CRIM1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Class Conflict
Lecture 1 and 2 Introduction to Criminology
Criminology (won’t be examined)
The body of knowledge regarding delinquency and crime as social phenomena. It
includes within its scope the processes of making laws, of breaking laws, and of
reaction toward the breaking of laws.
(Sutherland and Cressey, 1974, p. 3)
Different types of criminology: (3 types)
1. Classical criminology: People are rational, acting with free will (Classical Criminology)
2. Positivist Criminology: Deviant behaviour is determined by factors beyond an
individual’s control
3. Critical Criminology: Deviance is legally constructed by those in power
More about each one:
Classical Criminology:
Humans are:
Self-interested. Maximise pleasure & minimise pain
Rational: decide what is in our best interest
‘Weighers’ of costs & benefits
So, crime is a product of free will, not the supernatural
Implications for punishment
Positivist Criminology (**interested in scientific explanation)
Criminal behaviour is determined by outside factors (not free will)
Science can identify causes of crime
Identifiable & measurable criteria
Focus on criminal actors not acts
Implications for response.
Critical Criminology: (more about it in Lecture 11)
The most powerful groups get to make the laws & define what is/is not a crime
Assumes NO agreement in society about appropriate ways to behave
There is group or class struggle
Punishment reflects the interests of the powerful groups
Definition of Deviance: (exact wording won’t be examined)
Deviance is behaviour that elicits a social reaction by violating the standard of conduct
defined by society.
Deviance is “…the behaviour that violates the normative rules, understandings or
expectations of social systems” (Cohen 1968, p.148)
4 categories of social norms:
Less deviant —> Folkways, mores, taboos, laws —> more deviant
How do we measure crime? (2 main soruces)
1. Administrative data = Data recorded by police, courts, corrections and other criminal
justice agencies. Examples are arrest rates, recorded crime rates
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The body of knowledge regarding delinquency and crime as social phenomena. It includes within its scope the processes of making laws, of breaking laws, and of reaction toward the breaking of laws. (sutherland and cressey, 1974, p. 3) Rational: decide what is in our best interest. So, crime is a product of free will, not the supernatural. Criminal behaviour is determined by outside factors (not free will) Critical criminology: (more about it in lecture 11) The most powerful groups get to make the laws & de ne what is/is not a crime. Assumes no agreement in society about appropriate ways to behave. Punishment re ects the interests of the powerful groups. De nition of deviance: (exact wording won"t be examined) Deviance is behaviour that elicits a social reaction by violating the standard of conduct de ned by society. Deviance is the behaviour that violates the normative rules, understandings or expectations of social systems (cohen 1968, p. 148)
