Can Crime ever be Functional?

1. Learning Objectives To be able to explain how crime can be functional To be able to analyse Merton’s strain theory To be able to evaluate functionalist explanations of crime and deviance Starter: Thinking back to AS, what is the organic analogy? Key Terms Anomie – A feeling of moral confusion that weakens your commitment to shared values and rules, thus encouraging crime and deviance. Can Crime ever be Functional?

2. Why was there less crime in pre-industrial England? Religion was a strong force of social control The family was a powerful agency of socialisation This meant there was consensus and community

3. Whereas in the city crime rates are higher as the complexity of modern life undermined the authority of religion and the family. Consensus, community and social control are weaker leading to anomie. • Durkheim argued that crime is: • Functional • Universal • Relative • Inevitable

4. Can you think of an example to go with each point. The pictures are all clues! How can crime be functional? • Can provoke positive social change by highlighting aspects of the social structure or law which are inadequate • Some crimes cause public outrage which reinforces social solidarity against the offenders • Pursuit, trial and punishment of offenders reassures people that society is functional, while reminding them of acceptable social boundaries of behaviour • Minor crimes can act as safety valves preventing more serious crimes

5. Evaluation of Durkheim • He never explains why certain social groups commit higher rates of crime • He ignores the fact some crimes are always dysfunctional • Marxists and Feminists argue that he underestimates the levels of conflict and inequality in modern societies

6. Strain theory Merton developed a functionalist theory to explain where crime and deviance come from. He believes we all have shared goals (American dream- financial success, having a home and consumer goods) and approved means of achieving these (working in paid employment). However, as society is unequal, we might not all be able to achieve these goals through the approved means- this leads to strain and anomie. He says there are five responses to this (one accepted way, one criminal and three deviant)

7. Classify each of the following as one of Merton's five modes of adaptation and explain your reasons: A02 Application Can you think of any other examples? • A successful banker • A drug dealer • A monk living in a monastery • A person cheating on their exams • A teacher who has given up caring about students success • A shop lifter • A drug addict • An indifferent job centre clerk

8. Evaluation of Merton Negative Positive Sumner argues that Merton has uncovered the main cause of crime in modern societies, which is the alienation caused by the disillusionment derived from the impossible goals of capitalism • He does not explain why some choose to commit crime while others conform, retreat or rebel • His theory explains crime which has an economic gain, but not many violent or sexual crimes • White collar and corporate crimes arise from access to opportunities not a lack of opportunity • He fails to notice who benefits most from the capitalist system (whereas Marxist Box suggests the capitalist class benefits the most from the way the law is organised)

9. Quick Check… K+U (A01) • Identify two ways in which crime and deviance can have positive functions. • Explain the difference between ritualism and retreatism. • In what sense is Merton’s theory deterministic? • Why does Durkheim see crime as inevitable? • Explain the difference between means and goals

10. Tweet me! You have 140 characters to summarise either Durkheim or Merton's theory on crime and deviance. #Functionalism

11. Assess the role of anomie in causing crime and deviance (21 marks) 9 marks = A01 (knowledge and understanding) 12 marks = A02 (interpretation, application, analysis and evaluation) In pairs plan how you would structure an answer to this question What are the key terms that you must include in this exam answer?

12. L/O: To be able to explain the key features of the Traditional and Neo Marxist perspectives on crime What did marx think about crime and deviance?!

13. L/O: To be able to explain the key features of the Traditional and Neo Marxist perspectives on crime Lets recap… Marxism is a structural perspective (this means they think society is structured in a certain way). It is also a conflict perspective. They think this conflict occurs between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie own the means of production, while the proletariat only own their own labour power.

14. L/O: To be able to explain the key features of the Traditional Marxist perspective on crime So what did Marx say about crime? He argued that: • Laws are one of the ways the ruling class keep the proletariat in check • Laws therefore reflect the interests of the ruling class • The working class commit crime due to feelings of alienation and status frustration • People have unequal access to the law (e.g. money to get a good lawyer) • Your class affects the punishment you receive for your crime Your class affects your experiences in the criminal justice system

15. Criminolgenic Capitalism Crime is inevitable in Capitalism. The working class commit crimes because of poverty, constant advertising, alienation and a lack of control. Even the ruling class feel the pressure to commit crime and get ahead. You are essentially forced into crime by capitalism Key idea The Law and the criminal justice system is another tool used by the ruling class to serve their interests and maintain a position of power. • The state and law making • All laws serve the ruling class. • Most law is based on protecting private property. • The working class and ethnic minorities are punished harshly while the crimes of the powerful go unnoticed. Marxism on crime • Weaknesses • Very deterministic, not all working class commit crime. • Switzerland and Japan are capitalist but have low crime rates. • Prosecutions against companies and the ruling class do happen. • Left Realists say most working class crime is committed against working class people not the state. • Ignores the relationship between crime and other variables Ideological functions of law Laws don’t just punish but perform functions to keep capitalism stable. Health and safety laws keep the working class able to work. Seeing crime as a working class problem diverts it away from capitalism. Seeing criminals as disturbed also disguises the true nature of crime. What are the weaknesses of this explanation of crime? What are the strengths of this perspective? • Strengths • Shows a link between law and the interests of the ruling class. • Highlights selective enforcement.

