SOC212H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Homicide, Criminology, Symbolic Interactionism
1. Crime and Deviance Lecture 8 Situational Theories
Context
Situational theories it is direct dialogue with Sutherland, he opened the doors for
understanding dispositional historical)elements and situational elements . also opened
up the door for crime being very in the moment.
Situational theories we’ve been focused on casual claims from behind and individual
actors. But we should look at where its happening, the situation in which where crime is
occurring. Not fixed and attached to a person’s identity, seeing crime as contingent.
Seeing the moment of crime as important to study, seeing certain situations as lending
themselves to crime.
Seduction of crime need to see crime as bound up in the moment. Does not find
Merton’s theory appealing. What is it that is making people strained in the first place.
Seduction of crime, crime and deviance as things people desire to do. Its not a cost
benefit analysis but sometimes people want to do things against the norms.
Birbeck and Lafree: the situational analysis of crime and deviance:
-Despite acknowledgement that situational factors are important in the study of
crime dispositional theories have been utilized predominately
-The focus has been on criminality, not crime.
-Why is it that certain spaces become criminalized?
Why this focus? Three reasons:
-Sociologists tend to focus on the setting for crime such as subculture and parenting
style as something broader than the situation itself
-Different responses to the same situation led sociologist to see situational
interpretations as dependent on dispositions
-Systemically examining situations is very complex and hard to do.
-Key claim in sociology and criminology that individuals are complex, therefore
examining population aggregate patterns was most common.
-Sociologist and criminologist unwillingly looked at settings broader contours of the
situation, a subculture, a broken home something that doesn't directly cause what
happened but is seen as a primary factor, the actual moment of crime is situation.
Setting is within the framework of the situation
The concept of the situation:
-The immediate setting in which behaviour occur
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Document Summary
Crime and deviance lecture 8 situational theories. Situational theories it is direct dialogue with sutherland, he opened the doors for understanding dispositional historical)elements and situational elements . also opened up the door for crime being very in the moment. Situational theories we"ve been focused on casual claims from behind and individual actors. But we should look at where its happening, the situation in which where crime is occurring. Not fixed and attached to a person"s identity, seeing crime as contingent. Seeing the moment of crime as important to study, seeing certain situations as lending themselves to crime. Seduction of crime need to see crime as bound up in the moment. What is it that is making people strained in the first place. Seduction of crime, crime and deviance as things people desire to do. Its not a cost benefit analysis but sometimes people want to do things against the norms. Birbeck and lafree: the situational analysis of crime and deviance:
