violence, crime and criminal justice
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Violence, Crime and Criminal Justice. Michael Itagaki Sociology 102. Violence in the Sociological Perspective. Violence Use of force to injure people or destroy their property Social context Sociological question of violence - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Violence, Crime and Criminal Justice
Michael ItagakiSociology 102
Violence in the Sociological Perspective
Violence Use of force to injure people or
destroy their property Social context Sociological question of
violence What is it about a society that
increases or decreases the likelihood of violence?
Violence in the Sociological Perspective
Types of Violence Individual (personal) violence
Violence in the Sociological Perspective
Types of Violence Group (collective) violence
Situational group violence
Violence in the Sociological Perspective
Types of Violence Group (collective) violence
Organized group violence
Violence in the Sociological Perspective
Types of Violence Group (collective) violence
Institutionalized group violence
The Scope of the Problem
Violence A personal or social problem? Must be a widespread
subjective concern to be a social problem.
What is a Social Problem?
Review: Something in society that
concerns people to the point they would like to change it.
Social problems are relative Social problems are dynamic
The Scope of the Problem
Violence A personal or social problem? Must be a widespread subjective
concern to be a social problem. Subjective concerns about violence
Amount of violence (objective condition) leads to subjective concerns
Fear of violence
Figure 5.1a (p. 129)“Is there any area right around here—that is, within a mile—where you would be afraid to walk alone a night?”
The Scope of the Problem
Subjective concerns about violence Amount of violence (objective
condition) leads to subjective concerns Fear of violence
Objective conditions about violence Crimes of violence have decreased Still a lot of violent crime
Figure 5.2 (p. 131)The Rate of ViolenceSource: Various editions of FBI Uniform Crime Reports, including 1997, 2001, and 2003.
Figure 5.1 (p. 130)The Clock of ViolenceThese totals are U.S. national averages. Crimes do not occur with this regularity. As the text indicates, crimes vary by time of day and by seasons. The FBI also counts armed robbery as a violent crime, whether or not anyone is hurt during the crime. Armed robberies, occurring on average every 1.2 minutes, are included in the total.Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2002.
The Scope of the Problem
Subjective concerns about violence Objective conditions about violence Violence varies with social location
Race: African American males seven times more likely than white males to be murdered
Country you live in
Theories of Violence—Nonsociological Theories
Frustration-Aggression (Dollard) Violence built into our nature Frustration, when strive for a goal but
can’treach it
Relieve frustration by striking out at others
Theories of Violence—Nonsociological Theories
Learning (Skinner) If rewarded for violence, person
will be violent again Rewards vary
Modeling (Bandura & Walters) Copying another’s behavior Experiment of children hitting
dolls
Theories of Violence/Crime—Differential Association
Differential Association Edwin Sutherland Deviate or conform to norms
becauseof different groups we associate
with Deviance/crime is learned
Theories of Violence/Crime—Differential Association
Differential Association (Sutherland)Violent behavior is learned
Associations with significant others… who define some behavior favorablyThe frequency of associationsThe duration of associations.
Theories of Violence/Crime:Functionalism
Functionalism and Durkheim Crime is normal (normal
violence) Crime is an integral part of
healthy societies.
Theories of Violence/Crime: Functionalism
Social Control Theory (Reckless, Hirschi) Inner controls Outer controls Stronger bonds with society,
more effective inner controls.
Theories of Violence/Crime: Functionalism
Merton’s Strain Theory (anomie) Cultural goals Institutionalized means What happens when goals…
through approved means? Strain between goals and means
Theories of Violence/Crime: Conflict Theory Conflict Theory
Violence is inherent in society Class opression leads to violence Capitalist class vs. working class
violence
Research Findings: Rape The social patterns of rape
72,000 U.S. women forcibly raped each year (FBI, 2003)
Actual total is three times higher: 200,000 as only 32% of rapes get reported
More likely an acquaintance vs. a stranger
Research Findings: Rape The social patterns of rape
More likely to occur during the summer than winter
Victim: Ages 16 to 19 Four of five rapists use no weapon
Research Findings: Rape The social patterns of rape
Social location
Figure 5.4 (p. 141)Social Map: How Safe Is Your State? Rape in the United StatesSource: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract 2003: Table 307.
Research Findings: Rape The social patterns of rape
Social location Rapists almost exclusively male: young
males Race element Theoretical explanations?
(Conflict? Functionalism/Strain?)
Research Findings: Murder The social patterns of murder
Murder least likely to be committed by a stranger
Table 5.4 (p. 149)How Are Murder Victims Related to Their Killers?
Research Findings: Murder The social patterns of murder
Murder least likely to be committed by a stranger
Poor, young, and males are more likely to kill
Figure 5.6 (p. 149)Killers and Their VictimsSource: FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2003: Table 2.8.
Research Findings: Murder The social patterns of murder
Murder least likely to be committed by a stranger
Poor, young, and males are more likely to kill
Race element
Table 5.5 (p. 150)Race-Ethnicity of Killers and Their Victims
Research Findings: Murder The social patterns of murder
Murder least likely to be committed by a stranger
Poor, young, and males are more likely to kill
Race element Weapon of choice: Guns
Figure 5.7 (p. 151)America's Choice of Murder WeaponsSource: By the author, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2003: Table 2.10.
Research Findings: Murder The social patterns of murder
Murder least likely to be committed by a stranger
Poor, young, and males are more likely to kill
Race element Weapon of choice: Guns Nights, summers, weekends most
dangerous for murders
Figure 5.8 (p. 151)The "Where" of MurderSource: By the author, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2003: Table 5.
Research Findings: Murder
The social patterns of murder Murder least likely to be committed by a
stranger Poor, young, and males are more likely to
kill Race element Weapon of choice: Guns Nights, summers, weekends most
dangerous for murders Cities more dangerous than country
Table 5.6 (p. 152)Murder: The Ten Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities
Research Findings: Murder Social bases for social patterns of
murder Why aquaintances? Why is poverty a factor? Is there cultural meaning in
murder/violence?
Social Policy Preventing violence
Longer prison terms Gun control Culture of violence?
How is violence normalized in our culture?
Future of the Problem Continuing High Rates of Violence
Theoretical perspectives: Conflict Theory Functionalism Symbolic Interaction
To reduce violence, major structural changes are needed
Reduction of inequalities in society
Bowling for Columbine (2002) Look for social problems discussed
in the film Identify objective conditions Identify subjective concerns
Think about how Moore views those social problems What theoretical perspective fits
those views?
Bowling for Columbine (2002) Theoretical Perspectives:
Conflict Theory Functionalism Symbolic Interaction Differential Association Strain Theory Social Control Theory