crime 5 socilogical theories

8/10/2019 Crime 5 Socilogical Theories

1/61

Theories of crime


2/61

PhysiologicalLombroso (1876)

PsychologicalEysenck (1970)


3/61

Why does crime exist? Structural theories

argue it is the structure of society that is the

cause of crime.


4/61

Functionalism

Durkheim (F)

A certain amount of crimeis functional & inevitablefor society. It reinforces the

consensusof norms &values (collectiveconscience)
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf20eIdtKBwMAiVlNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBpY2Y5NXNiBHBvcwM2BHNlYwNzcgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1g6ucr0fm/EXP=1255961246/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=emile+durkheim&sado=1&ei=utf-8&fr2=sg-gac&w=198&h=297&imgurl=www.emiledurkheim.com/pics/emile_durkheim.jpg&rurl=http://www.emiledurkheim.com/&size=14k&name=emile+durkheim+j...&p=emile+durkheim&oid=f971dca6f9e7332c&fr2=sg-gac&no=6&tt=636&sigr=10tanaug8&sigi=11df1j5fn&sigb=12r3sk091


5/61

Functional because:

Reaffirms the boundaries Allows social change when needed e.g

?????

Suffragette movement Strengthens social cohesion e.g.????

Terrorist attacks

Minor crime acts as a safety valve,prevents more serious crime


6/61

For Durkheim

Too much crime results in Anomie.

Too little means no social change

Eval in groups


7/61

Eval:

fails to explain why crime emerged.

Some crimes are dysfunctional Marxismignores power

Feminism -


8/61

Merton (F) (1938) &

strain theory

Straintheories suggest that certain groups

commit crime because, although theyshare the same goals as the rest of society,they are unable to achieve those goals(anomie in this case?????

is the strain between the 2)
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2vIIdtK4FIA7KpNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBpaWhqZmNtBHBvcwMzBHNlYwNzcgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1hajuaujm/EXP=1255961416/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=robert+merton+sociologist&w=184&h=229&imgurl=www2.fmg.uva.nl/sociosite/images/sociologists/merton_robert_k.bmp&rurl=http://www2.fmg.uva.nl/sociosite/TOPICS/Sociologists.html&size=123k&name=merton+robert+k+...&p=robert+merton+sociologist&oid=bbd3bff8c5ebe840&fr2=&no=3&tt=6&sigr=11ps5gg1c&sigi=121gqtq0i&sigb=12b98ohf2


9/61

5responses in society

1stis that a person achieves the acceptedgoalsof society in acceptable ways

This suggests the remaining responses are

the result of non achievement

Activity Page 30


10/61

Also discuss how:

Merton was influential on theories such

as Cohens subcultural theory &

Cloward & Olins illigitimate

opportunities structure.

Eval in groups


11/61

Eval.

Merton does try to explain lower class

crime however fails to explain, why

there are different crimes/not crimes

for gain e.g

What about white collar crime?

Valier 2001)Questions the extent of

shared, common goals in society e.g


12/61

Support:

For Sumner, Merton is rightcrime is the

result of disillusionment with capitalist

goals.

Plus Jock Youngs study, The Vertigo of

Late Modernity 2009

Handout


13/61

Davis 1961) crime acts as a safety

valve.

Hirschi 1969) concluded that the

gre ter persons tt chment to society

the lower their level of crime.


14/61

Right Realism

Wilson (1975) suggests that criminalsmake rational decisions whether to

commit crime or not

Will they get caught

Are the rewards worth the

punishment
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2hOKdtKN2YApjtNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBqMjRpazg1BHBvcwMxMARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZAM-/SIG=1igrtvb1t/EXP=1255963342/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=william+julius+wilson+images&sado=1&ei=utf-8&fr2=sg-gac&w=150&h=186&imgurl=www.naz.edu/news/photos/WilliamWilson-LowRes.jpg&rurl=http://www.naz.edu/news/story.cfm?pressID=417&size=27k&name=WilliamWilson+Lo...&p=william+julius+wilson+images&oid=f55e6fc159ce2188&fr2=sg-gac&no=10&tt=152&sigr=11d2kv0j1&sigi=11g6vqgcf&sigb=139o0a2f8