16. Lets add some theorists to these ideas…

17. Read page 238 in Sociology A2 for A2 and summarise the 5 elements which can weaken the bonds of capitalism and cause people to commit crime

18. L/O: To be able to explain the key features of the Traditional and Neo Marxist perspectives on crime Neo Marxism WHY THEY AGREE WITH TRADITIONAL MARXISTS WHY THEY CHALLENGE THEIR THEORIES Taylor says: Marxism is too deterministic- we do have personal choice Crime may often have a political motivation e.g. redistribution of wealth or challenging societies obsession with property. Gilroy agrees saying black boys are politically motivated to commit crime due to the history of slavery, societal racism and police harassment Diversity is an important aim- we should not label acts as ‘deviant’ as capitalists do (this label is given to acts which challenge the status quo- and therefore may challenge capitalism) • Society is based on class conflict and exploitation- and this is key to understanding crime • The law supports the interests of the ruling class and criminalises the working class • A classless society would have less, or maybe no crime

19. In pairs, discuss: How can we criticise the Neo-Marxist perspective? How can we support it?

20. L/O: To be able to explain the key features of the Traditional and Neo Marxist perspectives on crime Critique • Left realists say Neo Marxists romanticise the working class as modern robin hoods • HopkinsBurke agrees saying this theory is too idealistic to practically explain crime • Most crime by the working class is against the working class (so does not challenge the status quo) • How does ‘political motivation’ explain domestic violence, rape and child abuse? (this theory cannot fully explain the cause of crime- so is only a partial theory)

21. L/O: To be able to explain the key features of the Traditional and Neo Marxist perspectives on crime Exam Question Examine some of the ways Marxists explain crime (21 marks) Tip: 9 marks are for AO1 and 12 marks are for AO2 Want extra help? Look on page 91 in the blue text book for support You have 28 minutes

22. Plenary Create your own finger art to summarise one of the key Marxist arguments. Once you are finished, see if other people can guess what you have drawn.

23. Feminist Theories of Crime Society is Patriarchal and as such: > Society discourages deviancy amongst women (social control) > Society generates crimes by men against women (social control) The Invisibility of Women > Gender issues & female offending have been ignored in the study of crime. > Studies have generally been about male offenders and deviants > Female victimisation is largely ignored in particularly in relation to domestic violence & sexual violence. Heidensohn (1996) points out such a problem in Cohen’s study of delinquency which begins with the…. ‘the delinquent is the rogue male’. This and other studies show how the sociology of crime is MALESTREAM.

24. Heidensohn suggests the following reasons for the ‘Invisibility’ of females in the sociology of crime: Academics & researchers were/ and are still predominantly are men 2) ‘Malestream’ middle-class sociologists exaggerate and are preoccupied by the notion that working-class ‘macho’ males should be focused on in the study of deviance 3) There is actually less female crime to study as there is a low crime rate amongst females and the nature of their crimes is often trivial and invisible (less detectable). Task: What does the term ‘Patriarchal’ mean? Why has the sociology of crime & deviance been accused of being ‘Malestream’? What sorts of crimes might females commit that might be deemed as trivial? Why might female crime be less detectable?

25. The Growth of Feminist Criminology Feminism is one of the key areas of the sociology of crime and deviance - It is growing and becoming more and more popular. Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel Feminists focus on: > Female Offending > Women’s Treatment by the Criminal Justice System > Female Victimisation > The Gender gap in Offending Constance Kent Myra Hindley Feminists try to apply traditional ‘malestream’ theories of crime to females whilst highlighting the bias and shortcomings of ‘Male-Centred’ theories of crime. Task: Discuss: Is it important to highlight gender differences within crime? Explain your answer Aileen Wuornos

26. Much of feminism revolves around the study of GENDER IDENTITY and EXPRESSION which moves away from traditional Structural explanations of crime and deviance and more towards individuals at the micro level. Task: What is meant by Gender Identity? What is meant by a ‘Structural Theory’ of Crime? What is the ‘opposite’ of structural theory? Why might looking at individual circumstances be more useful than looking at structural theories of crime? Are structural theories of crime any use when examining gender and crime? Give reasons for your answer Feminist contributions to the study of crime: > Considers many areas of female criminology: Offending, Victimisation, The Justice System > A new focus on different types of victimisation (particularly in terms of control & power relationships). > Considers existing theories of crime and offers a new critique on them. Breaks down the notion that women are simply victims of crime & should be studied in their own right as offenders also.

27. Domestic Violence Dobash and Dobash (1979) studied domestic violence using informal interviews with victims of domestic violence but also the people who had worked with and helped the victims e.g. social workers. Discuss: Why might informal interviews be useful when studying domestic violence? Feminists argue that men are able to use the façade of the family in order to exercise power and control over women by both physical and mental abuse. Women’s Aid (2009) often quote the following statistics: > 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime – many of these on a number of occasions. > One incident of domestic violence is reported to the police every minute. > On average, 2 women a week are killed by a current or former male partner. • Why might it be easy to criticise the feminist view on domestic violence?

