Page 1: Crime and Deviance Sociologists
This page presents a comprehensive overview of key sociologists and their theories related to crime and deviance in sociology.
Highlight: The page covers a wide range of sociological perspectives on crime, including functionalist, Marxist, feminist, and subcultural theories.
Functionalist perspectives:
- Durkheim outlined 3 functions of crime: reaffirming boundaries, promoting social cohesion, and allowing for functional rebels
- Davis viewed crime as a "safety valve" for society
- Merton developed strain theory to explain deviance
Subcultural and labeling theories:
- Cohen linked youth delinquency to subcultural theory, emphasizing group dynamics
- Becker introduced concepts of deviant careers and outsiders
Definition: Deviant career refers to the process by which individuals become labeled as deviant and potentially embrace that identity over time.
Feminist perspectives:
- Heidensohn proposed control theory related to female criminality
- Carlen examined how women may turn to crime if they feel they have "nothing to lose" in terms of class or gender expectations
Marxist views:
- Chambliss argued the police act as a "tool of the ruling class"
- Gordon claimed capitalism causes an unfair criminal justice system that targets street crime
Other important concepts:
- Moral panics and folk devils Cohen
- White-collar crime Nelken
- Chivalry thesis in feminist criminology
Vocabulary: Moral panic refers to a widespread fear about a perceived threat to social order, often amplified by media coverage.
The page also touches on racial disparities in crime and housing, noting that 50% of black people live in low-income housing compared to 20% of white people.