15/61

Murray 1990

State handouts

devalued education,

discouraged work and

marriage, encouraged

teenage pregnancy and

undermined parentalauthority.
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2zCH9tKmAUAbMlNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBpc2ozM2gzBHBvcwM0BHNlYwNzcgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1hjil9ruo/EXP=1255960898/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=charles+murray+bell+curve&sado=1&ei=utf-8&fr2=sg-gac&w=144&h=216&imgurl=www.murrayco.com/forum/bell_curve.jpg&rurl=http://www.murrayco.com/aryan_nations_parade_1999.html&size=22k&name=bell+curve+jpg&p=charles+murray+bell+curve&oid=cb4048f82a66c7e2&fr2=sg-gac&no=4&tt=25&sigr=11mmel88o&sigi=1152tfe4i&sigb=1360j2ed3http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2zCH9tKmAUAeMlNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBqZDFlYmxzBHBvcwMxNgRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZAM-/SIG=1js0pcnoi/EXP=1255960898/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=charles+murray+bell+curve&sado=1&ei=utf-8&fr2=sg-gac&w=244&h=208&imgurl=www.psych.utoronto.ca/users/reingold/courses/intelligence/cache/mur.jpg&rurl=http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/users/reingold/courses/intelligence/cache&size=6k&name=mur+jpg&p=charles+murray+bell+curve&oid=2cdc09c063797620&fr2=sg-gac&no=16&tt=25&sigr=126a6qfp3&sigi=127n7j1hb&sigb=1360j2ed3


16/61


17/61

I gnores crimes commi tted by the r ich

Blaming the victim diverts attention away

f rom inequali ty

Some do not chose to be in a

disadvantaged social position

Some commi t cr ime for thr i l l , respect etc


18/61

Strain & subcultural theories


19/61

Subculturaltheories suggest that groupswho commit crime amend mainstreamvalues & develop their own values.

Strain theory


20/61

Subcultural theories

Albert Cohen (1955) (response to critique of

Merton)W/C boys experience Status

frustration and develop their own sub-

cultureas a solution.

Pitts study Handout


21/61

Eval

Ignores police stereotyping

Ignores females


22/61

Cloward & Ohlin (1960) (response to

critique of M) agrees with Merton, somesucceed via legitimate opportunitystructures others succeed throughillegitimate opportunity structures

1.Some join existing gangs2.Some form their own violent gangs

3 Some retreat into drug use.


23/61

Chicago School early 20C - immigrationresulted in variety of norms/values & deviantgroups

Miller (1958) Focal concernsUnlike Cohen (crime is the result of a lack of

????) Miller suggests crime is the result of W/Cculture, similar to ?????

Page 31


24/61

Critique

Subcultural studies are mostly American

Accept off icial statistics as reali ty

I gnores cr imes of the r ich

Matza

These theories suggest that the classposition of young W/C males determinestheir criminality.


25/61

However Interactionist Matza (1964)

criticises subcultural theory,

he suggests:

there is no distinct set of

subcultural values,

all young males drift in/out of deviancyand share subterranean values(deviantvalues) and justify acts throughtechniques of neutralisation. Page 31

Eval. Fails to account for organisedcrime/gangs.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21QHDB2HSWL._AA115_.jpg


26/61

And Bourgois (2002)study brings us back to

Merton, Cloward & Ohlin

Handout


27/61

Masculinity

Messerschmidt (1993). Male identity.

Being a male in British society involves

material, social & sexual success = malescommitting crime.

Connellswork also here & the

hegemonic male


28/61

Marxist- Still structuralists.

Crime is an inevitable consequence ofcapitalism.

