Sociological Positivism - Week 7 Quiz

Sociological Positivism

• Week 7 of the course is dedicated to sociological positivism
• Topics covered include Functionalism, Anomie and Strain; Chicago School; and Cultural/Sub-cultural theories.

Weekly Wellbeing Resources Drop-in

• Wellbeing resources are available on Tuesdays
• Drop-in times are between 12 pm and 2 pm.
• Locations include City Campus East (Business and Law Building), City Campus West (Student Skills Centre 2, Student Central), and Coach Lane (A1, Student Central).
• Students can find more information by scanning a QR code or searching "Weekly Wellbeing Resources Drop-in" in Ask4Help Online on their Student Portal (myportal.northumbria.ac.uk/Help-and-support).

Need Someone to Talk To?

• Northumbria University offers mental health support.
• Students can scan a QR code or search "An overview of mental health and wellbeing support at Northumbria" in Ask4Help Online on their Student Portal (myportal.northumbria.ac.uk/Help-and-support) for more information.
• A range of emotional support services are available, including support for anxiety, sadness, tiredness, loneliness, homesickness, overwhelm, stress, and worry.

Sociological Explanations for Crime

• This week's focus is on sociological explanations for crime.
• Sociological explanations are theories that analyze crime through the lens of social environments.
• The social environment is a significant factor in explaining crime and reactions to it.
• It is not the only factor though.

Criminological Theories Categorisation

• Criminological theories are categorized into four groups:
  • Rational Actor Explanations
  • Pre-Destined Actor Explanations
  • Victimised Actor Explanations
  • Integrated Explanations

Sociological Explanations for Crime - Reading

• Essential reading for week 6 includes Tim Newburn's book "Criminology", Third Edition, Part 2, Chapters 9 & 10.
• These chapters are available online via the module reading list.

Functionalism, Anomie, and Strain

• This concept explores the relationship between social structure and crime.

Functionalism (Durkheim)

• Durkheim suggests that crime is a normal and functional part of society.
• Collective moral frameworks define crime, and criminal punishment reinforces these norms.
• Crime, in this view, has boundary maintenance functions.

Functionalism & Crime: Anomie

• Anomie is a breakdown in societal norms related to rapid economic or social change
• Durkheim describes anomie as a breakdown in norms and common understandings.
• This can occur due to rapid social and economic changes and results in insufficient limits on individual desires.

Functionalism & Crime: Strain

• Merton expanded on Durkheim's concept of anomie, coining the term "strain theory."
• A functioning society balances approved goals and means for achieving them.
• Anomie occurs when this balance is disrupted.

Anomie and Strain - Approved Goals & Means

• Approved goals in modern capitalist societies are financial success, security, independence and ownership of goods and services.
• Approved means are education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

Anomie and Strain - Critique

• Exaggerates focus on money-making.
• Doesn’t adequately address diverse aspirations besides materialism.
• Lacks sufficient explanation of crimes committed by the wealthy and influential.
• Limited scope for explaining gender, age, and marginalised criminal behaviour.

General Strain Theory

• General Strain Theory modifies earlier strain theory.
• It explores how goals (beyond economic success) can lead to strain.
• Factors causing strain include bullying, rejection, abuse, unemployment and discrimination.
• Negative emotions, such as anger, stemming from strain, can lead to crime.
• It recognises that strain can be experienced differently by different genders, impacting likelihood of criminal behavior.
• The theory emphasizes the importance of negative emotions in shaping criminal behaviour.

Strain Theory - Policy Implications

• Policy implications include improving opportunities like education, employment and welfare.
• Realistic expectations to reduce strain.
• Learning from other societies' approaches to crime as a tool for influencing policies.

Chicago School Theories

• Focus primarily on urban environments.
• They examine how rapid industrialisation, population growth, and poverty affect crime rates in urban areas characterized by poor living and working conditions.
• Key theorists include Park, Burgess, Shaw, McKay and others.

Chicago School Theories - Shaw and McKay

• They highlighted spatial patterns of criminal behaviour.
• They observed higher crime rates in areas of socio-economic deprivation and instability.
• Their work led to the zone hypothesis: affluence and income is correlated with the city zones - poorer inner zones, wealthier outer zones, etc.

Chicago School Theories - Transition Zone

• The zone with higher crime rates despite changing population.
• Includes transient population, socio-economic deprivation, poor infrastructure and housing conditions
• The theory highlights areas of concentrated disadvantage.

Chicago School Theories - Evidence and Critique

• Data often shows higher crime rates in areas with social disorganisation and ethnic diversity.
• Critique often focuses on the under-emphasis on individual agency to explain crime and focuses on structural issues rather than the individual behaviour (causality is not clear).
• The theory has not held up well when applied in diverse non-Chicago-like locations.

Chicago School Policy and Practice Implications

• Focus on addressing social and economic issues in communities
• Includes improvement of community cohesion and resources for individuals, particularly in areas experiencing social disorganisation.

Cultural and Subcultural Theory

• Builds on the concepts of anomie, strain, and Chicago School ideas to address the socio-economic environment and goal achievement.
• This study notes explain how this is reflected in patterns of behaviour, identifying shared norms and values amongst groups as an element.

Culture and Subculture

• This perspective examines how subcultures - with their unique values and norms in contrast to mainstream society - can influence behaviours.
• It considers the relationship between subcultures and the dominant culture, commonly one of subordination involving power differences.

Culture and Subculture - Approaches

• Strain theories – subculture is a response to strain from not being able to reach approved goals.
• Culture conflict – the expected behaviours within a subculture may conflict or differ from wider societal views and norms.
• Class conflict – subcultures may arise as a response to lack of opportunity within mainstream society and may be associated with leisure activities such as styles of dress, cars etc.

Culture and Subculture - Conflict Theories

• Explores why some neighbourhoods’ values are in conflict with broader societal norms.
• Criminal law often reflects the values of the more powerful, which creates and shapes conflicts with other groups'.

Culture and Subculture- Limitations

• Over-emphasizes working-class delinquency.
• Fails to adequately consider gender variations in crime and youthful behaviour.
• Focus disproportionately on negative representations of subcultures, marginalizing the more mundane and commonplace behaviours.

Culture and Subculture - Policy Implications

• Community initiatives – social support and role models
• Educating society – demonstrating that youth subcultures are not criminal.
• Improving access to opportunities like access to education, and employment.

Summary of Theories, Critique, and Policy Implications

• Sociological explanations of crime cover Functionalism – Anomie – Strain; Chicago School; Subcultural theories; Culture Conflict; and Class Conflict, in order.

This quiz covers key concepts of sociological positivism discussed in Week 7, including Functionalism, Anomie and Strain, the Chicago School, and various Cultural/Sub-cultural theories. Test your understanding of these fundamental sociological ideas.