Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 0 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Lesson 8: Sociological Theories: Critical Perspectives

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 1 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Sociological Theories: Critical Perspectives Lesson Overview Labeling Theory –Relativism –Imposition of deviant label –Negative consequences of labeling –Evaluation of labeling theory Conflict and Radical Theories –Consensus and conflict perspectives in sociology –Conflict perspectives in criminology –Radical theories in criminology Feminist theories –Overview of feminist perspectives in sociology –Scope of research

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 2 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Critical Perspectives on Crime Highlight the ways people and institutions respond to crime and criminals –Social reaction theories Definition of crime is problematic Emphasis in the concept of power and the inequality based on differences in power –Social class –Race –Ethnicity

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 3 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Labeling Theory Introduction –Addresses three major issues  Definition of deviance and crime  Possible discrimination in application of official labeling and sanctions  Effect of labeling on continued criminality

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 4 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan The Relativist Definition of Crime and Deviance –Deviance is not a property of behavior, but result of how others regard the behavior The Imposition of the Deviant Label –Some people and behaviors more likely to be labeled deviant; people in power impose deviant labels on those without power Labeling Theory

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 5 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan William Chambliss; “The Saints and the Roughnecks” –Our impressions of people affect how likely they are to be officially labeled –Research is inconsistent on effects of extralegal factors in official labeling Labeling Theory

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 6 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Interaction with others shapes our conception of ourselves Symbolic interaction Informal and official labeling Deviance amplification The Negative Consequences of Labeling Theory

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 7 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Edwin Lemert –Primary deviance: The act(s) in question –Secondary deviance: Occurs when person is caught and labeled; continued deviance Labeling theory challenges deterrence theory’s view –Labeling theory argues labeling causes/increases deviant self-image –Deterrence theory argues it increases offender’s perceived risk of arrest Labeling Theory

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 8 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Successful Degradation Ceremony A course of action or ritual in which someone’s identity is publicly redefined and destroyed, and they are thereafter viewed as socially unacceptable

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 9 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Evaluation of the theory –Research fails to consistently support its arguments –Overly passive view of the individual –Fails to explain primary deviance –Ignores crimes by the powerful Labeling Theory

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 10 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Revising and Renewing Labeling Theory –Addressing negative effects of informal labeling –Official labeling promotes deviance for some and deters it for others –Shaming: Social disapproval  Disintegrative shaming – stigmatization, occurs when offenders are treated like outcasts an no effort is made to forgive them and to involve them in community affairs  Reintegrative shaming – efforts are made to bring the offender back in to the community Labeling Theory

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 11 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Restorative Justice Focuses on restoring social bond between offender and community Victim impact panels Sentencing circles Family group conferences Increases victim satisfaction with justice process

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 12 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Conflict and Radical Theories Consensus and Conflict Perspectives in Sociology –Consensus view: social institutions help create social stability and represent the views of society –Conflict view: social institutions serve the interests of the powerful  Karl Marx ( )  Max Weber ( )

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 13 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Karl Marx and the conflict tradition –Bourgeoisie: Own factories and other means of productions –Proletariat: Workers Turk’s theory of criminalization –Spelled out how criminal labels are applied, particularly to subordinate groups who are the least sophisticated Conflict Perspectives

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 14 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Evaluation of Conflict Theory –Helps explain some laws and types of crime –Less relevant for “street crimes” –Historical support for the theory Conflict and Radical Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 15 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Radical Theories in Criminology –Marx and Engels on Crime and Law  Law helps ruling class by placing importance on personal property and giving appearance of “equal justice” for all  Capitalism contributes to crime  Crime as political rebellion  Lumpenproletariat “the social scum, the positively rotting mass” composed of vagabonds, pimps, prostitutes, pickpockets and the like Conflict and Radical Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 16 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan –Willem Bonger: Capitalism, Egoism, and Crime  Capitalism/competition for profit leads to cultural emphasis on egoism and greed –William Chambliss: The Law of Vagrancy  Before 1340s no laws existed against vagrancy  Laws designed to benefit ruling and mercantile classes by providing a surplus of labor and pushing down prices Conflict and Radical Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 17 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Contemporary Radical Views on Crime and Law –Instrumental Marxism: Law is instrument that serves interest of ruling class –Structural Marxists: Law serves to preserve capitalist interests –Crime in capitalist societies results from problem populations Conflict and Radical Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 18 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Class relations in the work place lead to delinquency A Common Agenda –A few people in capitalist societies have the wealth and power –Wealthy use their power to keep the poor in their place –Criminal law reflects interests of the powerful Conflict and Radical Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 19 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan –Criminals are normal people that commit crime because they’re poor –Criminal justice system does not address causes of crime –System must become fairer, social and economic reform A Common Agenda

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 20 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan The Cause of Crime The key crime-producing element of modern corporate capitalism is the effort to increase surplus value Capitalism creates have and have-nots. What choice do have-nots have?

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 21 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Radical Criminology Evaluation of the theory –Critics argue theory unfairly maligns the U.S. and overlooks oppressive nature of socialist and Communist nations –Exaggerates importance of class relations

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 22 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Left Realism and Peacemaking Criminology –Crime causes real distress for poor, people of color, and women –Increased police surveillance and harsher punishments –Peacemaking criminology combines Gandhism, Marxism, Buddhism –Crime is one of many forms of suffering of human existence Conflict and Radical Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 23 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Feminist Theories An Overview of Feminist Perspectives in Criminology –Liberal Feminism: Gender differences in crime rates traced to gender differences in socialization –Marxist Feminism: Women forced to commit crime to survive in capitalist society –Radical Feminism: Patriarchy precedes capitalism; gender more important than class –Socialist Feminism: Sees capitalism and patriarchy as equally important –Multicultural Feminism: Stresses importance of race and ethnicity along with gender and class

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 24 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan The Scope of Feminist Theory and Research –The Victimization of Women  1970s research brought rape and domestic violence to public attention  Sexual abuse suffered more by females –Gender Differences in Crime  Gender ratio: Lower female rates of offending  Masculinity and Crime: Socialization of males Feminist Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 25 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Explanations of Women’s Criminality –Generalizability issue: Do traditional theories apply to females? –Doing Gender: Male and female offenders “do gender;” committed crimes differently –Power-Control Theory: Gendered processes of family life that increase or decrease delinquency  Patriarchal: Father works, mother stays home; gender differences in crime are high  Egalitarian: Both parents work outside the home; gender differences in delinquency smaller than patriarchal homes Feminist Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 26 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Women in the Criminal Justice System –Women inmates face abuse –Female lawyers, police officers, and prison guards face discrimination –Gender differences in probability of arrest, sentencing and other outcomes Feminist Theories

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 27 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Chivalry Hypothesis: Predicts girls/women should be treated more leniently than boys/men Evil Woman Hypothesis: Since female criminality rare, more punitive treatment Equal Treatment Hypothesis: Gender should not affect legal processing Empirical evidence testing these hypotheses is inconsistent Feminist Theories