28. General Questions • Why might feminists question the validity of crime statistics? • What might Marxist Feminists add to the general feminist approach to crime and deviance? • Are there any major problems with the feminist approach to crime and deviance? Issues such as gender differences in offending and victimisation are explored more fully in the Gender & Crime Topic of this Module.

29. Plenary Homework Essay: Assess the contribution of Feminism to the study of crime and deviance. (21 marks) With your partner, write a plan for this essay: • What theoristswould you include? • How would you evaluate?

30. Learning Objectives To be able to explain,analyseandevaluate realist approaches to crime and deviance in society. Left and Right Realism on Crime Homework Essay: Outline realist explanations of crime and deviance. (21 marks)

31. Outline of Realism

32. Realism There are two branches of realism, both of which have separate theories and ideas.

33. Left Realism Left realism provides a causal explanation for crime. Left realists look at the individual and the causes which could have led them to commit crime. This stemmed from Jock Young who was a New Criminologists until he realised that the criminals (victims) need to be considered and after he saw criminals to be the victims of capitalism left realism began to look at what caused individuals to commit crime.

34. Left Realism Left realist theory identifies three causes of crime.

35. Cause One: Marginalisation This refers to the individuals who live on the margins of society and therefore cannot take part in society. Gibbs and Merighi (1994) argues that the black community are marginalised in terms of poverty, housing, education and jobs = anger and frustration  Crime

36. Cause Two: Relative Deprivation This refers to some individuals being relatively deprived in comparison to others and this therefore leads to a sense of injustice and resentment. Lea and Young (1992)found that ethnic minorities feel resentment due to relative deprivation as they see there to be unfair and biased policing in their community.

37. Cause Three: Subcultures This refers to groups of young people, often ethnic minority groups, who form sub-cultural groups in inner city areas. Messnerand Golden (1992) found that where racial discrimination existed deep violent subcultures flourished.

38. Solutions to Crime Left realists want to reduce crime in society by way of more community based improvements yet not using harsh punishments such as imprisonment.

39. Solutions to Crime

40. Right Realism Right realism comes from a New Right perspective which looks at the causes of crime and what can be put in place to deter criminals. Charles Murray is an example of a right realist. What you can remember about Charles Murray in relation to family?

41. Right Realism Right realism identifies the following four causes to influence crime: People choose to commit crime by weighing up the pros and cons. Muscular Low Intelligent Males Muscular Low Intelligent Males 1. Bio-Social 4. Choice Causes of Crime 3. Opportunity 2. Cultural Greater opportunity to commit crime exists in some areas • - Welfare • Dependency • Poor Schools • Lack of Community

42. Solutions to Crime

43. Start Timer Plenary 6 Create a two pictures showing a typical criminal, one from the perspective of a left realist and one from a right realist perspective. Label the key information about what causes them to commit crime 3 0

44. Learning Objectives To be able to explain,analyseandevaluate control theory as an explanation of crime and deviance in society. Control Theory Homework Create revision resources on all theories of crime and deviance we have covered

45. Control Theory Hirschi (1969) This theory can be used to support functionalism as it assumes that society is based on value consensus & social solidarity. Control theory differs from other theories of crime as it does not look at why people commit crime but looks at why some people do not commit crime. Question: Why might people not commit crimes? Control theorists believe that people are less likely to commit crimes if they have strong social bonds with others who encourage them to exercise self-control and tie them to conformity. If bonds are weak – people turn to crime.

46. Four types of Social Bonds: Hirschi identified fours social bonds that encourage conformity: 1) Belief 2) Attachment 3) Commitment 4) Involvement Question: What might Hirschi mean by each of these social bonds?

47. BELIEF: People share moral beliefs, norms and values & as such follow laws to reinforce these. ATTACHMENT: People are committed to conventional activities like working, going to school, family etc. This means they must conform or risk it all. COMMITMENT: People are committed to each other, their communities and society at large & thus avoid crime as this questions their commitment. CRIME: Social Bonds pull people away from crime that they would otherwise commit INVOLVEMENT: People are involved & kept busy with various groups. Therefore there is little opportunity

48. Hirschi & Gottfredson (1990) later suggested that social bonds were not enough to explain why some people do not commit crime and added that the opportunity to commit crime also matters (Link to Right Realism)

49. Task: • Identify all of the Social Bonds that you think prevent you • from committing crime. • > How could Control Theory explain juvenile delinquency? Critique of Control Theory Question: > How might Control Theory be criticised? > Is control theory useful in any way? Doesn’t actually explain why some people have weaker/ stronger social bonds than others Ignores various types of crime and deviance Assumes that individuals are all naturally bad You can have tight social bonds and still be deviant (labelling theory)

50. Learning Objectives To be able to explain,analyseandevaluate labelling theory as an explanation of crime and deviance in society. Labelling Theory Homework Create revision resources on all theories of crime and deviance we have covered