AC2.3 - Describe Sociological Theories of Criminality
Social Structure/Marxism
- This theory assumes that a disadvantaged social class is the main cause of crime,
and that criminal behaviour begins in youth.
- This theory suggests that factors such as unemployment and single parent families
contribute to crime.
- Marxists support this theory, they believe that crime is inevitable due to the capitalist
society and is used by the bourgeoisie as a form of social control
- They argue that family and religion encourage conformity to society.
- They also argue that white collar-crimes, which tend to be more committed by the
more powerful in society, are ignored.
- Whilst on the other hand crimes committed by the less powerful in society such as
burglary and street crime, are much more focused on and seen as more serious.
- Marxists think that when it comes to crime government's fabricate statistics to suit
their purpose and get public support for any action taken by that government.
- Marxists believe that on average 42% of the statistics presented by the government
are false and misleading.
Functionalism
- It originates from Emile Durkheim.
- The theory begins with society as a whole and the suggestion from Emile Durkheim
is that crime is inevitable as not every member of society can be equally committed
to the collective sentiments or values and beliefs.
- Crime is considered to be functional and only becomes dysfunctional when the rate
of it is too high or low.
- If in society the collective sentiments (meaning collective conscious) are too strong,
there will be little change.
- An example of this is the changes in the laws of Homosexuality.
- Crime also strengthens social unity and how well members of society work with each
other.
Merton Strain’s Theory
- Robert K Merton argues that society encourages us to subscribe to the goals of
material success, but society is unable to provide the legitimate means for us all to
achieve the same level of successes. This is because not everyone can gain
qualifications and not everyone can access jobs.
- For example, working- class people are more likely than others to be denied these
material benefits.
- Merton also argues that the opportunities for working class people are stopped, and
consequently they express feelings of strain and anomie (loss of shared principles or
norms.) This means that they strive for goals of material success, but do not have the
opportunities to reach the goals through legitimate means.
Social Structure/Marxism
- This theory assumes that a disadvantaged social class is the main cause of crime,
and that criminal behaviour begins in youth.
- This theory suggests that factors such as unemployment and single parent families
contribute to crime.
- Marxists support this theory, they believe that crime is inevitable due to the capitalist
society and is used by the bourgeoisie as a form of social control
- They argue that family and religion encourage conformity to society.
- They also argue that white collar-crimes, which tend to be more committed by the
more powerful in society, are ignored.
- Whilst on the other hand crimes committed by the less powerful in society such as
burglary and street crime, are much more focused on and seen as more serious.
- Marxists think that when it comes to crime government's fabricate statistics to suit
their purpose and get public support for any action taken by that government.
- Marxists believe that on average 42% of the statistics presented by the government
are false and misleading.
Functionalism
- It originates from Emile Durkheim.
- The theory begins with society as a whole and the suggestion from Emile Durkheim
is that crime is inevitable as not every member of society can be equally committed
to the collective sentiments or values and beliefs.
- Crime is considered to be functional and only becomes dysfunctional when the rate
of it is too high or low.
- If in society the collective sentiments (meaning collective conscious) are too strong,
there will be little change.
- An example of this is the changes in the laws of Homosexuality.
- Crime also strengthens social unity and how well members of society work with each
other.
Merton Strain’s Theory
- Robert K Merton argues that society encourages us to subscribe to the goals of
material success, but society is unable to provide the legitimate means for us all to
achieve the same level of successes. This is because not everyone can gain
qualifications and not everyone can access jobs.
- For example, working- class people are more likely than others to be denied these
material benefits.
- Merton also argues that the opportunities for working class people are stopped, and
consequently they express feelings of strain and anomie (loss of shared principles or
norms.) This means that they strive for goals of material success, but do not have the
opportunities to reach the goals through legitimate means.
