Term
| Emile Durkheim’s explanation for high levels of crime in industrial societies |
|
Definition
Functionalist perspective
-weakening of social bonds: families become smaller and workers are more mobile and independent
-people are freer to pursue their own interests
-crime increases |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
inconsistencies and contradictions in the social system contribute to crime
-not everyone knows laws
-no access to means of reaching goals
ex: Education costs a lot, but it is also important. how do you balance work and school? |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
have a goal, but no means to reach goal
reject socially approved means
ex: cheat on a test |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| accept goal, reject culturally approved means |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Reject goal and means
ex: drop out, do drugs |
|
|
Term
| How does research support "anomie theory"? (3) |
|
Definition
1. crime rates are higher in communities with greater economic inequality or with a larger disparity between incomes among groups
2. crime also goes up when there is a recession
3. crime rates are high upon the unemployed
ex: high employment in japan = low crime rate |
|
|
Term
| Crime: Conflict perspective |
|
Definition
-Criminal behav. is more likely to occur in groups with less power (young, poor, nonwhite)
-Legal and criminal justice systems are geared to benefit the dominant groups in society
-People in power create laws and have all of the control; define what activities will be considered criminal and decide penalties for those crimes
-People in power also determine what issues receive the most attention and resources.
ex: more likely to see "war" on drugs, rather than a "war" on corporate crime
-Capitalism causes crime. Constant search for greater profits. Relocation and mechanization in job industry => unemployment. Competition for low wage jobs. Capitalism instills in people to become more materialistic and buy more products. Crime is a way of solving this dilemma. |
|
|
Term
| Define: Cultural Transmission Theory |
|
Definition
| -crime is learned and culturally transmitted through socialization |
|
|
Term
| Define: Labeling theory (of crime) |
|
Definition
-Whether other people define or label a person as deviant is a critical determinant in the development of a pattern of deviant behavior
-everyone engages in criminal activities sometimes. you are labelled as a deviant, only when caught. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| violation of social norms in which a person is not caught or is excused rather than labeled as a deviant |
|
|
Term
| Define: Secondary Deviance (of crime) |
|
Definition
| Caught and labelled as a deviant, then make a career out of crime |
|
|
Term
| What are the negative effects associated with labeling people as deviants or criminals? (3) |
|
Definition
1. Labeling affects peoples' self-concept (way they view themselves). terms "murder," "thug," "robber," all have negative stigmas
2. Labeling can give people bad reputations and affect their social relationships. May have difficulty developing new friendships. May find acceptance with other people that are labeled as deviants.
3. Secondary deviance: people make a career out of being a deviant after being labelled |
|
|
Term
| Define: Differential Association Theory |
|
Definition
Crime and delinquency are learned in interaction with other people, for the most part within intimate primary groups such as families and peer groups
-People learn specific techniques for becoming a criminal
-People are more likely to view certain activities as acceptable and desirable, if they hang out with other people that do them |
|
|
Term
| Define: Self-fulfilling prophecy |
|
Definition
-thinking that you are a criminal will actually increase criminal behavior
(relates to Secondary Deviance: I am labeled as a criminal; therefore, i must behave like one." |
|
|
Term
| What position do sociologist’s take regarding criminal behaviors? |
|
Definition
-murders are situational (rarely planned)
-victims of murder are usually relatives or friends
-assaults are more likely to involve strangers
-more likely to be a victim of property crime then violent crime |
|
|
Term
| Define: White-Collar Crime |
|
Definition
-offenses committed by people in positions of respect and responsibility during the ordinary course of their business
ex: antitrust violations (attempts to monopolize part of company), price fixing (competitors agree to sell their products at a higher price than they would be able to in a competitive market), fraudulent use of funds |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
young people who commit specific acts that are prohibited by the juvenile code, such as running away from home, incorrigibility, truancy, or sexual promiscuity.
