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Lecture 5 - The Criminal World PICT103
Introduction to Criminology (PICT103)
Macquarie University
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Society (economic systems, institutions, etc.)
Community (local attitudes, class
values, etc.)
Situation (immediate
environment and context) Individual
(offender profile, characteristics, etc.)
Lecture 5: The Criminal World
Durkheim & social norms Father of sociology Emile Durkheim (1857-1917) Social norms are “cultural phenomena that prescribe and proscribe behaviour in certain circumstances” o Social norms – rules that help us operate as a society o Formal (laws) or informal (dress, hygiene, speech) Essentially all of the informal rules and commonly accepted ways of doing things Differ from, though ideally include, laws (legal norms)
Anomie Anomie = state of normlessness o Invented by Durkheim studying motivations behind suicide in countries with high rates Occurs when societies are destabilised, don’t feel responsibility anymore Particularly during times of sudden change: o War o Post-conflict/political transition o Rapid technological transformation o Economic fluctuation (boom/bust) – even development can increase crime as it shakes up deeply held social norms, but don’t really see it in western countries E. Mexico was centralised and in a decade it was opened Breakdown of usual community bonds - people have no social norms to follow As a result they act in their own interest = crime
o When free of norms that ‘oppress’ us, we become selfish e. looting during riots Strain theory - the American Dream Developed by sociologist Robert Merton (1910-2003) Builds upon anomie and also emphasises the importance of social values, particularly culturally valued goals American Dream – material success, fame, fortune, etc. ‘Anybody can make it America’ Notion of American dream builds up strain because not everyone can make it Society started placing such a high value on material accomplishment Dissonance between what is valued/promised (wealth, opulence) and what people can achieve creates strain o Creates stress and flexibility towards acting in legal ways
Strain theory - the American reality Huge wealth inequality Inequitable access to opportunity structures (education, employment, etc.) Social strain comes about when there is a mismatch between culturally valued goals and legitimate means to achieve them Minimum wage = $7 (Aus - $9) High strain = high crime Relative deprivation – having less than adjacent people/classes
Strain theory – five reactions How do people respond to strain/unfairness? o Conformity – accepts approved goals, pursues them through approved means o Innovation – accepts approved goals; uses disapproved means. E. gambling, fraud, drug dealing o Ritualism – abandons society’s goals; conforms to approved mean. Realise goals are unattainable, abandon, but still get job/uni/traffic/expected o Retreatism – abandons approved goals and approved means. I will never achieve this so I’ll just have a good time, no job o Rebellion – challenges approved goals and approved means. Punks, challenge narrative of goals/everyday ritualistic narrative
Strain theory – implications Helps explain different levels of crime in different contexts Highlights the importance of social inclusion, fairness and equality of opportunity (education, employment, etc.) – a ‘fair go’ Also the value of non-material goals that contribute to social status and feelings of respect (e. family, friendship, sporting achievement, artistic expression, etc.) What do we value most in Australia? Money? Mateship? Have these values changed over time?
Social disorganisation – Part II Developed by researchers at the university of Chicago Division of cities into different areas based on class, length of residency and community cohesion Shift away from universal analysis to focus specifically on delinquent areas: slums, ghettos Criminogenic factors related to place
Crime and economic class are strongly correlated - prisons are full of poor not rich people High crime rates are associated with economic marginalisation (poverty and long-term unemployment), in combination with other factors: o Family instability o Lack of education o Poor housing Underclass = people excluded from legitimate economy Links to social disorganisation
The ‘dangerous’ classes ‘Law’ is used as a tool of the rich to control and subordinate other classes Poor people are disproportionately targeted by the police and the broader criminal justice system Deviancy of the working and under-classes are criminalised Deviancy and harmful behaviours of the rich are not – critical criminology Limited means to challenge legal determinations
The prison-industrial complex Refers to the symbiotic relationship between private (for-profit) prisons and political establishment Taxpayers pay prison corporations for each person in custody Overwhelmingly the poor and underclass are incarcerated Prisoners may be required to work in custody - 23 cents per hour! 7 private prisons in Australia
The prison-industrial complex Unlike state run corrections, private prisons have a vested interest in increasing prisoner numbers Prison corporations influence penal policy directly by lobbying politicians to increase sentences (mandatory sentences, ‘zero tolerance’ policing, ‘three strikes’ policies) This provides more money to prison corporations which can further their expansion, increasing penalties further - and so the cycle goes
Final thoughts In addition to individual factors, crime is influenced by social structures, including: o Class o Opportunity o Inequality and relative deprivation o Cultural values o Operation of the criminal justice system o And political/economic systems If unfairness is built into society, how does this affect ideas about who is responsible for crime? How do these ideas change our notions of who an offender is?
Lecture 5 - The Criminal World PICT103
Course: Introduction to Criminology (PICT103)
University: Macquarie University
