Sociology Final

by labeling someone deviant, they become the label

csj serves the ellits, capitalist society needs a working class

groups in society struggle to maximize benefits

ellites control low classes

conflict theorist argued that conflict is the basis of society

argues that while conflicts are the cause of crime, public policies can mediate.

• By Sykes and Matza
• Criminals know what they are doing are wrong but try to justify or explain their actions away

• denial of responsibility
• denial of injury
• denial of victim
• condemnation of the condemner
• appeal to higher loyalties

• Hirschi and Gottfredson
• socialization and social learning helps in building self control and reduces the inclination to indulge in deviant behaviors

• attachment
• commitment
• involvement and
• belief

conservative thoughts on crime, people have choices

• criminals are rational and have control over deciding to commit a crime
• cost and benefits
• severe punishment

• related to rational choice theory
• elliminating the option to commit crimes
• Cohen and Felson

anatomy makes them commit crime

female crime is hidden; naturally deceitful

girls join gangs similarly to boys

• Hagan
• crime is a function of class position and family structure
• people can have preferences for risk taking from parental influences

conflict is inherent to capitalism

not changing content of social life but recurring forms or patterns

abolishing capitalism decreases crime

law in book vs law in action

goals of beaurocratic efficiency and avoidance of trouble goal of cjs

as defined by Quinney: creation/interpretation of specialized rules in a political organization/society

material needs derrived from capitalism/individual competition/wealth

• Currie
• competitive capitalism weakens social instincts leads to anti social activity

nonconformity is to be expected when social controls are less than effective

• Durkheim
• Social solidarity maintained by 2 functions:
• Integration and Regulation

• nature of man:
• social self
• egoistic self

Authorities excused violations as self defense or accident to reinforce norms

• Tittle
• People are always under or exertin control which can be:
• balanced
• deficit- deviant
• surplus- deviant

• Colvin
• People experience different types of coercion
• interpersonal v. impersonal
• Dimensions:
• coercive v. non coercive
• Consistant v. Erratic

Wilson and Kelling

• public order crimes are severely dealth with
• low tolerance
• punitive measures

low self control all criminals/crimes are risk takers and impulsive

• conservativism
• denial of crime as root cause
• crime solving increasing individual restraints or controls

decision to offend based on perception of costs and benefits

women are less then men evolutionary; atavistic

women are conservative and repressed