Evaluating Sociological Theories

• General Criticism:

  • The underlying cause- Sociologists disagree about the cause of crime, e.g. functionalism and Marxism see structural factors as the cause, whereas labelling theory sees it as the outcome of interaction between police and suspects
  • Over-prediction- Sociological theories don’t explain why not every individual who is deprived or suffering blocked opportunities commits crime.
  • Biological and psychological factors- sociological theories neglect the factors that may explain why one individual commits crime while another person in the exact same social position doesn’t