Merton
said that all societies have culturally defined goals, purposes, interests, and a means of achieving them and most groups generally accept these goals
conformity
most common; fitting in with society
innovation
you keep the goal of society, but reject the means of achieving it
ritualism
you accept that the goal is out of reach, but keep the means and continue on
retreatism
you reject the goals of society and their means and are not in accordance with the rest of society (drug addicts, psychos, etc.)
rebellion
because of frustration, you reject the means and try to create new order
theory of anomie
people who adopt the goals of society but lack the means to attain them seek alternatives such as crime
Institutional Anomie Theory
the desire to accumulate wealth and material goods pervade all other aspects of American life; non-economic goals are devalued
General Strain Theory
holds that crime is a function of the conflict between the goals people have and the means they can use to obtain them legally; many people desire wealth, material possessions, power, and other life comforts and the lower classes feel pressure when they cannot get these and it results in crime
Cultural Deviance Theory
combines the elements of both strain and social disorganization and because of these a unique lower-class culture develops in disorganized neighborhoods with their own set of values/beliefs that are in conflict with the rest of society
theory of delinquent subcultures
delinquent behavior of lower class youths is a protest against the norms and values of middle class US culture and social conditions make them get status frustration
albert cohen
theory of delinquent subcultures theorist
theory of differential opportunity
combination of social disorganization and strain theories to portray gang-sustaining criminal subcultures; individual subcultures exist where criminal activity is essential for performing the dominant roles of the subculture
richard cloward and lloyd ohlin
theory of differential opportunity
differential opportunity
states that people in all strata of society share the same success goals but that those in the lower class have limited means of achieving them
social learning theory
believe that crime is a product of learning the norms, values, and behaviors associated with criminal activity; can include techniques (how to hotwire a car) as well as psychological aspects (how to deal with guilt)
Edwin Sutherland
Differential association theory
differential association theory
crime is a function of the inadequacy of people in the lower classes; criminality is a function of the socialization process; people learn to commit crimes from exposure to antisocial definitions; behavior is learned
delinquency
an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of the law over definitions of unfavorable to the violation of the law
ronald akers
differential reinforcement theory
differential reinforcement theory
a reformulation or extension of sutherland; said the same process is involved in learning both deviant and conventional behavior people are not "all conforming" or "all deviant" but rather strike a balance between the two
direct conditioning
differential reinforcement; occurs when behavior is reinforced by being either rewarded or punished while interacting with others
neutralization theory
the process of becoming a criminal is a learning experience in which potential delinquents and criminals master techniques that enable them to counterbalance or neutralize convention values and drift back and forth between illegitimate and conventional behavior
david matzo and gresham sykes
neutralization theory
subterranean values
morally tinged influences that have become entrenched in the culture but are publicly condemned (i.e. binge drinking in college, gambling on sporting events, etc.)
denial of responsibility
neutralization technique; claiming that an unlawful act was an accident or beyond ones control
denial of injury
neutralization technique; denying the wrongfulness of an act (i.e. stealing is just "borrowing")
denial of victim
neutralization technique; the victim deserved it or is unaffected by the crime
condemnation of condemners
neutralization technique; shifts the blame to others, says that a lot of people do wrong things
appeal to higher loyalties
neutralization technique; says they are just trying to be loyal to their peer group
social control theory
all people have the potential to violate the law and modern society presents many opportunities for illegal activities
hirschi
social bond theory
social bond theory
the onset of criminality is linked to the weakening of the ties that bind people to society; all people are able to commit crime,e but don't because of their social ties to family, peers, employers, etc. (attachment, commitment, involvement, belief)
social reaction theory
explains how criminal careers form based on destructive social interactions and encounters; labels may amplify criminal behavior
symbolic interaction theory
people communicate via symbols--gestures, signs, word, or images--that stand for or represent something else and people interpret symbolic gestures from others and incorporate them into their own self-image
differential enforcement
those with social power penalize the powerless; the content of the law reflects powerful relationships, street crimes are punished more severely than white collar crimes
labeling theory
the labeling process causes people to become stigmatized as troublemakers and adolescents begin to reassess their self-image
left realism
an approach that views crime as a function of relative deprivation under capitalism and that favors pragmatic, community-based crime prevention and control; street criminals prey on the poor thus making them doubly abused (first by capitalist system and then by their own class)
john lea and jock young
left realism
critical feminist theory
scholars, both male and female, who focus on the effects of gender inequality and the unequal power of men and women in a capitalist society; views gender inequality as stemming front he unequal power of men
-women are seen as a "commodity
john hagan
power-control theory
power control theory
the view that gender differences in crime are a function of economic power (class position, one-earner vs. two-earner families) and parental control (paternalistic vs. egalitarian); crime is a result of class position (power) and family functions (control)
Restorative Justice
peacemaking theory developed nonviolent methods that holds offenders accountable to put right to their harms (restoration of community, respect as a core value, offender has a responsibility to the victims)
postmodern theory
approach that focuses on the use of language by those in power to define crime based on their own values and biases; AKA deconstructivist
peacemaking theory
an approach that considers punitive crime control strategies to be counterproductive and favors the use of humanistic conflit resolution to prevent and control crime
Andersons code of the streets
lifes circumstances are tough for the "ghetto poor" and this environment causes increased crime
decent families
families committed to middle-class values representing mainstream goals and standards of behavior; value hard work, self-reliance, sacrifice for their family; hopes of a better future for their children; some derive faith from god
street families
born in the despair of inner-city life and are in opposition to those of mainstream society; this street culture has developed a set of informal rules setting down both proper attitude sand ways to respond if challenged, if the rules are violated there are consequences and sometimes violent retribution; "respect
culture of poverty
apathy, cynicism, helplessness, mistrust of social institutions (police, schools, etc.)
american dream
...
mechanical soldarity
a society that is preindustrial and held together by traditions, shared values, and unquestioned beliefs
organic soldarity
post-industrial society which is highly developed and dependent on the division of labor; people are connected by their independent need for one anothers services
durkheim
said that crime is normal and necessary and leads to social change
moral entrepeneurs
interest groups that attempt to control social life and the legal order in such a way as to promote their own personal set of moral values--people who use their influence to shape the legal process
drift
the view that youths move in and out of delinquency and that their lifestyles can embrace both conventional and deviant values
primary deviance
involves norm violations or crimes that have very little influence on the actor and can be quickly forgotten (an unnoticed theft)
secondary deviance
occurs when a deviant event comes to the attention of significant others or social control gents who apply a negative label (i.e. shoplifting that one is prosecuted for)
primary deviance
in there are no children here, lafayette shoplifts but the owner does not press charges
secondary deviance
lafayette arrested for breaking into a truck and stealing goods
labeling theory
Terrence says "you're going to call me bad, ill be bad
reinforcement theory
police shoot craig because he is suspected of being a gang member though he is not (not rewarded for good, punished for bad)
bonger
believed society is divided into have and have-not groups, not on the basis of people's innate ability but because of the system of production that is in force (ruling vs. inferior class)
dahrendorf
argued that modern society is organized into imperatively coordinated associations compromised of those who have authority and those who lack it
vold
argued laws are created by politically oriented groups to protect their interests
instrumental theory
the law and the justice system serve the powerful and the rich and enable them to impose their morality and standards of behavior on the entire society
structural theory
says the law is designed to keep the system operating fair for anyone
reintegrative shaming
tool of informal social control; braithwhite; followed by forgiveness, apology, and repentance, disapproval is shown but they have the opportunity to be respected again