Sociology Chapter on Crime Theories

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Questions and Answers

What does social disorganization theory suggest about crime?

Crime is more likely in communities with weak social ties. (correct)

Crime occurs equally in all communities regardless of social ties.

Crime is likely in communities with strong social ties.

Crime is primarily a result of cultural norms.

Cultural deviance theory indicates that crime is a result of what?

Conformity to cultural norms in lower-class society. (correct)

Advanced technology in upper-class communities.

Failing governmental structures.

Direct involvement of law enforcement.

According to conflict theory, deviance and crime are reflections of what?

Poor education systems.

Inequality within society. (correct)

Individual moral failures.

Cultural misunderstandings.

What is a characteristic of the power elite as described in the content?

They utilize their power to maintain status. Signup and view all the answers

Feminist theory highlights how gender inequality affects what aspects of crime?

The definition, detection, and prosecution of crime. Signup and view all the answers

What is deviance primarily defined as?

Violation of established contextual, cultural, or social norms Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between deviance and crime?

All criminal acts are deviant acts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of social control?

To maintain social order Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a negative formal sanction?

A parking fine Signup and view all the answers

According to Durkheim, which of the following is not considered a positive function of crime?

Creation of confusion in society Signup and view all the answers

What type of sanctions do informal social controls primarily involve?

Unwritten rules and social interactions Signup and view all the answers

Durkheim believed that a limited amount of crime is:

Inevitably unavoidable and even necessary Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following professions is NOT typically associated with the enforcement of social control?

Business consultants Signup and view all the answers

What perspective suggests that crime is a result of power inequalities in a capitalist system?

Conflict Perspective Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following responses to the gap between socially accepted goals and the means to achieve them does NOT fit into Merton's Strain Theory?

Detachment Signup and view all the answers

Who controls the criminal justice system according to Marxist criminology?

The Bourgeoisie Signup and view all the answers

Which response in Merton's Strain Theory involves the rejection of society’s goals and means?

Retreatism Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the crimes committed by the elite, according to Traditional Marxist theories?

They are often defined as legal. Signup and view all the answers

What does commitment refer to in the context of community involvement?

Investments made in the community Signup and view all the answers

According to Strain Theory, deviance arises primarily due to what?

Lack of ways to reach socially accepted goals Signup and view all the answers

Which theorist is associated with the Social Disorganization Theory?

University of Chicago researchers Signup and view all the answers

What is a core belief of Conflict Theory regarding deviance?

Inequalities in wealth and power influence the definition of deviance Signup and view all the answers

What does the Labeling Theory suggest about deviance?

The reactions of others determine labels of deviance Signup and view all the answers

In the context of deviance, what is meant by 'Differential Association'?

Learning and modeling behavior from close associates Signup and view all the answers

What does Control Theory emphasize regarding deviance?

Feelings of disconnection from society Signup and view all the answers

What is characterized as the primary function of a criminal justice system?

To enforce a legal code Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the tendency to medicalize women's deviance?

It is seen as resulting from physiological or psychiatric issues. Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception about women and sexual assault is highlighted in the concept of secondary victimization?

Women's sexual history should not be considered in cases of assault. Signup and view all the answers

How do feminists view the implications of the twin myths of rape on the criminal justice system?

They see these myths as constructed to protect male perpetrators. Signup and view all the answers

According to the labelling theory of crime, what primarily causes individuals to be labeled as deviant?

The power dynamics within society. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts is NOT associated with interactionist theories of deviance?

Genetic predisposition. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of partner violence is often misrepresented in social understanding?

It is regarded as a private domestic matter. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of crimes according to the socially constructed perspective?

Labeling by those in power defines criminal acts. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does labeling have on individuals defined as deviant?

It can lead to the development of a criminal identity. Signup and view all the answers

What role do the police fulfill in the criminal justice system?

They enforce laws and maintain public order. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of crime involves harm to victims based on personal characteristics?

Hate crime Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of rehabilitation within the corrections system?

To change offenders’ behavior for a successful reintegration. Signup and view all the answers

What is the retributive function of punishment in the criminal justice system?

To express society’s outrage at the crime. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT classified as a nonviolent crime?

Assault on another individual Signup and view all the answers

In which form of punishment is an offender physically prevented from committing further crimes?

Incapacitation Signup and view all the answers

What defines a victimless crime?

Illegal activities that do not directly harm another person. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes corporate crime?

Illegal acts conducted by individuals in a business setting. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Deviance is a violation of established cultural, social, or legal norms.
Crime is a violation of official law and punishable by formal sanctions.
All criminal acts are deviant but not all deviant acts are criminal.

All societies use social control to regulate and enforce norms.
The goal of social control is to maintain social order.
Societies use various sanctions to enforce rules.
- Positive sanctions are rewards for conforming to norms.
- Negative sanctions are punishments for violating norms.

Informal and Formal Sanctions

Sanctions can be informal or formal.
Informal sanctions occur in social interactions.
- Examples: expression of thanks, angry comment.
Formal sanctions are officially enforced.
- Examples: promotion at work, parking fine.

Functionalist Views of Deviance

Deviance is a key component of a functioning society.
Deviance can bring social change by challenging existing views.
Punishing deviance reinforces social norms and contributes to societal stability.
Deviance creates jobs in the social service sector, law enforcement, and correction systems.

