In this essay we will assess the usefulness of these functionalist theories, and look at how it helps us explain crime. One functionalist who tried to explain crime is Merton and his strain theory, the strain theory argues that people engage in the deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means. Merton explanation combines 2 elements; structural factors- society’s unequal opportunity structure, cultural factors- strong emphasis to achieve goals and weak emphasis on using legit means. Merton uses the strain theory to explain some patterns of crime in society, he argues a person’s positioning in society affects the way they adapt or respond to the strain to anomie. Merton gives 5 different types of adaption; Conformity- the individual accepts socially acceptable goal and achieves it through legitimate means, Innovation- Individual accepts the role of success and wealth but uses illegitimate means to achieve them, Ritualism- Individual give up on legitimate goals but still follow strictly to the rules, Retreatism- Individuals reject legitimate goals and means of achieving them e.g drug addicts, the final type is Rebellion- Individuals reject existing goals and means but replace them with new one in desire to bring about revolutionary change.
There are many theories relating to deviance and crime with each theory illustrating a different aspect of the procedure by which people break rules and are classed as deviants or criminals. (New texts pg 138) which highlights the problems in defining crime or deviance. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CRIME AND DEVIANCE Many believe crime and deviance has developed on separate tracks over the years as criminologist serve only for legality, crime and crime-related phenomena. The study of deviance however serves for a wider range of behaviours that are not necessarily illegal for example suicide, alcoholism, homosexuality, mentally disordered behaviours. (Bader et al) The main difference between crime and deviance is deviant behaviour is when a social norm has been broken whereas a crime is where a formal and social norm is broken.
Social Disorganization Question-and-Answer College of Criminal Justice and Security-CJA/384 January 8, 2013 * * In this paper, the student be discussing the following questions. What is social disorganization? Which is known to be a state of society described by the analysis of actual community control caused in a lack of useful integration among groups, conflicting social approaches, and personal disturbance. How does social disorganization relate to organized crime and its evolution and how many gangs with practical culture on the inside there is a great existence of common beliefs and values. How well does social disorganization meet the criteria for organized crime and its various relationships and what is the correlation
Word count : 1700 Criminal victimization and rational theories The classical approach to explain crime has always revolved around examining the personal motivations of offenders for committing crime. However, in the recent past decades researchers have focused not only on offender incentive, but also on the lifestyles and activities of those at risk of being victimized. The following article explores different risk determinants, rational choice and social control theories in an attempt to establish both victim and offender's crime circumstances. Cohen, Kluegel and Land present the opportunity model of predatory victimization perspective as a basic explanatory model for criminal victimization. In order to comprehend why race, age and income have the potential to affect criminal victimization, the authors portray five main risk factors which are: exposure, guardianship, proximity to potential offenders, attractiveness of targets and definitional properties of specific crimes.
The differential association theory argued that crime was the result of environmental influences on people and not from biological and psychological abnormalities. Sutherland’s general theory was that criminal behaviour is learnt in the social environment. He said that the main difference between law abiding behaviour and criminal behaviour is in what is learnt rather than how it is learnt. (Joubert, Joubert & Ovens, 2012:105). DEFINITION Differential association is a concept that was developed by E. H. Sutherland.
Crime is defined as an infraction of criminal law. Jary and Jary (2000). In Sociology: A New Approach, Haralambos et al. (1986) crime is further defined as an act which breaks the law and is subject to punishment. Crime and deviance are culturally defined and therefore relative, as a culture evolves so do definitions of both deviance and crime.
That usually means reverting to street crimes. These crimes include burglary, vandalism, and selling drugs. Those individuals feel that street crime is the only way they will obtain material success. Merton's theory may stand true when comparing social status with street crime; however, his theory becomes weak when the crimes include white-collar and business crimes. Therefore, Merton's theory has become an “anomie theory”.
Lynne Borges CJS 258-01 Prof. Harden May 6, 2011 Chapter 13: Choosing Crime in Everyday Life Chapter 13 is titled, “Choosing Crime in Everyday Life.” Explain the significance of this title and how opportunity theorists seek to explain and deter criminal behavior. In your answer, please also include what Marcus Felson meant when he stated the “chemistry for crime.” ___________________________________________________________ “Choosing Crime in Everyday Life” is an appropriate title for this chapter because opportunity theorists are concerned with crime—the actual behavioral act of breaking the law—rather than criminality, which are qualities developed overtime. Their focus is not to find out what has occurred in an individual’s past [i.e. criminality] that caused them to commit a crime, but rather they seek to find what is occurring in an individual’s present situation that leads them to criminal behavior. Opportunity theorists reject the notion that criminals are pushed and pulled into criminal behavior.
He changed the way criminology is viewed today. He believed that criminal behaviour came into effect from learning and communicating with others and not something inherited. He placed no emphasis on the media involvement. Definition Differential association studies the acts of a criminal as learned behaviour. It maintains that crime is the product of environmental influences on individuals who are otherwise psychologically as well as biologically normal (Joubert, S. J., Joubert, E., Ovens, M. 2009).
Why Poverty leads to Crime – A Research about the “Social Structure Theory” By Daniel Rottlaender CJ200013 Professor Gene Overall 10/12/2014 Abstract: The purpose of this research is to explain and proof the Social Structure Theory, which says that poverty leads to crime. The first part of the paper contains an explanation what the Social Structure Theory is as well as the different schools of thought the theory provides. The second part of the paper is supposed to proof the theory by using statistics and theories why poverty leads to crime. The final paragraph provides a summary and a recommendation what the government should do in order to decrease crime rates. In order to write my essay I used different types of research.