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12 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the definition of crime?
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An illegal activity stated/set by law.
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What is the definition of deviance?
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Something that is frowned upon and is considered morally incorrect but is not necessarily illegal. Goes against norms and values.
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What is Durkheim's view on crime and deviance?
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States that deviance performs a number of functions; 1)Enhances conformity - sets boundaries. 2)Strengthens solidarity among law abiding members of society e.g. 9/11. 3)Provides a safety valve for discontented people. 4) Can induce social change - Martin Luther King. He states that crime is inevitable. |
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Evaluation of Durkheim. |
As he is a functionalist he is considered to turn a blind eye and judges all society in the same way. Was writing a long time ago and therefore is outdated. - The validity can be questioned. His theory doesn't explain why certain groups of people commit crime. Purely theoretical - lacks any emp irical basis therefore it is unreliable as it is based on opinion. Not all crime is functional. |
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What was Merton's theory?
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His theory was based on the 'strain theory'. Focused on the relationship between anomie and the dreams that individuals have.
He was writing in the American Dream. US culture puts too much emphasis on success as a valued goal. Looks to see what happens to people who cannot achieve their goals. The media socialises us into believing that material success is a realistic goal. There are 5 responses to the goal; 1)Conformity. 2)Innovation. 3)Ritualism. 4)Reatreatism. 5)Rebellion. |
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Evaluation of Merton.
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He was culturally specific in the sense that he was talking about a very capitalist country. It is a theoretical theory. He did make a link between class and crime - lacking social groups e.g. gender, ethnicity. He neglects 'bigger questions' of who makes the laws within society. Focuses on official statistics which are not always correct. He exaggerates working class crime and underestimates middle class crime. He doesn't account for non-utilitarian crime such as graffiti. |
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What are subcultural groups? |
A group with it's own distinctive norms and values, sometimes although not always deviant. |
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What is Miller's view of subcultural crime?
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There are five focal concerns of working class subculture; 1)Toughness. 2)Smartness. 3)Excitement. 4)Fate. 5)Trouble. |
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Evaluation of Miller. |
He stereotypes working class people.
His work is 'out of date'.
There are only five focal concerns and is therefore limited.
There is no data to back his work up.
He didn't study the girls. |
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What was Hirschi's theory of crime and deviance? |
He developed a type of functionalist theory. He assumed that social instituations can contribute to social order. If social control is lacking or weak, people will commit deviant acts. He stated that there were four social bonds; 1)Attachment. 2)Committment. 3)Involvement. 4)Belief. |
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Evaluation of Hirschi. |
He researched 4,000 young people (ages 12-17), in California and used surveys to assess social bonds. It is difficult to measure the strain as there are no real adequate measures for these bonds. His theory has been further explored. His theory led to others following his social control theory. |
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What is the definition of 'anomie'? |
The loss/lack of norms and values. |
