Sociology Chapter on Crime
29 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

According to Durkheim, what is the role of crime in societal development?

  • Crime plays a necessary role in highlighting societal values and prompting change. (correct)
  • Crime is a symptom of social breakdown and indicates a failing society.
  • Crime is a natural part of human nature and cannot be prevented.
  • Crime is a negative force that disrupts social order and should be eradicated.
  • Why does Durkheim believe that a society devoid of crime is an impossibility?

  • Human nature is inherently criminal, making crime inevitable.
  • Crime is a necessary part of social progress, driving innovation and change.
  • Social norms are constantly evolving, making it impossible to prevent all deviant behavior. (correct)
  • Crime is a useful tool for social control, ensuring conformity.
  • What is Durkheim's perspective on the criminal?

  • A criminal is a parasitic element that disrupts societal harmony.
  • A criminal is an individual capable of moral degeneration and must be punished.
  • A criminal is a contributing member of society, performing a necessary role in social change. (correct)
  • A criminal is a manifestation of social pathology and needs correction.
  • How does Durkheim challenge the traditional view of crime?

    <p>By highlighting the role of crime in solidifying social norms. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Durkheim's main argument regarding the relationship between crime and social change?

    <p>Crime is a necessary catalyst for social change. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the author mean by 'Crime...consists of an act that offends certain very strong collective sentiments'?

    <p>Crimes are defined by their impact on the moral feelings of a society. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one way crime can change form within a society?

    <p>All of the above. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does the author suggest that a society without crime is impossible?

    <p>Social norms and values are constantly evolving, leading to new forms of deviance. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the author argue that crime can be beneficial to society?

    <p>Crime serves as a catalyst for social change by challenging existing norms and values. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author's main point about the relationship between morality and crime?

    <p>Morality determines the definition of crime, and both are subject to change over time. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the author use the example of a society of saints to illustrate his point?

    <p>To demonstrate that even a perfectly moral society would have its own forms of deviance. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the intensity of collective sentiments influence the definition of crime?

    <p>Stronger collective sentiments lead to less tolerance for deviance and a broader definition of crime. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the author mean by saying 'Every pattern is an obstacle to new patterns, to the extent that the first pattern is inflexible'?

    <p>All of the above. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author's argument about individual originality and crime?

    <p>Individual originality is essential for social progress, even if it sometimes manifests in criminal behavior. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the author, what is the indirect utility of crime?

    <p>It forces society to re-evaluate its values and adapt to changing social conditions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the author mean by 'the authority which the moral conscience enjoys must not be excessive'?

    <p>All of the above. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main point of the text?

    <p>Crime is a necessary evil that plays a crucial role in social evolution. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the author's perspective on crime differ from traditional views?

    <p>All of the above. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author's tone in the text?

    <p>Thoughtful and analytical, offering a nuanced and complex perspective on the role of crime in society. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author's main purpose in writing the text?

    <p>To provide a sociological explanation for the existence and persistence of crime. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author's position on the relationship between law and morality?

    <p>Law is a reflection of the prevailing moral values of a society. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Durkheim, what is the relationship between crime and society?

    <p>Crime is a necessary component of a healthy and functional society. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Durkheim's perspective on crime challenges which common belief?

    <p>Criminals are inherently evil and should be punished severely. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of Durkheim's statement that "crime is present not only in the majority of societies of one particular species but in all societies of all types"?

    <p>Crime is a universal phenomenon that transcends cultural boundaries. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Durkheim view the notion of an "unusually high rate" of crime?

    <p>It is a sign of societal dysfunction and requires intervention. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it significant that Durkheim classifies crime as a phenomenon of "normal sociology"?

    <p>It implies that crime is a natural and inevitable part of social life. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred about Durkheim's view of the role of the legal system based on the text?

    <p>He recognizes that the legal system plays a part in maintaining social order. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a key argument made by Durkheim about crime?

    <p>Crime is primarily a product of individual pathology. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main conclusion drawn by Durkheim regarding the role of crime in society?

    <p>Crime is a necessary and functional element of a healthy society. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Crime as Normal

    Durkheim suggests crime is a normal aspect of society's evolution and moral development.

    Role of the Criminal

    In society, criminals may play important roles that contribute to social change and coherence.

    Anticipation of Morality

    Crime can reflect emerging moral standards, serving as a step towards future societal norms.

