Pdf summary

• What are the key questions regarding theories of crime and deviance?

  What is crime and deviance? Why do people commit crime? What happens if a person is labelled as a criminal? Are crime statistics valid?
• What are the definitions of crime and deviance?

  • Crime: Any act which breaks the laws of society (e.g., murder, rape).
  • Deviance: Behaviour that moves away from conventional norms and values (e.g., burping in public).
• What is an example of a deviant but not criminal behavior?

  Burping in public
• What is an example of a criminal but not deviant behavior?

  Speeding

  
• What is an example of behavior that is both deviant and criminal?

  Rape
• How is crime and deviance considered relative?

  • Crime and deviance change with time, place, and culture.
  • What one society sees as a crime, another may not (e.g., polygamy).
• What does it mean for crime to be socially constructed?

  • Crime and deviance are defined by societal norms.
  • They are not inherently wrong but culturally specific.
• Who was an early criminologist that sought physical characteristics of criminals?

  Cesare Lombroso
• What are Durkheim's key ideas about crime?

  1. Crime is inevitable and necessary for society.
  2. Crime has positive functions.
  3. A perfect amount of crime keeps society healthy and avoids anomie.
• What are the positive functions of crime according to Durkheim?

  1. Re-marking social boundaries.
  2. Media coverage as a warning.
  3. Strengthening social bonds.
  4. Safety valve for deviance.
  5. Alerts to social problems.
• What does the concept of a "society of saints" imply about crime?

  Even minor deviations would be criminalized in a society without crime.
• What is Merton's key idea regarding deviant behavior?

  • Deviance occurs when individuals cannot achieve socially approved goals.
  • Strain between societal goals and legitimate means leads to frustration and deviance.
• What are Merton's five adaptations to strain?

  1. Conformity
  2. Innovation
  3. Ritualism
  4. Retreatism
  5. Rebellion
• What type of crime do lower class and ethnic minorities commit according to Merton?

  They are more likely to commit criminal acts due to their social position.
• What does Albert Cohen's status frustration theory suggest?

  • Lower class individuals feel frustrated due to lack of success.
  • They reject societal norms and create their own values in gangs.
• What do Cloward and Ohlin's opportunity structures indicate?

  • The type of crime committed depends on the available opportunities in one's area.
  • Criminal, conflict, and retreatist subcultures arise based on social cohesion and population turnover.
• What does Walter Miller's theory on lower class subcultures propose?

  • Different social classes have distinct focal concerns leading to different criminal activities.
  • Lower class seeks excitement due to lack of fulfillment in work.
• How do contemporary examples of street gangs in Favelas and South Africa relate to subcultural theories?

  • Gangs may conform to their own norms rather than rejecting societal values.
• What are the key components of interactionism and labelling theory?

  1. Focus on social interactions and context.
  2. No act is intrinsically deviant; it depends on societal perception.
  3. Labelling process can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies.
• What is the deviancy amplification spiral?

  • Sensationalist media reporting distorts crime and increases public awareness.
  • Leads to moral panic and scapegoating of certain groups.
• Who studied the demonization of youth culture in the 1960s?

  Stanley Cohen
• What is the difference between blue collar and white collar crime?

  • Blue collar crime: Street crimes committed by working-class individuals.
  • White collar crime: Non-violent crimes committed by middle/upper-class individuals, often hidden.
• What are the challenges in prosecuting white collar crime?

  • Difficulties in determining responsibility and victimhood.
  • Often dealt with administratively rather than criminally.
• What was the case study of the Guinness affair about?

  • False claims of success led to inflated share prices and profits for directors.
• What was the case study of Enron about?

  • False accounting led to bankruptcy, affecting thousands of creditors and employees.
• What is the Marxist perspective on crime?

  • The law serves the ruling class and maintains their power.
  • Crime is a result of capitalism and social inequalities.
• What are the ideological functions of law according to Marxism?

  • Laws protect private property and serve ruling class interests.
  • They divert attention from the true nature of crime and its causes.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Marxist perspective on crime?

  Strengths:

  • Links law to ruling class interests.
  • Highlights selective enforcement.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Deterministic; not all working-class commit crime.
  • Low crime rates in some capitalist countries.
• What is a fully social theory of deviance according to Taylor, Walton, and Young?

  1. Wider origins of the deviant act.
  2. Immediate origins of the deviant act.
  3. The act itself.
  4. Immediate origins of social reaction.
  5. Wider origins of social reaction.
  6. Effects of labelling.
• What was the context of policing the crisis according to Stuart Hall?

  • 1970s social crisis in Britain led to scapegoating of certain groups.
  • Mugging was linked to African-Caribbean backgrounds, leading to media outrage.
• What are the key ideas of right realism regarding crime?

  • Crime is rooted in biology and poor socialization.
  • Solutions include harsher social control and surveillance.
• What does rational choice theory suggest about criminal behavior?

  • Individuals weigh costs and benefits before committing crime.
  • If benefits outweigh costs, crime is more likely to occur.
• What are the criticisms of right realism?

  • Fails to explain white collar crime and domestic violence.
  • Overstates rationality and ignores poverty.
• What are the key ideas of left realism regarding crime?

  • Root causes include relative deprivation, marginalization, and exclusion.
  • Solutions involve improving housing, job opportunities, and democratic policing.
• How do Young and Lea view crime in relation to social class?

  • Most crime is committed by the working class against other working-class individuals due to relative deprivation and individualism.
• What does marginalization refer to in the context of crime?

  • Marginalized groups lack clear goals or representation, leading to violence and rioting.
• What are the proposed solutions to tackle crime according to left realism?

  • Improve housing conditions.
  • Provide better job opportunities.
  • Foster a better relationship between police and the public.
• What are some benefits mentioned in the study material that could improve society?

  Better housing, more job opportunities, and more democratic policing
• What are the criticisms of the theory discussed in the study material?

  • Doesn't explain white collar crime or domestic violence
  • Minimum wage and housing conditions have never been better
  • M/C could be relatively deprived and individualistic, yet don’t commit as much crime
  • Impossible to get rid of relative deprivation
• According to Young and Lea, who commits most crime and why?

  Most crime is committed by the working class against the working class due to relative deprivation and individualism