sociology paper 3 revision

marxists perspective on crime

(*key ideas)

highlights the idea that the criminal justice system works on the benefit of the upper class and goes against the working class

Criminogenic capitalism

the capitalist system encourages criminal behaviour through.- consumerism culture is maintained where proleteriat are unable to achieve the goods that through stratified diffusion have become increasingly popular- turn to crime to achieve such materialistic goods- links to mertons strain theory

*crime is conducted by all classes

both classes can commit crime although it is seen that working class individuals are more likely to be in prison.Could be argued this is due to the more violent nature of street crime vs white collar crime committed by upper class individuals.- CJS is also more lenient on individuals with upper class backgroumd

GORDON

-Argues that crime is a rational response to capitalism, and this is why it is found in all social classes-crime is associated with the working class, and this justifies the need for them to be controlled by the bourgeoisie. It also helpfully distracts attention from away from the crimes of the social elite

Selective enforcement

-Idea argues by Marxists such as BOX police and courts focus on crime in specific social groups (males, youths, ethnic minorities and the working class)

BOX

-Selective enforcement ideas-Mystification is the process of the spreading of ideology that cooperate crime is less serious and widespread than working class crimes-Therefore the working class are criminalised by capitalist society

CHAMBLISS

-Seattle study of organised crime-Whilst many of the street level 'thugs' in organised crime were of lower social status, the organisations were often headed by elite groups or individuals such as businessmen, politicians and even policemen-Because of their positions, they could divert attention away from their illegal activities

PEARCE

-Studied organised crime and argued it operated on a larger scale than working class street crime-Argues laws perform and ideological function by appearing to improve life but in reality benefit ruling classes-For example health and safety law function to maintain a healthy workforce to be exploited-They create as false consciousness

Right Realist criticisms of the Marxist approach

Argue that economic factors are not the cause of crime, e.g. elderly people are poor but have low crime rates, and instead argue rational choice, biology and socialisation are causes

Neo-Marxist criticisms of the Marxist approach

Argue it over predicts working class crime, and is deterministic, assuming poverty causes crime and not individual motivations

Cohen ' Subcultural Theories'

the structure of society means that the w/c are more likely to suffer status frustrationand turn to deviant activities in which they can achieve status and esteem. Cloward and Ohlin may argue that w/c have greater access to the 'illegitimate opportunity structure'.

Labelling Theory: explanation of social class differences in crime

Chambliss suggests that agents of social control operate with stereotypes and are more likely to label w/c as criminal/deviants. Cicourel suggests that the police have discretion and class may influence the decision about whether to stop, arrest and charge an individual (negotiated justice). Labelling and the impact of the criminal justice system may result in w/c being more likely to have a criminal master status and engage in secondary deviance. Labelling w/c as deviants may result in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Moral panics and deviancy amplification more likely to be targeted at w/c - e.g. benefit 'scroungers','feral youth' etc.

Cicourel

Typifications of offenders, more criminalised

bowling

Systematic racism on canteen culture suggests individuals in WC have shared sets of values and prejudices

Held and McGrew

Globalisation speeds up interconnectedness

Hobbs

Cultural boundaries are broken through diversification so more crime opportunities are seen

Castells

Global criminal economy worth over £1 trillion

Taylor

Suggests crime is committed by all classes, but increase in UC crime as finance based crime is seen

Lash and Urry

Lowered standards for UC businesses

Left realism

Consumer culture makes WC feel relatively deprived, strain creates criminal incentives

Bauman

Individuals left to weigh pros and cons and come to rational decisions wether to commit crime

transnational organized crime

use of illegal tactics to gain profit in the global marketplace, typically involving the cross-border sale and distribution of illegal commodities

Glenny McMafia

Transnational crime mirrors TNCs

Hyperdermic syringe model

Media influences individuals on how to act-

Bandura bobo dolls

Ericson

Media is written so made in specific way.Written to appeal to audience for a specific reaction (news value)

Dramatic Fallacy

The media overplay extraordinary crimes and underplay ordinary crimes

Baudriallard

Individuals are unlikely to experience crime so use media to get insight into it so becomes their reality although distorted

Surette

fictional representations of crime, criminals and victims follow the 'law of opposites' - they developers to the official statistics - and strikingly similar to news coverage

Shramm

Media glamorising crime

Williams

30 % of news coverage is crime

Ditton and Duffy

found that 46% of the media reports were about violent or sexual crimes, yet these made up only 3% of all crimes recorded by the police

deviancy amplification spiral

Process whereby secondary deviance pushes offenders out of mainstream society and locks them into an escalating cycle of deviance, apprehension, labeling, and criminal self-identity

Cohen - moral panic

Media exaggerates violence and predicts continuity creating panic in society

Cohen folks devil

Negative title for villain or deviant youths

McRobbie

Panic since mods and rocks have decreased as there is less shock horror as individuals become less sensitised

postman

Media coverages now make individuals and children disensatised and children grow up to be closer to adults-childhood disappearance through media