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Chapter 5
Strain and Cultural Deviance Theories
20
Criminology
Undergraduate 1
10/10/2009

Additional Criminology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

 

 

Sociological Theories

Definition

-seek the reasons for differences in crime rates in the social environment.

-these theories can be grouped into 3 general categories: strain, cultural deviance, and social control.

Term

 


Strain Theory

Definition
argues that all members of society subscribe to one set of cultural values (middle class>economic sucess).
Term



Durkheim's Anomie

Definition

-breakdown of social order as a result of loss of standards and values

-when simple society becomes urbanized the intamacy needed to sustain a common set of norms declines, groups fragment, absence of common set of rules, actions clash w/ other sector, system breaks down

-classes in conflict

Term

 


Anomie and Suicide

Definition
-suicide rate increases during time of rapid change,unfamiliar situations. (ie economic change, either prosperity or depression) rules that once governed behavior no longer hold true. (strain)
Term

 

 

Merton's Strain Theory

Definition

-related crime to anomie

-problem caused by social structure that holds out the same goal to all its members without giving them equal means to achieve them

-cause norms to break down bc no longer effective guides to behavior

-social structure root of crime problem.

-people are law abiding but resort to crime under pressure

-disparity between goals and means provide pressue

Term

 

 

Merton's Theory of Anomie

Definition

1.cultural goals

2.accepted ways to attain desired ends (goals should be reachable) disparity between goals and means fosters frustration>strain :[

-lower class=greater proportion of crime (cant reach goals)

-income inequality in democratic societies more violent bc coexistence of high material inequality & egalitarian value system.

-racial inequality frustration politcally

Term

 

 

Modes of Individual Adaption

(Merton)

Definition

-depend on attitudes toward the cultural goals and the institutional means of attaining those goals

conformity: Accept goals & means of achieving them

innovation: A. goals & design own means (burglary,robbery..)

ritualism: abandon goals once believed to be in reach & resign to present lifestyle

retreatism: give up goals & means(why try),druggies,nonproductive

rebellion:cultural goals/means rejected,substitute their own goals and own means (rid establisment,protest)

Term



Merton Criticism

Definition

-only focuses on lower levels of social class

-American subcultures may have differing goals.

-some socities have limited means to achieve goals, crime rates aren't as high.

-

Term

 

 

Messener and Rosenfeld

Definition

-build on Merton's ideas.

-material success, encourage crime,High Crime, is more than monetary gain, major social institutions dont have capaciy to control behavior, fail to counterbalence ethos of American dream

- devaluation of nonecon. roles & functions: economic values (education)

-accomodation of institutions to econ. needs: college, etc

-penetration of economic norms into others: spouses (business)

crime^emphasis on monetary rewards^

Term


General Strain Theory

(Agnew)

Definition

-revised Merton, failure to achieve material goals, frustration & anger when one is treated in a way they dont want to be in a social relationship.

-anger stimulates action,revenge agression(not EVERY1) depending on capacity to deal w stress

-crimeprevention strategies for lower class to achieve middle class goals(ie Head Start-low income children competent,lower stress...Perry Preschool Project:help w school and workplace..Jop Corps:jobs&higher education)


Term

 

General 

   Strain-producing

Events

 

Definition

-failure to achieve positively valued goals.(lowerclass&monetary sucess)

-removal of pisitively valued stimuli(loss of someone/thing)

-negative stimuli presentation(stress,victimization,abuse)


Term

 


Cultural Deviance Theory

Definition

-crime caused by set of values that exist in disadvantaged neighborhood. cultural values that demand behavior in violation of the law.

Three major types: Social disorganization, differential association, culture conflict.

Term



Social Disorganization Theory

Definition

-development of high-crime areas in which there is disintegration of conventional values caused by rapid industrialization, increased immigration, and urbanization

-fear,inexpensive living, economic effects

-doesnt mention how crime BEGINS, why delinquints stop commiting crime later, social disorg. ppl dont commit crime,doesnt explain middle class.

-delinquincy preventio programs (Chicago Area Project), weed out negative influence and prevention (weed & seed) bring conventional social values to communities

Term

 

 

social disorganization

Definition

-breakdown of effective social bonds,family & neighborgood associations

-Park&Burgess: zone w/ own structure. Z2:poor & disadvantaged z3:working class enjoying some city comforts z4:commuters/middle

Shaw and Mckay: delinquency decrease from center, some areas have delinquency regardless of ethnicity although generallyy immigrants non white low income,nonconventional norms, high crime =high rfate of other problems ..social transmission

Term

 

 

social transmission

Definition
delinquency is socially learned behavior, transmitted from one generation to the next
Term

 

 

Differential Association Theory

 

Definition

-Sutherland

-people learn crime by contact with antisocial values, attitudes, criminal behavior patterns. definitions favorable to violation of laws

-not applicable to EVERYONE, dont explain all types of crime, some learn such behavior but dont engage in criminal acts,nonsocial variables( need for $$$),origin of criminaltechniques ntot explained just how transmitted, inevitability of becoming criminal ones defintions exceed defitions to unfav to law violagion

Term

 

 

Sutherland's 9 Propositions

Definition

1.criminal behavior learned 2. through communication 3.intimate persoal groups (fam/friend) 4.techniquesfor crimes, direction of motives 5.favorable or unfavorable 6.excess of favorable to violation 7.associations vary in frequency,duration,priority,intensity 8.learning crime is like learning anything

9.different motives cant be the same

 

-recent friendshipsgreatly effect delinquency

Term

 

 

Differential Association Theory 

Criticism

Definition

-error in evaluation, why not everyone in prolonged contact w/ criminal becomes one,unfavorable definitions communicated by normals

-doesnt explain all types,ie jealous rage, non social variables like need for $$$,

-only explains tranmission,

-inevitablity of becoming criminal

Term

 

 

Culture Conflict Theory

Definition

-Sellin

-source of criminal norms

-norms are rules that reflect the attitudes of groups to which each of us belongs. -criminal vs noncriminal: each respods to diffset ofnorms

primary conflict- two culture norms clash,neighboring cultural areas

secondary conflict- single culture evolves into a variety of cultures, each w own set of norms. homogenous society of simpler culturesbecome complex societies w/ social grouping multiplying

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