SOC 1500 Lecture 7: SOC 1500- Contemporary & Sociological Perspectives

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1500
• Professor: Ryan Broll

Document Summary

Explaining crime: general theories and the life course perspective. Crime and deviance are the result of low self-control. Quality of pa(cid:396)e(cid:374)ti(cid:374)g du(cid:396)i(cid:374)g (cid:272)hildhood i(cid:374)flue(cid:374)(cid:272)es people"s deg(cid:396)ee of self-control. Problem behaviors are age-related: criminogenic influences have the greatest impact early in life, criminal behavior follows predictable patterns over the life course. Life course research relies on the longitudinal research designs. Can give a richer portrayal of influences to offending/ logic of offenders. More likely to commit crimes between 15-24. Observe a collection of people at one point in time. Follo(cid:449) up to the glue(cid:272)k"s o(cid:396)igi(cid:374)al sa(cid:373)ple of deli(cid:374)(cid:395)ue(cid:374)t (cid:271)oys. How do turning points function in the desistance process: example: marriage -> restructured routine activities -> desistance. Me(cid:396)to(cid:374)"s st(cid:396)ai(cid:374) theo(cid:396)y: societal pressures produce anomie, which can lead to crime. Cohe(cid:374)"s su(cid:271)(cid:272)ultu(cid:396)al st(cid:396)ai(cid:374) theo(cid:396)y: middle class measuring rod, reaction formation. Agnew identified three types of strain: the inability to achieve positively valued goals.