Sociology of Crime

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology of crime
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SOCIOLOGY
Part 1 (Week 1- Week 4)
Week 1: Introduction
Surette on Predatory Criminality
As per the arguments of Surette, predator criminality adversely affects the attitudes,
notions and beliefs about crime. The psychologists are of the opinion that predator criminals
govern the Criminal Justice Policies. However, they assure that public that they are not to
worry, as predator criminal events rarely occur. Surette upholds the falsification of the real
and true nature of the crime (Surette, 2015). This is a matter of serious concern, as it makes
media the social offenders, driving the social reality into darkness. The way in which the
media covers a crime story blurs the reality. This issue is crucial, as it is interplay with the
social security. In the postmodern society, people tend to believe in objective reality rather
than observational learning.
Social Conflict Theory on Predatory Criminality
Surette’s views on predatory crime reality best matches with the paradigm of social
conflict theory. This is because of the confrontation between the public domain and the media
regarding the portrayal of criminal events. According to the theory, it is a human nature to
collect information from the trusted sources, among which media is the one. This is because
of the hope and assurance that exact event would be reported. Surette, (2015) is of the view
that falsification of the events destroys the trust. This destruction adds negative shade to the
propositions related to objective reality. This destruction, in turn, generates conflict between
the individuals and groups. At this stage, the humans find a comfort zone, who would
understand their mindset. In search of a comfort zone, their perceptions regarding the right
and wrong fade away. Depression, isolation grips them, generating the feeling of causing self
harm or harm to others. Typical example of this can be a revolting mentality against the
media. Based on these aspects, it can be said that it a conflict with the inner self of the

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individuals. According to the opinions of Surette, (2015), this characteristic shade makes the
personality criminal like, indicating disobedience towards the cultural norms.
Week 2: Knowledge about crime
1. Homelessness and addictions are the results of poverty, improper care, education and
nourishment since childhood. The authors William and Carach, are of the view that if the
children view their parents leading a life of indiscipline, they try to adopt this life. Here, the
surrounding plays an important role in the predicament of the characters, Frank and Felix.
Herein lays the appropriateness of the social learning theory, which indicates grouping of the
individual and groups on the basis of the actions they perform (Gerth & Mills, 1953). Friends
circle plays an important role in shaping the habits of the individuals. Seeing the friends
indulging in addictions to smoking, criminal activities generates the interest to experiment
with this. The major drive behind this is the interest to go beyond the cultural norms. On the
other hand, society does not accept this behaviour, compelling the individuals to experience a
meaningless existence through homelessness.
2. One of the historical forces behind the homelessness and addictions of Frank and Felix is
Apartheid. This situation led to racial discriminations among the individuals and groups.
Felix points out the inhuman brutality exposed by the whites on blacks. However, he thinks
that he is safe, as he is the only Latino in the camp. As per the arguments of Adams, (2015),
the assemblage of the homelessness in the streets of Central America reflects the ethical
hierarchies within the society. This issue broadened the gap between the rich and poor, based
on the necessities of everyday life. Intervention of the outsiders led the natives to revolt. In
this, most of the middle aged men were compelled to leave their homes. Incapability to take
care of the families resulted in addictions to alcohol, smoking and criminal activities.

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3. According to the arguments of Bourgois, Bourgois and Schonberg, (2009), ethnography
plays an important role in sociology of crime and deviance. The participants’ claim consists
of the authenticity and exactness of the events in which they occur. For example, the
homeless people, assembled on the streets, enhanced the ethnographic diversity of San
Francisco. As a matter of specification, it represented the grouping of these homeless
creatures. This is due to their tragic fate of belonging to the race of blacks. Frank reports that
as he is the only Latino, he is exempted from the injustices of the Whites. On the contrary, if
media reported these instances, they would makeup stories, aggravating the concerns and
worries of the people about their security (Bourgois, Bourgois & Schonberg, 2009).
Week 3: Classical Criminology and Social Logics of Punishment
1. Panopticism is a thought of Micheal Foucault, stating the experimental authority presented
to the individuals regarding the modification of their behaviour. He presented this theory in
his masterpiece, Discipline and Punish (1975). According to the viewpoints of Foucault,
panopticon is one of the disciplinary symbols of social surveillance (Lyon, 1991). Jeremy
Bentham, the founder of modern utilitarianism, proposed panopticism as a circular building
with an observation tower at its centre. This was usually an open space surrounded by an
outer wall covering. Typical example can be the Perth city on which he applied the concept
of panopticism. In this application, he considered panopticon as a machine for segregating
something from its parts (Brandley, 1996).
2. Be it a prison or workplace, surveillance is a common factor. This is in terms of governing
the people and their performance. If Bentham’s prison architecture is considered, surveillance
is not always strong and flexible. This situation allows the criminals to flea and continue with
their activities. On the contrary, in the workplace, the managers rebuke the supervisors for
not monitoring the performance of the workers. In these concepts, Foucalt overpowers
Bentham in the connotations for social surveillance. This is in terms of the experiments for