The law has developed

to protect ruling class

interests such as private

property not to protect

workers interests

Chambliss (1976)


29/61

Capitalism creates the potential for crime

Gordon

1. W/C crime is a rational response to

inequalities

2. The ideology of capitalism ???

Encourages criminal behavior

i) win at all cost M/C

ii) culture of envy W/C


30/61

Materialismis a desirable goal for allpromoted by capitalism

People within capitalism

develop commodity

fetishism
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2jCPNtKl44ATR1NBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBqb2FmMXRnBHBvcwM2MgRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZAM-/SIG=1hppgc49f/EXP=1255968322/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=marxism&b=43&ni=21&ei=utf-8&y=Search&pstart=1&w=200&h=281&imgurl=www.askfactmaster.com/images/en/thumb/4/43/200px-Kmarx.jpg&rurl=http://www.askfactmaster.com/Marxism&size=14k&name=200px+Kmarx+jpg&p=marxism&oid=5d7c7b1944de8856&fr2=&no=62&tt=38206&b=43&ni=21&sigr=114qfqcjm&sigi=11qtpis73&sigb=12vvcv6v3


31/61

Marxism - the agents of formal control are

controlled by the ruling class.


32/61

Althusser

1. Protecting wealth, private property &profit = the ruling class interests

2. Controlling the W/C

the law is anideological state apparatus

concerned with:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=louis+althusser&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=546&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=0P0fRzbqZ8GfkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.urbanoperu.com/node/610&docid=66qWLUcCo3CY9M&imgurl=http://www.urbanoperu.com/filesitos/u1/Althuser_2.jpg&w=227&h=225&ei=4IScTunJBI7FtAbaoLnsAw&zoom=1


33/61

Sniderthe capitalist state is reluctant

to pass laws regulating big business

Reiman- Upper class crime is rarely

prosecuted


34/61

Judges & Politicians come from similarbackgrounds as the ruling class

(support from Griffiths)

Scott: They form a power elite

Croall Those with power & control havemore opportunity to commit crime -

White collar/corporate crime is invisible


35/61

Crimes of the rich & powerful

Capitalists have all the power to control

all aspects of society, both nationally &

internationally.
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2nsSNtKaLAAoGFNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBqOWNzdmtoBHBvcwM0MARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZAM-/SIG=1k282q3gd/EXP=1255971436/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=bhopal+gas+tragedy+pictures&b=22&ni=21&ei=utf-8&pstart=1&fr2=sg-gac&w=600&h=848&imgurl=www.studentsforbhopal.org/Assets/Images/BhopalPoster-Indra10.jpg&rurl=http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/DowIsLiable.htm&size=123k&name=BhopalPoster+Ind...&p=bhopal+gas+tragedy+pictures&oid=d63cbd385acb8fa8&fr2=sg-gac&no=40&tt=450&b=22&ni=21&sigr=11ggv9gk9&sigi=120ddatog&sigb=13l6f4ttjhttp://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2nsSNtKaLAAn2FNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBqb3U5bmQ4BHBvcwMzOQRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZAM-/SIG=1k15hag27/EXP=1255971436/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=bhopal+gas+tragedy+pictures&b=22&ni=21&ei=utf-8&pstart=1&fr2=sg-gac&w=600&h=847&imgurl=www.studentsforbhopal.org/Assets/Images/BhopalPoster-Indra1.jpg&rurl=http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/DowIsLiable.htm&size=147k&name=BhopalPoster+Ind...&p=bhopal+gas+tragedy+pictures&oid=22042a3fcdd43180&fr2=sg-gac&no=39&tt=450&b=22&ni=21&sigr=11ggv9gk9&sigi=11vsefp96&sigb=13l6f4ttj


36/61

Eval


37/61

Eval

Neo Marxist critiques of traditional

Marxism as too deterministic

TraditionalW/C are

passivevictims of an

unequal capitalist system

Neo

people have free willand make choicesabout

how they react to their

experiences.


38/61

Marxist analysis, interactionist framework

framework

The New Criminology

Taylor, Walton & Young (1973)

Crime is a deliberate and

meaningful response by the

powerless to their position

within the capitalist system
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr/staff/academic/images/young.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr/staff/academic/young.html&h=137&w=120&sz=35&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=lYFMxpuedgs10M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=81&prev=/images?q=Jock+Young&gbv=2&hl=en&sa=Ghttp://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr/staff/academic/images/young.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr/staff/academic/young.html&h=137&w=120&sz=35&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=lYFMxpuedgs10M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=81&prev=/images?q=Jock+Young&gbv=2&hl=en&sa=G


39/61

Policing the crisis Hall (1978)

How deviancy amplificationwas used as social control to

benefit capitalism.