Functionalist Perspective (Durkheim)

A limited amount of crime is inevitable and even necessary for a society's well-being.
A certain amount of crime contributes to social regulation, integration, and change.
Too much crime can destabilize a society.

Conflict Perspective

Traditional Marxist theories link crime to power inequalities in capitalist systems.
Capitalism's inequality and injustices drive criminal behavior.
Class-based analysis shows that both classes commit crime, but the crime of the wealthy and powerful is often more harmful but less punished.
- The elite often control the law and justice system.
Marxism highlights a historical period in 1970s for criminology.

Strain Theory

Merton's strain theory identifies five ways people respond to a gap between socially accepted goals and available means.
Conformity – pursuing goals through socially acceptable means,
Innovation – pursuing goals through unacceptable means,
Ritualism – lowering goals to fit available means,
Retreatism – rejecting both goals and means,
Rebellion – rejecting goals and means to create a new system.

Crime is more likely in communities with weak social ties and absent social control.

Cultural Deviance Theory

Conformity to lower-class cultural norms contributes to crime.

Deviance: Conflict Theory View

Deviance and crime are evidence of inequality within a society.
The bourgeoisie use their power to shape laws and regulations to maintain their position.

The Power Elite

A small group of wealthy and influential people hold the power and resources.
The rules of society are often biased to favor the elite.
While crime is typically associated with the underprivileged, the crimes of the wealthy and powerful frequently go under-punished and cause major issues.

Feminist Theory and Deviance

Gender inequality influences the opportunities to commit crime, defining, detecting, and prosecuting crime.
Women are considered doubly deviant – breaking laws and deviating from gender norms.
The tendency exists to medicalize women’s deviance as a physiological or psychiatric issue.

Sexual Assault and Spousal Assault

Sexual assault is an act of violence, not sex.
Secondary victimization occurs when the women's history and consent are questioned, making victims less likely to press charges.
Partner violence is often hidden as a private matter, and police engagement is low.
Both are frequently under-reported crimes.

Twin Myths of Rape

Feminist analysis challenged the myths that often underpin criminal justice proceedings for rape cases.
Myth one: Women fabricate assault accusations for personal gain.
Myth two: Women's verbal “no” to sex doesn't always mean “no.”

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective (Labeling Theory)

Crime and deviance are socially constructed; agents of control label the powerless as deviant based on stereotypes, creating self-fulfilling prophecies.
Deviance does not stem from individuals themselves but from societal reactions and labeling.
Crime is viewed as a product of micro-level interactions, specifically interactions between individuals and police, rather than external societal forces.

Four Key Concepts of Labeling Theory

Crime is socially constructed – those in power label harmful acts as crime.
Negative labels (deviant/criminal) are often given to powerless by the powerful.
Labeling has consequences leading to deviancy amplification and deviant careers.
Labeling theory advocates policies that prevent labeling minor acts as deviant.
Interactionism suggests the absence of inherently deviant acts; deviance is about societal reactions.

Deviance in Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionists highlight the socially constructed nature of labels related to deviance.
Crime and deviance are learned and influenced by environmental factors and reactions of people around individuals.

Labeling Theory (Detailed)

What is considered deviant is based on societal reactions to behaviors.
Primary deviance: the initial norm violation does not significantly affect the individual.
Secondary deviance: occurs when the individual's self-concept and behavior change after societal labeling of their actions as deviant.
Master status: describes the chief characteristic of an individual.

Differential Association Theory

Individuals learn criminal behavior from those around them who provide models and opportunities for deviance.

Control Theory

Social control is directly impacted by the strength of social bonds.
Individuals who feel connected to society are less likely to commit crime. Travis Hirschi identified four types of social bonds:
- Attachment: connections with others;
- Commitment: investments in the community;
- Involvement: involvement in socially legitimate activities; and
- Belief: common values in society that encourage conformity.

Criminal Justice System

A criminal justice system enforces legal codes.
Three branches:
- Police: law enforcement and public order maintenance;
- Courts: decision-making based on law; and
- Corrections: supervision of individuals.

Legal Codes and Crime

Legal codes use laws to maintain formal social control.
Crime is behavior in violation of official law and subject to formal sanctions.

Types of Crimes

Corporate crime: committed by white-collar workers in business settings.
Hate crimes: based on person's race, religion, sexuality, or other factors.
Nonviolent crimes: theft or property damage without force.
Street crime: committed by average people against others in public settings.
Victimless crimes: activities against the law without harming others.
Violent crimes: involve force or threat.

Reduction (of Crime)

Punishments prevent future crimes through:
- Deterrence: discouraging further criminal acts.
- Rehabilitation: changing offender behavior.
- Incapacitation: removing the offender's ability to re-offend.

Retribution

Retribution: punishment that expresses societal outrage at the crime, even if not directly aimed at reducing future crime.

Practice Question

Students are asked how different theoretical perspectives explain changes in marijuana laws in Guyana, the US, and Canada.

Quick Review

This section summarizes core concepts covered: deviance, social control, theoretical perspectives, parts of the criminal justice system, and types of crimes.

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Description

This quiz explores various criminological theories including social disorganization theory, cultural deviance theory, and conflict theory. It also examines the role of gender in crime through feminist theory and the impact of social control mechanisms. Test your understanding of key concepts and their implications regarding crime and deviance.