-not considered criminal when committed by an adult |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The person committing the crime is the person that is affected by the crime.
ex: prostitution, gambling, drug violations
-still illegal
-may lead to causing secondary crimes (steal to feed drug addiction) |
|
|
Term
| Death penalty: Arguments against |
|
Definition
1. affluent can afford good lawyers that can get them out of trouble. 41% of people on death row are nonwhites; nonwhites + poor are victimized. prosecutors, judges, and juries are usually white (and may be more inclined to sentence nonwhites to death)
2. the death penalty does not deter people from committing crimes |
|
|
Term
| What are some other punishments for crime that states issue, besides the death penalty? |
|
Definition
1. Take away voting rights of criminals
2. bar criminals from working in certain professions
3. Take away driver's licensess |
|
|
Term
| How does media influence crime news? |
|
Definition
1. media helps form construction of reality, because many people gain their information from newspapers, magazines, or television
2. media covers more information on crime, rather than reporting on presidents or congress.
3. media gives the impression that crime is higher than it actually is. it also suggests that violent crime is more common than nonviolent crime.
3. crimes by individuals are more commonly reported (ex: robbery and homocide), rather than crimes committed by organizations (ex: price fixings and environmental violations)
4. present police in being more effective at solving crimes than they really are
5. features police prominantly in the news, but rarely other parts of the criminal justice system (prison, court, probation officers, etc).
6. portray all citizens as being equally likely to be a victim of crime. poor minorities in inner-city communities are the most at risk
7. media companies are all motivated by profit. want stories to be short, simple, and personal. need to scare people and distort their views on crime, so that they will watch. |
|
|
Term
| What 2 key institutions should be invested in to reduce crime in the US? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| -continued use of a psychoactive substance at a level that violates approved social practices |
|
|
Term
| What drug constitutes the most severe problem in the United States? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Drug Abuse: Functionalist perspective |
|
Definition
-inconsistencies and contradictions in social system contribute to drug abuse
-anomie theory: socialization => inconsistency in goals, no socially approved means to reach those goals. Can either use INNOVATION (ex: sell drugs to get money and be successful) or RETREATISM (drop out, escape from world by doing drugs) |
|
|
Term
| Drug Abuse: Conflict perspective |
|
Definition
-poor and minorities are more likely to be arrested for drug abuse, rather than the affluent, even though they do it too.
-what is considered a dangerous and illegal drug depends on who is in control.
-some groups economically benefit from drug consumption |
|
|
Term
| Drug Abuse: Interactionist perspective |
|
Definition
-drug abuse is a learned behavior
-must learn where to buy, how to do them, and the effects. learn this by what groups you associate with |
|
|
Term
| Define: Political Economy |
|
Definition
the way in which politics and the exercise of power influence the production and distribution of economic resources
ex: Columbia is the biggest cocaine export for the US. no matter how much pressure the US places on columbia to stop cultivating and selling it, they will always refuse, because it is their means of survival |
|
|
Term
| What are some preventive efforts of current social policy toward drug abuse? |
|
Definition
1. Prohibition
2. "War on Drugs" - More police to track down drug users, higher prison sentences |
|
|
Term
| 1. Drug policies (in other countries like Great Britain and Netherlands) are less punitive than here in the United States. What is the result? |
|
Definition
Drugs have been decriminalized in the Netherlands
-drug use has decreased since then
-have less hard-drug addicts
-low incidence of AIDS among IV drug users
Drug laws have become more strict in Great Britain
-addiction rates have risen substantially since then |
|
|
Term
| Define: Primary Prevention |
|
Definition
-preventing drug problems before they begin
-use educational programs to alert people the dangers of drug use
-interdict overseas drug traffic
-reduce production of drug crops by other nations |
|
|
Term
| why has the War on Drugs has channeled very little money into rehabilitation? |
|
Definition
- much of the funds for the war on drugs have been channeled into law enforcement and drug interdiction
-only 1/5 prisoners who need drug treatment receive it |