    Collective Sentiments

    Society's shared feelings and morals are adaptable, influenced by occurrences of crime.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Impossibility of Crime-Free Society

    Durkheim asserts that a society without crime is unattainable, as crime plays a vital functional role.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Deviance

    Behavior that violates social norms or expectations.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Emile Durkheim

    Sociologist who viewed crime as a normal part of society.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Functions of Crime

    Crime serves essential functions for societal cohesion and order.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Social Morbidity

    Viewing high crime rates as unhealthy for societies.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Criminality Exists Everywhere

    All societies face issues of crime, not just specific ones.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Public Health and Crime

    Durkheim claimed crime contributes positively to social health.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Abnormal Crime Rates

    Unusually high crime rates are seen as pathological or morbid.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Normality of Crime

    Crime is an inherent part of social life and cannot be eliminated.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Transformation of Crime

    In a crime-free society, crime may change form rather than disappear.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Social Strata and Crime

    Different social layers react differently to crime and its values.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Severity of Sentiments

    Stronger community feelings lead to harsher judgments of actions.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Bad Taste vs. Robbery

    Bad taste offends less than robbery, leading to varied reactions.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Criminal Definition Expansion

    Acts once considered minor may be criminalized as societal standards change.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sociological Utility of Crime

    Crime contributes to the evolution of society’s laws and morals.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Law and Morality Variation

    Laws and moral standards differ across societies and over time.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Plasticity of Collective Sentiments

    Feelings must be adaptable for societal changes to occur.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Critique and Authority

    Healthy critique of moral authority leads to societal improvement.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Interconnected Originality

    Originality in thought and crime must coexist for societal evolution.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Role of Crime in Evolution

    Crime plays a useful role in societal evolution despite its negative connotations.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Intensity of Moral Conscience

    Excessive moral authority can stifle criticism and change.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Emotional Respectability

    Society respects strong sentiments that are consistently upheld.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Study Notes

    Durkheim's View on Crime

    • Crime is a normal and necessary part of all societies, not a pathological deviation.
    • Crime exists in all societies, differing only in form and the acts deemed criminal.
    • Absence of crime would signify a society with extremely strong, inflexible collective sentiments, hindering societal progress and evolution.

    Functions of Crime

    • Crime is integral to a healthy society, serving as a catalyst for social change and moral evolution.
    • Criminal acts challenge established norms, prompting greater collective sentiment intensity around them.
    • This heightened sentiment solidifies norms, creating a stronger moral foundation and more rigid legal frameworks.
    • Changes in collective sentiments are the foundation of societal development and legal changes.

    Crime and Collective Sentiment

    • Strong collective sentiments are necessary but must be adaptable for societal progress.
    • Crime is a result of differing interpretations of these collective sentiments.
    • Acts viewed as trivial in a society can become criminal if collective consciousness around them grows stronger.
    • Changes in sentiment can result in previously acceptable behavior being classified as criminal violations.

    Crime and Societal Progress

    • Crime is essential for evolving moral and legal codes.
    • It creates the necessary flexibility in collective sentiments, allowing for societal change.
    • Crime can be a precursor to evolving moral foundations.

    Examples of Societal Shifts

    • Historical changes in the classification of certain acts as criminal reveal changes in societal values and perceptions of acceptable behavior.
    • Acts like violence against individuals were, in the past, more common given weaker concepts of individual dignity. As respect for personal dignity increased, these acts diminished.
    • Criminal acts can be anticipatory steps towards future moral changes (ex. Socrates' independent thought).

    Critique and Paradox

    • Crime is viewed as paradoxical – a social detriment in appearance and beneficial in function.
    • Labeling crime as pathological is akin to labeling morbidity a defining element of the living organism.
    • Crime's presence signals the dynamism inherent to all societies, indicating that societies are in a constant state of change.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Explore Durkheim's perspective on crime and its fundamental role in societies. Understand how crime can act as a driver for social change and the evolution of collective sentiments. This quiz dives into the significance of crime in maintaining societal function and progress.

    More Like This

    Sociology Chapter: Durkheim and Suicide
    45 questions

    Sociology Chapter: Durkheim and Suicide

    InvaluableEvergreenForest8240 avatar
    InvaluableEvergreenForest8240
    Sociological Theories of Crime
    18 questions
    Durkheim's View on Crime
    28 questions

    Durkheim's View on Crime

    TimeHonoredCarnelian9776 avatar
    TimeHonoredCarnelian9776
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser