SOCI 325 FINAL - DUMAS

In the 1920s the Chicago school of sociology was intent on understanding?

the "natural laws" of social existence

These scientists were intent on studying it using new methodologies such as?

the study of journals, diaries, spot maps; field research as well as statistical analysis was prominent

Robert Park

said that the most effective research strategy is one that requires sociologists to participate personally in the world which they analyze.

What can the origins of social disorganization theory be linked to?

Durkheim's notions of mechanical and organic solidarity and the concept of collective conscience

Durkheim's "social bonding" was used to explain?

urban problems

The quicker the pace of social change...

the greater the rate of social problems

Society does not always develop in a?

civil manner

Nativism

a collective action involving hostility to preserve culture (American culture)

W.I Thomas wrote what?

"The Polish Peasant in America"

W.I Thomas ideas

There were disruptive forces attached to immigration. People had problems assimilating and it causes deviant behaviour on both parts.

Sellin notes difficulties with who?

the Montagnais Indians, French colonies including Algeria, and a Sicilian father inNew Jersey

The absence of a normative order created?

"anything goes" mentality

Burgess and Park created what?

The Concentric Zone Model

Transitional Zone

the zone of interest, where immigrants moved to when they first

Why is there crime in transition zones

space and immigration

Each level of the model has a ?

decreased level of crime

Why is there a lack of normative order

too many conflicting cultures

Shaw and Mckay

drew four conclusions regarding the ecological model of crime and deviance

1

Social problems were spatially produced

2

Transition zone has the highest level of social problems - lessens as you move outward

3

Transition zone always the highest regardless of ethnic group inhabiting the area

4

All types of social problems exist: mental disorder, prostitution, suicide, alcoholism, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, crime, disease and poverty

Why has the social disorganization model been criticized?

because it does not apply well to cities

Social disorganization

the inability to realize one's values

Cities allow for?

1. High levels of specialization

2. High levels of coordination

3. Economies of scale

Crime causes....

crime

Stark

argues that we should pay closer

attention to the city as a cause of crime

Stark maintains that moral cynicism?

increases opportunities for crime and

increased motivation for crime are

apparent

If crime is caused by disorganization what might the solution be?

reorganization ( Blockwatch, Neighbourhood Watch, Federation of Calgary Communities (FCC), community patrols etc. )

Kobrin

The model was not tested rigorously for 25 years after it was implemented. He argues that strengthening communities makes the program a success

Problems with ecology

1. Failure to appropriately operationalize "disorganization"

2. Isomorphism (cause & effect)

3. Not tested rigorously

4. Corporate Crime

What is sanctioning about?

social control, not just why people commit crime

Demonic perspective

torture and punishment

Classical perspective

prison ( most common )

Pathology

scientific treatment

Functionalism

whatever society dictates

Ecology

reorganization

Cultural deviance

Human mind is blank & we soak up messages around us & then apply those messages

Downes & Rock refer to Merton's strain theory as equivalent to?

"Big Bang" theory

Rather than suggest that crime & deviance have pathological origins...

it is maintained that they are the result of pure socialization

Sutherland and Cressey

Learning theory / Differential association

Learning theory

criminal behaviour learned through social actions

The principal part of the learning of criminal [deviant] behaviour occurs within?

intimate personal groups

When criminal [deviant] behaviour is learned, the learning includes:

1. techniques of committing the crime

2. the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, & attitudes

If a child were to spend enough time interacting with others who are also deviant or delinquent...

then they may also become delinquent

Denial of responsibility

Claiming lack of control over one's actions.

Denial of injury

Justifying illegal acts as not immoral although illegal

Denial of Victim

Acknowledging the act but rationalizing it

Condemnation of the Condemners

Rejecting criticism by shifting focus to critics

Appeal to higher loyalties

Justifying actions based on moral reasons

Cultural Deviance Models

Deviance results from socialization, not pathology

Kornhauser's Criticisms

1. Wo/man has no nature.

2. Socialization is perfect and complete.

3. Sub/cultural variability is unlimited.

"Drift"

pendulum, sometimes are involved in crime for a while then they desist for a while only to drift back into it

Imitative control

Big Brothers/Sisters (role model)

Group unlearning

Alcoholics Anonymous ( organizations that help unlearn things )

Operant psychology

modification techniques

Aversion therapy

shock therapy, succinylcholine treatment (suppression of breathing)

Male in se

bad in nature

Mala prohibita

simply prohibited by law

Socail aggregate

come together for a short period then go your way

Control theories have been somewhat marginal to criminology because?

they appear simplistic, & they are often perceived as supporting high levels of discipline, regulation, & punishment.

