Sociological Approaches

“Criminals” are not different ( bio, psych) ---their circumstances are different

Focus on underlying social problems and crime rates (not individuals)

Major focus on preventing crime by changing the underlying conditions/causes

“social stress”

Sociological Approaches

The Pluralist Model “Liberal” Govt/Law as “Referee” vs. The Conflict Model "Critical/Radical" Govt/Law shaped/controlled by elites in their own interests A “Ruling

Class” ??

Sociological Approaches

The Key Criminology Question:  What social and cultural factors generate patterns of

crime

– high crime rates– low crime rates – changing crime rates

also patterns within the larger patterns age, gender, race/ethnicity, etc.

Sociological Approaches

Note: Both also look critically at the processes of criminalization

- how do some people (and not others) come to be treated as “criminals”

(male/female, rich/poor, street/corp, etc.)

Sociological Approaches

Several broad approaches:

– Social Disorganization Theories– Social Control Theories– Labeling Theory

- Integrative Theories

Sociological Approaches

Social Disorganization Theories

Urbanization and “Anomie” (European)

The Chicago School (American)“Ecology” and material instability

Sociological Approaches

Robert Merton and Strain theoriesGoals/Means “disorganization”

Subculture theories (structuralist)

Culture conflict Lower class subculture Subculture of violence

Sociological Approaches

Social Control Theories

Walter Reckless - Containment theory Inner and outer "pushes and pulls"

Travis Hirschi - Social Bond theory Attachment

Sociological Approaches

Labeling theory

Primary and Secondary deviance

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Sociological Approaches

Problems with Soc approaches

– Pluralist and Conflict issues– Sample selection bias (still!)– “Criminology as science” dilemma– Influencing social policy

Sociological Approaches

Comment - Criminology is too complicated and confusing for much of the public - “sound-bite culture”

Individual approaches are simple, reinforce common biases and stereotypes, are reinforced by politicians and the media, and generally fit with our fascination with exceptional cases and the maze-like legal process.

Sociological Approaches

Integrative Theories

are a response to problems with sociological approaches. They seek to combine the best elements of other theories, and work them into a single larger framework --

– Robert Merton (early attempt)- Crime and the American Dream

Sociological Approaches

Robert Merton - Key Concepts:

Culture of individualism and competitionBlocked opportunityStrain and AnomieDeviant adaptations

Merton’s “Logic Table” of adaptations

Sociological Approaches

GOALS     MEANS 

Conformist        + +"poor but honest"

Innovator + -inventor, entrepreneur, criminal

Ritualist - + "bureaucratic mentality"

Sociological Approaches

GOALS     MEANS 

Retreatist -           -drop out, beatnik,

hippie, cultist, etc.

Rebel                  -/+      -/+ revolutionary

Sociological Approaches

Blocked Opportunity = “Want but can’t have”

But what shapes particular responses to strain and anomie?

(what influences people to innovate, retreat, etc.?)

Note: These are specific crim theories

Sociological Approaches

Differential Association

One factor is important associations – friends, family, neighbors, etc.

What "reference groups" do is a powerful influence on what people do.

Note: Peer Groups and Role Models

Sociological Approaches

Differential Reinforcement

Another factor is reinforcement (rewards and punishments)

If something "works" (rewards, status, etc.) people are more likely to continue doing it.

Note: Based on behaviorist psychology

Sociological Approaches

Differential Opportunity

Most “deviant adaptations” require alternative

set of learned skills/attitudes/values and the opportunity to use them. 

Illegitimate opportunity structures and “Illegal economies”

Sociological Approaches

Note:

Merton's theory focused on explaining modern urban "street crime."  But the theoretical framework can also be used to explain a variety of other social situations similar to those producing street crime.

Sociological Approaches

Why is corporate crime so widespread in America?

Businesses are locked into a highly competitive quest for “market shares”

(goal) and it is hard to “win” using legitimate

means -

Sociological Approaches

this leads to a corporate culture of “cheating”

(deviant adaptation – corporate crime).

Note: Greed = never enough

Goal is always out of reach - never "enough" wealth/power/etc.

Sociological Approaches

Why do some police depts (like LAPD) have chronically high levels of corruption?

Police culture emphasizes punishing “bad guys” (goal) but the legal evidence is often lacking (legitimate means) and this leads some police depts (local police culture) to plant evidence, engage in police brutality, etc.

Sociological Approaches

How do idealistic young lawyers become “convict by any means" prosecutors?

Prosecutors compete for high conviction rates

(goal) which is hard to accomplish by following

legal “due process” - this leads prosecutors to

abandon goals of fairness and justice, and “cheat” to win convictions.

Sociological Approaches

Crime and the American Dream (and lectures)

will discuss all of the sociological theories and

foundations in more detail.

Sociological Approaches

Summary: Circumstances produce crime -

they shape the context within which individual

decisions are made.

Psych/Indiv - frustration leads to aggression

Soc - social stress leads to “deviance”

Sociological Approaches

Unrealistic goals + limited means for reaching

these goals leads to “deviant adaptations” -

“Shortcuts” to goals

Sociological Approaches

Over time shortcuts become institutionalized - part of our culture and practices - so part of lower class culture, corporate culture, police culture, court culture, etc.

Note: we respond to problems as if they were indiv probs, while culture reproduces them!

this is a huge dilemma!!

Next Week

Crime and the American Dream

+ Supplemental Homicide Reports

(demo)