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From a Sociological Perspective Essay

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From a sociological perspective, explanation for criminality is found in two levels which are the subculture and the structural explanations. The sociological explanations emphasize aspects of societal arrangements that are external to the actor and compelling. A sociological explanation is concerned with how the structure of a society, institutional practices or its persisting cultural themes affect the conduct of its members. Individual differences are denied or ignored, and the explanation of the overall collective behavior is sought in the patterning of social arrangements that is considered to be both outside the actor and prior to him (Sampson, 1985). That is, the social patterns of power or of institutions which are held to be …show more content…

Th subcultural theorist are interested in patterned ways of like which may have evolved with a division of labor and which are called class cultures. The pattern, however is not described by reference to income alone or by reference to year of schooling or occupational ski.. The pattern includes these indicators, but is not defined by them. The subcultural theorist are more intent upon the varieties of human value. These are preferred ways of living that are acted upon. In the economists language, they are tastes. The thesis that is intimated, but not often explicated by a subcultural description of behaviors is that single or multiple signs of social position, such as occupation or education that will have a different significance for both status and cultures. Money and education do not mean the same things socially as they are more or less equitably distributed. The change in meaning is not merely a change in the prestige value of these tow, but also betokens changes in the boundaries between class cultures. Generally speaking, whether one believes tendencies to be good or bad, the point of emphasis should be simply the criteria of social class that have been generally employed.. The criteria should be limited to income and schooling with changes in the distribution taking advantage of the population. Class cultures, like national cultures may break down. A more general subculture explanation of crime, not necessarily in disagreement with the notion of class

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