2.3 Describe sociological theories of criminality

    Cards (22)

    • Sociological theories

      Focus on the role of the social factors such as the structure of society and the different classes.
      • Functionalist theories
      • Marxist theories
      • Interactionist explanations
      • Left and right realism
      • Surveillance theories
    • Functionalist theories of crime
      Durkheim claimed society is stable due to shared norms and values about what behaviour is and isn't accepted. When people commit crime and deviate from the norms "anomie" occurs - this means society is at risk of becoming normless.
    • Boundary maintenance

      Reactions of society after a crime serves as a reminder to others that criminal behaviour is unacceptable.
    • Functionalist theory 

      Merton "strain theory" - focus on the role of unequal structures and how they cause criminality. Society promotes goals of success and wealth but there are many who do not have access to this by legitimate means (w/c blocked by poverty). Crime becomes a way to cope with the strain. Merton claims there are 4 ways people may cope with the strain:
      • Rebellion, Ritualism, Retreatism and Innovation.
    • Rebellion
      Reject current goals of society and replace them with new ones to change society. Often the motivation of radical/political groups.
    • Ritualism
      Give up striving for success and "settle" where you are.
    • Retreatism
      Reject current goals of society and retreat from the strain. Could be linked with alcohol and drug addiction.
    • Innovation
      Find illegal ways to relieve the strain and meet the goals of success. For example, stealing from other people to afford resources.
    • Subculture theories 

      Subcultures help individuals to relieve the "strain" proposed by Merton and gain status and success in illegal ways (Cohen). For example, a w/c boy may be frustrated with his label and the obstacles he faces so commits crime in order to fit in with a gang and achieve the status of that group.
    • Cloward & Ohlin 3 deviant subcultures 

      Retreatist - people who haven't been successful legally or illegally.
      Conflict - criminal opportunities restricted to gang membership and rivalry.
      Criminal - professional crime networks that recruit youngsters to join them. likely to focus on utilitarian crime (financial gain)
    • Marxist theory of crime 

      Crime caused by an unequal, capitalist society. Argues society is divided into 2 distinctive groups: the ruling class (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat). Also states how police keep w/c groups in place.
    • Marxists explanations of crime
      Capitalism, Law making is biased and Ideas about crime are an ideology.
    • Capitalism
      Drives people into poverty and crime may be needed for survival (stealing food) as capitalism promotes wealth and goods, driving people to theft. It causes people to feel alienated and frustrated therefore, engage in crime to vent their anger.
    • Law making is biased
      Law making and enforcement are biased and only work in the interest of the ruling class. Laws are made to protect property and wealth. W/C criminals are more likely to be prosecuted than white-collar criminals and their crimes are more likely to involve custodial punishment rather than fines.
    • Ideas about crime are an ideology
      Crime and data is used to portray a set of ideas and beliefs in society that serve to hide the inequality between the r/c and w/c. e.g.
      • high crime rates in w/c communities mean w/c groups are villanised whilst white-collar crime is undetected.
      • Police and policies in workplaces appear to be protective of workers (health and safety policies at work) but are merely a facade
    • Right and left realism 

      Right realists - want crime to be punished, focus on the retribution (punishment) of offenders rather than their rehabilitation.
      Left realists - believe capitalist and consumption is the cause of crime, they want to reduce crime by making society fairer and more equal.
    • Causes of crime - Right realism

      Believe biological differences between individuals such as aggression and low intelligence increase criminality. Propose criminals are individuals that have not been socialised adequately by families or schools. "Murray" claimed the nuclear family is crucial for avoiding criminality - the increased dependency of welfare benefits means the nuclear family is no longer essential.
      Also believe the cost of crime is too low, meaning people are more likely to be tempted by the gains of criminality rather than deterred by the fear of being caught.
    • Causes of crime - Left realism

      Assume relative deprivation causes criminality (meaning when we compare our own financial circumstances to other people, we become frustrated and feel worthless). For example, adverts on the telly promoting people's wealth affect others perception of their own circumstances. They believe some resort to crime due to feelings of injustice and to attain what they think they should have.
      Also believe crime occurs when subcultures form (a group approach to deal with the inequality in society - commits crime in a group).
    • Interactionist theories of crime

      Interactionists argue that one of the causes of criminality is labelling. Labelling theorists claim the way society responds to an act is what makes it criminal or deviant. I.e. if a society lived by the agreed rule that drugs are illegal - then using drugs is illegal.
      Labelling is evident when there is "differentiated enforcement of the law". This is when the police are influenced by their own stereotypical opinions about people (based on gender,ethnicity). Police use "typifications" in their approach to people.
    • Labelling theory
      Labelling theory matters because labels can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy where people become their "label". I.e if an individual is labeled a thief then this label becomes the way society treats them. The rejection may cause the individual to find acceptance from criminals or deviants instead.
    • Lemert Primary and Secondary deviance 

      Primary deviance - A violation of rules that has not been internalised by the public e.g. speeding
      Secondary deviance - individuals internalise the labels used for them and this becomes their "master status", a key part of their identity.
    • Deviance amplification spiral

      Occurs when attempts to reduce/eliminate deviance and criminality becomes counterproductive (opposite of desired effect). "Jock Young" demonstrated this when hippies were investigated for their use of cannabis - use of drugs was then minimal until police started to treat hippies like addicts and labelled them negatively. This caused hippies to retreat and increase their use of drugs, demonstrating how intervention can spiral into counterproductive consequences and th self-fulfilling prophecy.