All previous theories of crime & deviance have asserted that?

criminals & deviants must hold some additional trait or experience

Control theories

deviance is the result of an absence of control or restraint

Travis Hirschi

locates the causes of delinquency in terms of a lack of bonding

Social bonding

restrains most people from crime

4 components of a person's bond to society:

1. Attachment

2. Commitment

3. Involvement

4. Belief

Attachment

Bonds to others.

Variability to people's attachments to others.

People value or don't value personal relationships.

Commitment

one's stake in conformity

Involvement

(in conventional behaviour)

Time involved in conventional stuff (conformist behaviour) that teaches kids what is wrong & what is right.

Belief

(in the law)

Variable - respect for law, even if they don't believe in it

Sutherland believed that

learning of deviance is variable

Learning theorists argue that control is ____

constant in individuals

Control theorists believe that learning is ____

constant and control is variable

Learning theorists maintain that criminal clustering is evidence of?

Differential association. In other words, "monkey see, monkey do"

Control theorists would argue that such grouping simply shows that

Deviants seek out others who are like them.

That is, "birds of a feather, flock together".

Social control Theory

it is all social, the main cause of all deviance is based on the parent-child relationship

Self-Control Theory

Measure of impulsivity, the lower the ability to contain their impulse the higher likely they are able to commit crime

A General Theory of Crime, Gottfredson & Hirschi

argue that aging, combined with low levels of self-control, best explains involvement in crime & deviance

If parents do not inculcate self-control via effective parenting techniques...

then self-control will be low & remain stable throughout life

Control theories do not explain what?

why some people become drug dealers & drug users, while others become violent offenders

Some have questioned whether self-control is?

invariant (unchanging) over the life course

Control theories are inadequate at explaining?

why males offend far more often than females

John Hagan

created power- control theories

What did John Hagan believe?

1. Women & girls are controlled more in the patriarchal family, therefore, are less likely to commit deviant acts or crimes

2. Link gender & delinquent designation (males more involved in crime so...) & whether parental controls → risk → Delinquency

3. Males are more socialised to enjoy risk taking behavior (crime)

Hirschi's social control theory focused on?

variations in bonding with conformists while self-control theory suggests that the nature of criminality reveals that crimes are enjoyable impulsive acts

Moral panics can be said to exist when

there is concern about a group, hostility grows, consensus builds

Labelling theory

In the 1960s, this theory became popular bc of internal conflicts such as the civil rights movement & anti-war protests which led to the labeling of those who were considered conventional people

Labelling theory is also known as?

the societal receptionist perspective, because the focus is on those w/ the power to label

This belief is that...

there is nothing inherently deviant about non-normative behavior, but there might be smth wrong w/ those who are labeled too easily

Societal reactionism

Focus on those doing the labels

Labeling theory began with Lemert's classic book known as

social pathology

Edwin Lemert

argued that deviance is in the eye of the beholder (or the Crusaders) & the powerful have the power to label

Labeling theorists are concerned with:

-The socio-historical development of deviant labels

-The application of labels to certain types of people at certain places & times

-Symbolic & practical consequences of labels

Becker

There are rule creators & rule enforcers

Rule creators

has a strong desire to work on moral crusades

Rule enforcers

simply concerned with the application of rules,

Primary deviance

involves common instances where individuals violate norms without viewing themselves as being involved in the deviant role( don't truly see themselves as a criminal). It can trigger the labelling process.

Secondary deviance

consciously includes a person engaging in deviant behaviour as a means of defence (trying to protect yourself)

Labelling Process

Deviance →

Reaction →

Role engulfment (accepting of the label)→

Secondary deviance →

Stigma →

Master status

Depersonalization

treated only as their labels (disempowered patient) & as subhuman