Black mugging was used to setblacks & whites against each other

thus diverting attention from the

real problems in society - inequality


40/61

Marxist sub-cultural theory

Phil CohenSkinheads style was a reaction to:

i) Loss of W/C communities

ii) Loss of white neighbourhoods

Hebdidge (1979) Distinct

youth subculture represents

continuing class resistance

to the domination of cultural

values in the UK
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2mCRttK2KYAOQJNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBpaWhqZmNtBHBvcwMzBHNlYwNzcgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1fpvg1nil/EXP=1255970818/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=skinheads&sado=1&ei=utf-8&fr2=sg-gac&w=588&h=864&imgurl=www.rubberdocs.net/skinimages/skin115.jpg&rurl=http://www.rubberdocs.net/Galleryskin3.html&size=157k&name=skin115+jpg&p=skinheads&oid=6fe99ed125e98cfa&fr2=sg-gac&no=3&tt=26053&sigr=11b08agmf&sigi=11941r2io&sigb=12m30i293


41/61

Evaluation

No woman in any of the analysis

Not all sub-cultural groups are developed out

of a protest to capitalism


42/61

Functionalist argue the law works for all

Right realists suggest the law is needed to

keep the lawless underclass in hand

Marxist argue the law works to benefit

capitalism, and crime is the result of an

unequal (cap.) society.


43/61

Left realism forms part of subcultural

theory


44/61

Interactionism

Suggest most are capable of committing a

crime.

Therefore little point searching for causes

of crime

We should try to understand the reaction

to & definition of, acts.

Thus definitions are down to social

interaction


45/61

Why are some acts defined as

deviant/criminal?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10/04a_02_cannnabis_415x275.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23414689-cannabis-u-turn-by-police.do&usg=__AbfqFfdi9AqsL1xoWS3M_mBF1bk=&h=275&w=415&sz=30&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=6fX1QGCjR2U6cM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=125&prev=/images?q=cannabis+smoking&gbv=2&hl=en&sa=Ghttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.motherandbaby.com.au/img/gallery/183/1772_main.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://www.motherandbaby.com.au/Popups/Gallery.aspx?GalleryID=183&ImageIndex=7&usg=__MC7q1ffiL2pIC7fmsLrWJFf1cIQ=&h=510&w=383&sz=30&hl=en&start=50&tbnid=4nqGz7QNAHfRzM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=98&prev=/images?q=drinking+&+smoking&gbv=2&ndsp=18&hl=en&sa=N&start=36


46/61

Relative

Definitions vary (relative) depending on:

Time, place, society


47/61

Becker & labelling theory

People are labelled & stigmatised

the deviant is one to whom

that label has successfully been applied

(Outsiders p.9),

Labelled deviant=deviant=more deviance


48/61

Who has the power to label?

Moral entrepreneursMoral crusade


49/61

Once an act has been labelled as deviant.

Social fact,

Stigmatized

Social identity

Master status,

Self-fulfilling

Deviant CareerDeviancy amplification

Deviancy amplification spiral
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10/04a_02_cannnabis_415x275.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23414689-cannabis-u-turn-by-police.do&usg=__AbfqFfdi9AqsL1xoWS3M_mBF1bk=&h=275&w=415&sz=30&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=6fX1QGCjR2U6cM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=125&prev=/images?q=cannabis+smoking&gbv=2&hl=en&sa=G


50/61

e.g.

Youngs study of cannabis smokers in

Notting Hill (1971) & deviancy

amplification
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10/04a_02_cannnabis_415x275.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23414689-cannabis-u-turn-by-police.do&usg=__AbfqFfdi9AqsL1xoWS3M_mBF1bk=&h=275&w=415&sz=30&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=6fX1QGCjR2U6cM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=125&prev=/images?q=cannabis+smoking&gbv=2&hl=en&sa=G


51/61

It is the reaction that is crucial

CanapplyLemert (1972) here

primary devianceis the initial actionthelabel

Secondary Devianceis the social reaction tothe initial action & can = more crime
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2004/sept2004/sept04lebx27x1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ticketnews.com/Massachusetts-Judges-Ruling-Upholds-States-Anti-Scalping-Law8719&usg=__Bsavb0uRVSYpJo5TmJ77w9-wGIE=&h=300&w=403&sz=26&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=l0l6yFu8SJ3_oM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=124&prev=/images?q=judges&gbv=2&hl=en&sa=G


