- Family
- Education
- Work
- Government/legislature
- Justice system
- Religion
- Welfare state
- Mass media
What do Structuralists believe?
Sociologists who believe society and the social institutions shape behaviour.
What do Internationalist’s believe?
Sociologists believe individuals are not passive, we shape society (more important).
What do Structuralists believe the first institution is? Why?
Your family because it’s the home of primary socialisation.
What is the family that performs primary socialisation according to Structuralists?
The nuclear family (a man and a women of the opposite sex who maintain a sexually approved sexual relationship, with there children own or adopted). i.e. heterosexual, married, breadwinner and housewife.
What is it suggested that other family types may cause?
Crime
What is gender role socialisation?
The process of teaching members of society how to behave according to gender expectations, or gender roles.
What social institution is the home of secondary socialisation? Why?
Education because it’s a microcosm of society so you learn how to practice society.
If you succeed in education you will be less likely to _______ ____.
commit crime
What percentage of the prison population were on free school means at school (non-nuclear families link to crime) and didn’t have 5 GCSE’s A-C (link between family and crime).
60%
Name the two types of structuralists.
- Consensus
- Conflict
What are Consensus structuralists?
Structuralists who believe that society is meritocratic (you are rewarded in society based on your own merits)- good and fair. Functionalists.
What are Conflict structuralists?
Structuralists believe that society isn’t meritocratic and that it creates inequality. Marxists.
Why might inequality be positive?
Inequality may matter for social cohesion, identifying a positive association between inequality.
