Sociology Unit 3 Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts and theories in sociology unit 3, focusing on crime and deviance.

Wilson & Herrnstein argue that __.

Crime results from biological predispositions and poor socialisation.

Murray claims that __.

rising crime rates are attributed to a growing 'underclass' dependent on welfare.

A zero-tolerance policy is __.

Strict enforcement of even minor offences to deter more serious crimes.

Clarke argues that __.

Individuals make conscious choices to commit crime based on weighing up risks and rewards.

Marginalisation is __.

Exclusion of individuals or groups from mainstream society

Relative deprivation highlights __.

The perceived deprivation the individual has compared to others

Right realists argue that __.

Visible signs of disorder invite more crime and rapid police response deters further offending.

Left realists suggest that __.

Harsher policing further marginalises communities, which increases distrust and worsens the problem.

Interactionists suggest that __.

Tougher policing creates labelling and increased stop-and-search powers may stigmatise certain groups, leading to a SFP.

Postmodernists argue that __.

Crime is too individual and fragmented for tougher policing to be effective.

Right realists argue __.

individuals make a rational choice to commit crime based on weighing risks and rewards.

According to Becker, the working-class may commit more crime as they are more likely to be labeled as 'deviant', leading to a __

labels can cause individuals to act in line with it.

Chambliss (Marxist) argues __

the law protects ruling-class interests.

Merton’s strain theory explains __.

crime is a response to blocked opportunities

Neocleous sees __.

the police are enforcers of capitalist control

Becker (interactionist) explains that __.

the working-class may commit more crime as they are more likely to be labelled as ‘deviant’ and ‘criminal’ by society.

Becker argues __

deviance is not inherent in any act, but the result of society labelling it as deviant.

Cicourel found that __

justice is not consistently applied, but negotiated, particularly in middle classes .

Lemert distinguishes between initial acts (primary) and __

the societal reaction which leads to a deviant identity.

Braithwaite distinguishes between reintegrative (focus on act) and disintegrative (focus on person) shaming and claims that __.

shapes long-term behaviour—whether individuals internalise deviant labels or move forward.

Media reactions can amplify __.

deviance through moral panics

Cohen argues that __

working-class boys form criminal subcultures due to status frustration when they fail in the education system.

Cloward & Ohlin argue that __

different types of criminal subcultures form depending on access to illegitimate opportunities

Miller argues that __

working-class youth are not reacting to blocked opportunities but instead follow independent subcultural values

interactionists argue that __

criminal subcultures can form as a result of labelling and deviant careers.

Interactionists argue that __

crime stats reflect labelling + selective law enforcement (SLE), not actual crime rates .

Marxists argue that __

OCS reflects the interests of the ruling class, focusing on working-class crime while ignoring white-collar and corporate crimes.

Neo-marxists claim that __.

crime stats are influenced by moral panics and scapegoating, which distort the reality of crime

Feminists argue that __

there are underreported gendered crimes, such as DV and SA.

Left realists believe that __.

while OCS have flaws, they reflect real patterns of crime, especially among disadvantaged groups

Durkheim claims __

crime has positive functions, especially boundary maintenance

Durkheim saw __

crime as necessary for progress, arguing that deviance can challenge outdated norms and push societies to evolve

Merton adapted functionalist ideas, by suggesting __.

crime occurs when people are unable to achieve society’s goals through legitimate means

Cohen builds on strain (functionalist) theory, arguing that __

some working-class boys turn to delinquent subcultures for status after being denied success in school.

Functionalists argue that __

crime serves important purposes in society, such as boundary setting, promoting social change + reinforcing shared values.

Davis would argue that __.

some deviance performs a 'safety valve' role

Feminists (particularly marx fem) argue that __

crime — and society’s response to it — upholds patriarchy and marginalises women, making it far from functional

Marxists argue that __

crime is not functional for society but instead functions to maintain capitalism and protect ruling class interest

Left realists reject the idea that __

crime is not functional, instead focusing on the real harm crime causes to working-class and marginalised victims .

Heidensohn (control theory) argues that __

women are more socially controlled, reducing opportunities for deviance

Pollak argues that __

the CJS treats women more leniently due to traditional gender norms

Adler argues that __

as women become more liberated and equal in society, they are also more likely to engage in traditionally male crimes.

Messerschmidt suggests __

men turn to crime to ‘accomplish’ masculinity when legitimate means are blocked.

In conclusion, discuss sociological explanations for the formation of criminal subcultures explain __.

while these theories highlight blocked opportunities + deprivation as causes of subcultures, more recent perspectives show that identity, labelling+emotion play a role

Evaluate Marxist descriptions of crime and deviance. Intro. __.

Crime isn’t the fault of an individual and their morals, but it’s a social response to the inequalities of capitalism.

Explain why a capitalist society is criminogenic.

A capitalist society is criminogenic due to its emphasis on material success that can lead to inequality/exploitation,

The police are tools of capitalism. This __ .

highlights how the police are not equal enforcers of the law across all social classes + emphasises the need for critical reviews of police actions and motivations