SOCIAL CLASS AND CRIME
Sociological Key theorists/concepts Evidence related to social class and Similarities/differences with other
Theory crime explanations
Functionalism Crime, according to functionalists, is an inevitable part of society as not everyone in society is Supported by strain theory Sutherland Merton disagreed and said that not everyone
going to be equally committed to the collective (shared) sentiments (values and morals). This is (1949) sees crime as behaviour learned has the same value consensus
because everyone is exposed to different influences and circumstances through socialisation which from others in a social context. The less
creates diversity in belief. association with people who hold Merton says members of society are in
attitudes favourable to the law, the different positions of the social structure so
Unequal opportunity structures, Merton (1938) talks about the American Dream promoting more we associate with people with not everyone has the same relationship with
materialistic gain. criminal attitudes the value consensus: some embrace it
(because they can), while others reject it
(because they can’t meet the demands).
Subcultural
Theory Cohen (1956) - Status frustration - criminal subcultures provide alternative ways to succeed for Support by Willis (1977) and his ‘lads Matza criticised subcultural theorists for
those who can’t achieve in socially acceptable ways. Cohen says Merton doesn’t discuss subcultural study’ assuming that people commit to one
non-utilitarian crime. He says that boys aspire to achieve cultural goals of mainstream society but subculture, when really many drift between
can’t because of their cultural deprivation and educational failure. The lads were completely uninterested (Matza says that delinquents are more likely
in school – they saw the whole point of to have subterranean values)
Cohen states that delinquency is a collective rather than individual response to status frustration. school as ‘having a laff’ rather than
trying to get qualifications. Miller (1962) - Focal Concerns - Cannot
Cloward and Ohlin (1960) - IOS (Illegitimate opportunity structures) assume that all people in society share a
Depending on their access to the illegitimate to succeed legitimately - focused on how people’s Their approach to school was to survive consensus in their life goals, rejection of the
opportunities to be deviant are also different. Young people can enter into one of 3 deviant it, to do as little work as possible, and to functionalist view that society is founded on
subcultures (CCR). have as much fun as possible by consensus.
- Criminal subcultures pushing the boundaries of authority
- Conflict subcultures and bunking as much as they could. The
- Retreatist subcultures reason they didn’t value education is
Miller (1962) - Focal Concerns because they anticipated getting factory
Fate - life can't be changed, make the best of it. jobs which didn’t require any formal
Autonomy - don't let them push you around. qualifications.
Trouble - life involves violence - don't run away.
Excitement - look out for fun and enjoyment.
Smartness - look good, act sharp.
Toughness - manliness demonstrated via drinking, womanising, sporting prowess
Labelling
Theory Reject official statistics and talk about selective law enforcement Jock Young (1971) uses the example of Marxists also say that statistics make it
Cicourel (1968) says that officers choose to arrest based on common sense stereotypes and Marijuana users in Notting Hill. Drugs appear that crime is a working-class
typifications - middle class children are less likely to be prosecuted. Mentions the negotiation of were peripheral to hippie lifestyle phenomenon.
justice. (primary deviance) but then being
labelled by the control culture (police), Fails to explain why people commit primary
Lemert (1951) talks about primary and secondary deviance: it became a central part of their identity deviance before they are labelled
Primary deviance = not publicly labelled, not organised, widespread, menial impact on the after SFP (secondary deviance).
individual’s self concept Implies that without labelling, crime
wouldn’t exist
Sociological Key theorists/concepts Evidence related to social class and Similarities/differences with other
Theory crime explanations
Functionalism Crime, according to functionalists, is an inevitable part of society as not everyone in society is Supported by strain theory Sutherland Merton disagreed and said that not everyone
going to be equally committed to the collective (shared) sentiments (values and morals). This is (1949) sees crime as behaviour learned has the same value consensus
because everyone is exposed to different influences and circumstances through socialisation which from others in a social context. The less
creates diversity in belief. association with people who hold Merton says members of society are in
attitudes favourable to the law, the different positions of the social structure so
Unequal opportunity structures, Merton (1938) talks about the American Dream promoting more we associate with people with not everyone has the same relationship with
materialistic gain. criminal attitudes the value consensus: some embrace it
(because they can), while others reject it
(because they can’t meet the demands).
Subcultural
Theory Cohen (1956) - Status frustration - criminal subcultures provide alternative ways to succeed for Support by Willis (1977) and his ‘lads Matza criticised subcultural theorists for
those who can’t achieve in socially acceptable ways. Cohen says Merton doesn’t discuss subcultural study’ assuming that people commit to one
non-utilitarian crime. He says that boys aspire to achieve cultural goals of mainstream society but subculture, when really many drift between
can’t because of their cultural deprivation and educational failure. The lads were completely uninterested (Matza says that delinquents are more likely
in school – they saw the whole point of to have subterranean values)
Cohen states that delinquency is a collective rather than individual response to status frustration. school as ‘having a laff’ rather than
trying to get qualifications. Miller (1962) - Focal Concerns - Cannot
Cloward and Ohlin (1960) - IOS (Illegitimate opportunity structures) assume that all people in society share a
Depending on their access to the illegitimate to succeed legitimately - focused on how people’s Their approach to school was to survive consensus in their life goals, rejection of the
opportunities to be deviant are also different. Young people can enter into one of 3 deviant it, to do as little work as possible, and to functionalist view that society is founded on
subcultures (CCR). have as much fun as possible by consensus.
- Criminal subcultures pushing the boundaries of authority
- Conflict subcultures and bunking as much as they could. The
- Retreatist subcultures reason they didn’t value education is
Miller (1962) - Focal Concerns because they anticipated getting factory
Fate - life can't be changed, make the best of it. jobs which didn’t require any formal
Autonomy - don't let them push you around. qualifications.
Trouble - life involves violence - don't run away.
Excitement - look out for fun and enjoyment.
Smartness - look good, act sharp.
Toughness - manliness demonstrated via drinking, womanising, sporting prowess
Labelling
Theory Reject official statistics and talk about selective law enforcement Jock Young (1971) uses the example of Marxists also say that statistics make it
Cicourel (1968) says that officers choose to arrest based on common sense stereotypes and Marijuana users in Notting Hill. Drugs appear that crime is a working-class
typifications - middle class children are less likely to be prosecuted. Mentions the negotiation of were peripheral to hippie lifestyle phenomenon.
justice. (primary deviance) but then being
labelled by the control culture (police), Fails to explain why people commit primary
Lemert (1951) talks about primary and secondary deviance: it became a central part of their identity deviance before they are labelled
Primary deviance = not publicly labelled, not organised, widespread, menial impact on the after SFP (secondary deviance).
individual’s self concept Implies that without labelling, crime
wouldn’t exist
