Criminology Unit 2 - Topic 4 AC2.3 - Flashcards in A Level and IB Criminology

Created by: miahalpin
Created on: 24-03-21 15:35

What are the sociological theories of crime

1. Functionalism
2. Interactionism (labelling)
3. Right realism
4. Left realism

1 of 8

Three Key points of Functionalism

1. Believes society is made up of institution's that work together.
2. Individuals within society all have value consensus and feel solidarity to each other and the wider society.
3. Believes crime is a result of society and seeks to explain crime by l

2 of 8

Functionalism linking to Durkheim

Durkheim = crime is inevitable and needed in society. This is because everyone is socialised differently as a result of being exposed to different things.

3 of 8

Functionalism linking to Durkheim

3 essential functions that crime provides to society;
1. when individuals break the law, society sees themselves as the victim
2. without crime, no one would know right from wrong and would be unaware of boundaries
3. outdated boundaries need to be withd

4 of 8

Interactionism (labelling)

1. Individuals attach a meaning to people's behavior.
2. Individuals are actors who interpret signals and body language who then give it a meaning determining how we act towards others.
3. Nothing in society is fixed.

Acts are labelled as crimes
People

5 of 8

Becker's labelling theory

No act is inherently criminal, it only becomes criminal when labelled so by others.

Becker "social groups create deviance by creating rules/laws and by applying those to particular people and labelling them as outsiders".

6 of 8

Self-fulfilling prophecy

1. Individual can't get a job = commits deviant act
2. Agency of social control determines the act as deviant
3. Individual labelled as deviant
4. Stigmatisation from community
5. Individual gets 'master status'
6. Individual has a crisis of identity
7. I

7 of 8

Right realism

-Tougher approach to crime = crime threat to society
-Believe social influences are the cause for crime, not so much biology
-Crime is caused by the underclass who would rather live in a welfare state and commit crime than seek a job
-Blame individuals

8 of 8

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Three Key points of Functionalism

Back

Card 3

Front

Functionalism linking to Durkheim

Back

Card 4

Front

Functionalism linking to Durkheim

Back

Card 5

Front

Interactionism (labelling)

Back

View more cards

Similar Criminology resources:

See all Criminology resources »

See all ? resources »

Get Revising

Criminology Unit 2 - Topic 4 AC2.3