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Week 3 Assignment 3

Chapter 6

1.How does Merton’s concept of anomie differ from that of Durkheim? What is your assessment of the usefulness of Merton’s anomie/ strain theory in explaining crime in the United States?

Merton’s concept of anomie differs from that of Durkeim in that Merton’s theory war created to modify Durkeim’s theory. Per the book Merton “viewed anomie as a condition that occurs when discrepancies exist between societal goals and the means available for their achievement” (Hagan, 2011). Durkeim explained crime as a normal even in life due to the fact that behavior such as deviant behavior shaped moral boundaries (Hagan, 2011). Durkeim’s looked at crime as individual characteristic rather than society and cultural institutions.

Merton’s theory looks at people worth by their what they have and by being able to get what is they want with hard work. His theory fits into US society in that it explains crime by “very values of the society itself in encouraging high material aspirations as a sign of individual success without adequately providing approved means for all to reach these goals” (Hagan, 2011).

2. What are Sutherland’s differential association theory’s assumptions regarding crime causation?

Sutherland’s differential association theory’s assumptions regarding crime causation are that individuals can move toward a life of crime by continues contact to individual involved in crime. What happens is that the frequent contact causes an individual to get used to crime accept it as normal (Hagan, 2011).

6. Discuss Reckless’s containment theory. What are some containments that enable individuals to overcome the various layers of social pressures

The Reckless containment theory is one of Walter Reckless early examples of the social control theory and was a product of the Chicago school of sociology (Hagan, 2011). In this theory Sutherland stated that people are built with certain controls, these controls keep them from following a life of crime. According to the book it goes so far as to look at all the forces which may make someone a criminal.

Some containments that enable individuals to overcome the various layer of social pressures are values, strong self concept, identity strong resistance to frustration and family support.

9. How do mainstream sociological theories differ from the earlier classical, economic, ecological, and positivistic theories?

Mainstream Sociological theories differ from the earlier classical, economic, ecological and positivistic theories in that Mainstream theories are linked with the criminal and how the values are carried out. The others theories viewed crime as more of a dysfunction of culture and were instead were a learning process (Hagan, 2011).

10. What is routine activities theory? Give an example of the practical application of this theory.

Routine activities theory is a theory by Cohen and Felson that blames crime behavior on the relationship of volume to the interaction to normal life. This theory has three elements of crime which are a suitable target, likely offender and the absence of capable security (Hagan, 2011).

A practical application of this theory would be an area with no police that is a high theft area due to the remoteness, a likely target and no security.

Chapter 7

2. How does labeling theory reverse the usual approach to crime and criminality? What are some pros and cons of this “societal reaction” approach to crime?

The labeling theory reverses the usual approach to crime and criminality by stating that a criminal is a criminal due to the fact that they are labeled a criminal. This theory does is different in that the criminal act is not crime unless it is labeled.

Some pros to this theory are that as a society we get to decided what is a crime and its punishments and the cons are that there must be a definition to the crime before it becomes a crime.

3. Compare conflict criminology with radical criminology. What is the major difference between the two?

Radical criminology crime is a result of capitalism and in order to control it there must be a state of socialism. Radical criminology is caused by inequality and by the unfair laws made by upper class. Conflict criminology does not put the whole blame on capitalism but instead. It looks at research looks toward a reform.

(Hagan, 2011)

7. Discuss the notions of peacemaking and restorative justice. How do these approaches differ from “just deserts,” “retributive justice,” and “three strikes and you’re out” approaches?

Peacemaking is a process that wants to cure crime by ending suffering through a nonviolent approach. Restorative justice are programs that react to criminal behavior by establishing laws to impact the criminals, victim and community.

Approaches “just deserts,” “retributive justice,” and “three strikes and your’re out” differ in that they only affect the criminal and that they do not end the suffering.

8. What is postmodernism and postmodernist criminology?

Postmodernism according to the reading is “a movement that attacks modernity (Hagan, 2011). The reading also states that it “argue for plurality of interpretations of the law and an abandonment of standard theories of crime causation” (Hagan, 2011).

Postmodernist criminology looks at how knowledge is used, significance of language and signs, and how concepts capture reality and set standards for the crime (Hagan, 2011).

10. What is the “global fallacy” in criminological theory?

The global fallacy in criminological theory is a theory that states that all crimes have same general explanation. (Hagan, 2011)

Works Cited

Hagan, F. E. (2011). Introduction to Criminology: Theories, Methods, and Criminal Behavior, Seventh Edition. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc. .

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