postmodernist theories of crime and deviance

WJEC essay plans for postmodernist theories of crime and deviance

introduction

introduction

rejects traditional explanations of crime. concept of deviance is fluid and changes with society, no single definition or explanation can be universally applied.

key concepts

reject grand narratives of functionalism and Marxism, focus on the role of media and cultural diversity in shaping criminal behaviour. globalisation and rapidly changing society, traditional methods of understanding and controlling crime are no longer effective. hyper-reality explains how media crime stories and images blur the line between reality and fiction, influencing behaviour.

postmodern theory of Baudrillard

media representation of crime; news coverage or TV shows, shapes the perception of crime and influence individuals to replicate these acts.

postmodern theory of Lyotard

breakdown of grand narratives (religion, idea of nuclear family) increase risk of deviance as societal norms become less clear.

postmodern theory of ‘liquid fear’ - Bauman

fear and uncertainty can increase potential for criminal behaviour.

implications of postmodernist theories

traditional solutions to control crime (harsh penalties, increased surveillance) are ineffective. closer study of cultural context, media influences, and societal changes needed to understand and address crime. challenge concept of deviance; definition varies between societies.

critiques of postmodernism

theories overly complicate the concept of crime and deviance with abstract ideas, making them less practical for real-life application. disregards the economic, political, and social structures that contribute significantly to crime. lack of empirical evidence to support.

conclusion

important insights into how societal changes, media influences, and cultural diversity impacts our perception and reality of crime. crime and deviance should not be seen as static, impacted by a host of variable factors in a constantly changing society.