theories

• functionalism - Durkheim

  • crime is inevitable as not everyone follows society norms and values
  • crime is positive and strengthens social solidarity
  • need a certain amount for society to function
• merton strain theory

  • society encourages us to achieve the American dream
  • not all have the means to be able to achieve goals therefore turn to crime
  • become either: conformists, retreatists, rebels, ritualistic, innovators
• interactionism - Becker

  • how people interact with one another
  • labelling theory - agents of social control label certain acts as deviant or criminal
  • argues official statics on crime are socially constructed, need to understand subjectively
• interactionism - lemert

  • primary deviance - an act of deviance that has not been labelled deviant e.g shoplifting
  • secondary deviance - an act that has been labelled deviant e.g robbery
  • becomes their master status
• right realism - Murray

  • considers crime from conservative perspective, getting tough on crime
  • argues everyone is tempted to commit crime but it is the amount of social bonds that prevent us from doing so
  • underclass - those who haven't been socialised enough into society e.g boys with no father figures
• left realism

  • crime lies in the inequalities created by a capitalist society
  • believe practical measures and long term change needed for an equal and caring society