Social problems define to be what “persons are currently concerned about, what they claim something should be done about, what people find undesirable and in need of eradication”. (Hester and Eglin 1992, p.2) However, sociological problems are those which encourage sociological inquisition. Sociological problems offer a base for sociological thinking and questioning. Therefore, this interest in crime is sociological as it is not prioritised to try and solve it. (Hester and Eglin 1992) Criminology, in its narrow sense, is concerned with the study of the phenomenon of crime and of the factors or circumstances . . . which may have an influence on or be associated with criminal behaviour and the state of crime in general. But this does not and
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This study is known as “The Saints and the Roughnecks”. Chambliss studied two different groups of delinquents, one which were from upper-middle-class families, the Saints, and the others who were from poor families, the Roughnecks. Chambliss found that even though both groups participated in similar acts of deviant behaviour, the group which came from the poorer families had constant encounters with the police, whereas the group which came from the upper-middle class families had never been arrested. Chambliss believed that as both groups engaged in the same acts of deviant behaviour, neither group was more delinquent than the other. Chambliss found that the reason both groups were getting unequal treatment was because the wealthier group had more of an advantage to remove themselves from their deviant situation as they could afford cars. This made it physically easier for them to get away much quicker and also decreased their chances of getting caught, whereas the Roughnecks were frequently on view. Chambliss also found that the parents of the upper-middle class viewed their children’s crimes as harmless mischief, whereas the parents of the poorer teenagers were made to believe that their sons were criminals for the exact same delinquent behaviour due to their different social class. This gave Chambliss the conclusion that factors which are different in each class structure of society influence the labels of how deviant a person can be. (Giddens
This study is known as “The Saints and the Roughnecks”. Chambliss studied two different groups of delinquents, one which were from upper-middle-class families, the Saints, and the others who were from poor families, the Roughnecks. Chambliss found that even though both groups participated in similar acts of deviant behaviour, the group which came from the poorer families had constant encounters with the police, whereas the group which came from the upper-middle class families had never been arrested. Chambliss believed that as both groups engaged in the same acts of deviant behaviour, neither group was more delinquent than the other. Chambliss found that the reason both groups were getting unequal treatment was because the wealthier group had more of an advantage to remove themselves from their deviant situation as they could afford cars. This made it physically easier for them to get away much quicker and also decreased their chances of getting caught, whereas the Roughnecks were frequently on view. Chambliss also found that the parents of the upper-middle class viewed their children’s crimes as harmless mischief, whereas the parents of the poorer teenagers were made to believe that their sons were criminals for the exact same delinquent behaviour due to their different social class. This gave Chambliss the conclusion that factors which are different in each class structure of society influence the labels of how deviant a person can be. (Giddens