|
|
Term
| How has public sentiment toward alcoholism changed over the last few decades |
|
Definition
-people used to be ashamed of their addictions. their families lied about them and were embarrassed. ashamed to get help
-alcoholism is now viewed as being a medical problem that can be treated. there are also more places to get help now
-more social pressure to get help |
|
|
Term
| On what grounds does the American Civil Liberties Union oppose drug testing? |
|
Definition
| -violates right to privacy and constitution's prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure |
|
|
Term
| The pervasiveness of the drug problem in the United States is due to __________________? |
|
Definition
| peoples' reactions to the negative social conditions they confront |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
80-85% of women, 90% of men have premarital sex. becoming more acceptable
-more openly discuss sex and recognize the reality of premarital sex
-women's sexual behavior is becoming more like men's has been in the past |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| men are permitted to have premarital sex, but it is sometimes frowned upon when women do it |
|
|
Term
| What factors have accounted for increased permissiveness in sexual attitudes? |
|
Definition
-increased availability and acceptance of use in contraceptives
-feminist movement
-technological developments (permit more freedom and escape from adults for teens)
-secularization (lessening religion's control over people) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
process through which influence of religion is removed from many institutions in society and dispersed into private and personal realms
religion's control is lessening.. people can do whatever they want |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-World's oldest profession
-there are between 100k-500,000 prostitutes, generating between $1-10billion
-1/4 adults believe prostitution should be legal |
|
|
Term
| What do those in favor of legalizing prostitution argue? |
|
Definition
-reduces STDs, like AIDS
-reduces prostitution-related crime
-prostitution is a victimless crime |
|
|
Term
| What do the critics of legalizing prostitution argue? |
|
Definition
-legalizing prostitution does not stop STDs among prostitutes... because they work on the streets once they are kicked out of the brothels (as seen in some communities in Nevada)
-prostitutes are victims. exploitation of women so that men can have unrestricted access to pleasure. dehumanizing |
|
|
Term
| What are the conditions that have to be met in order for material to be considered “legally obscene” (according to the U.S. Supreme Court)? |
|
Definition
1. average person considers the material to appeal to prurient interests
2. the material depicts sexual conduct, specifically defined by state or federal law, in a patently offensive way
3. the work lacks serious artistic, literary, political, or scientific value |
|
|
Term
| What do those opposed to censoring pornography argue? |
|
Definition
-people should be free to decide for themselves what they wish to read or watch
banning pornography would open doors to ban other materials |
|
|
Term
| What is a function of the sex trade, according to functionalists? |
|
Definition
sexual deviance provides benefits to society
-establishes boundaries of acceptable morality for society
-provides for a wide variety of sexual outlets and services
-people can use the sex trade to pursue sexual desires that they do not feel comfortable asking of their spouse
-helps maintain social order by reducing sexual tensions and conflicts that may occur inthe absence of the sex trade |
|
|
Term
| What does the conflict perspective state about the sex trade? |
|
Definition
-sex trade represents gender inequality in a patriarchical society
-Exploits the poor.
-dominant groups in society have the power to criminalize various behaviors and in doing so they can assert their own cultural dominance |
|
|
Term
| What does the interactionist perspective state about the sex trade? |
|
Definition
-social life revolves around varying definitions of reality and this influences the nature of a social problem
-women may be more receptive to entering a sex trade, because society affects their self-worth. they may feel like this is the proper thing to do, by society's standards |
|
|
Term
| Know how the Supreme Court has ruled regarding how sex businesses can, or cannot, be restricted by local authorities |
|
Definition
1. Laissez-faire model: prostitution is illegal but no active enforcement or persecution is pursued
2. Regulation model: prostitution is legal, but only in settings that are licensed by authorities, such as brothels
3. Zoning model: prostitution is permitted in particular areas of community
4. Control model: illegal and enforced |
|
|