52/61

Study in support

Cicourelsstudy (1976) the police/courtsview on what a typical delinquent is, iswhy more males, W/C, some ethnic

minorities feature in the statistics, Griffiths here also

Thus the statistics are flawed, they aresocially constructed.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2004/sept2004/sept04lebx27x1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ticketnews.com/Massachusetts-Judges-Ruling-Upholds-States-Anti-Scalping-Law8719&usg=__Bsavb0uRVSYpJo5TmJ77w9-wGIE=&h=300&w=403&sz=26&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=l0l6yFu8SJ3_oM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=124&prev=/images?q=judges&gbv=2&hl=en&sa=G


53/61

The power of a label in contemporary society

Egs??????? + process SSSMSDD
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.borders.com/ProductImages/products/00/53/20/a/53209773_a.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.borders.com/online/store/Landing?view=1&rpp=25&type=1&kids=false&nav=5185+5189+5214+10805+10402&simple=false&usg=__Z4lt7Xhhd5tMr4vK3df9bI6aA3U=&h=127&w=80&sz=7&hl=en&start=59&tbnid=zTsff_KLEHQxuM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=57&prev=/images?q=stan+cohen+sociologist&gbv=2&ndsp=18&hl=en&sa=N&start=54


54/61

The role of the media

Stan Cohen (1972)

The amplification process
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.borders.com/ProductImages/products/00/53/20/a/53209773_a.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.borders.com/online/store/Landing?view=1&rpp=25&type=1&kids=false&nav=5185+5189+5214+10805+10402&simple=false&usg=__Z4lt7Xhhd5tMr4vK3df9bI6aA3U=&h=127&w=80&sz=7&hl=en&start=59&tbnid=zTsff_KLEHQxuM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=57&prev=/images?q=stan+cohen+sociologist&gbv=2&ndsp=18&hl=en&sa=N&start=54http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sixtiescity.com/Media/med003.jpg&imgrefurl=http://theprogressive.typepad.com/the_progressive/sociology/&usg=__U5AjIPN5huW68f9bZqX36esFoDM=&h=718&w=597&sz=186&hl=en&start=64&tbnid=Cuqp8l8Or_5S6M:&tbnh=140&tbnw=116&prev=/images?q=stan+cohen+sociologist&gbv=2&ndsp=18&hl=en&sa=N&start=54


55/61

The amplification process

Exaggerate the initial act

Stereotype the actors

Predict future events

= Moral panic

The groups self fulfil and are in conflict

video
http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2pZ0eVKpRABo0FNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBrNTNocWY4BHBvcwMxODcEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQD/SIG=1jgn0n6uk/EXP=1256661721/**http:/uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=hoodies&b=169&ni=21&ei=utf-8&y=Search&pstart=1&w=175&h=125&imgurl=img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04/hoodiesREX_175x125.jpg&rurl=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=117217&in_page_id=34&size=10k&name=hoodiesREX+175x1...&p=hoodies&oid=aee43d2d9017ec72&fr2=&no=187&tt=478662&b=169&ni=21&sigr=12ba1pfmc&sigi=11khsrshv&sigb=1308hgvua


56/61

For Cohen, this was because society was

experiencing social change.

Handout Muncie & football hooligans

Handout Hoodies & Fawbert


57/61

Simon Holdaways PO study show how the

police negatively label EM groups


58/61

Dont forget David Matza is also an

interactionist.


59/61

Evaluation

Does look at the process oflabelling

However

Fails to look at why some people commitcrime in the first place.

Fails to look at who has the power tomake rules (Marxist & feminist, Hallhere).

Fail to look at why some reject the label(too deterministic) Ackers 1975


60/61

Eval cont.

McRobbie & Thornton (1995) suggestgreater care is taken before starting a moralpanic. E.G. politicians who get caught out.

US governor of NY Spitzer Thornton (1995) argues people are reflexive

that they have a range of reactions and

actively use the media to create society.Blogs/ internet


61/61

= the social construction of crime

page 34

crime 5 socilogical theories

Documents