Cultural criminology
Encyclopedia
Cultural criminology is about placing crime and control in the context of its culture. (Hayward and Young, 2004)
Deviants not influenced by upbringing or social background but by their surroundings, culture i.e. Streetlife, peers
Rational choice theory, as described by Hayward and Young (2004), portrays deviance and crime as being boring, mundane and lacks adrenaline
Cultural criminology is the idea that people turn to crime and deviance for the hedonistic pleasures that they receive from these acts. It looks at the adrenaline and thrills that offenders get when committing illegal acts
Deviants look at the media representation of a lifestyle and think that is how they need to act and behave
“Cultural criminology strives to place this interplay deep within the vast proliferation of media images of crime and deviance, where every facet of offending is reflected in a vast hall of mirrors.” (Ferrell, 1999)
• The Lens of Adrenaline: Act of committing crime bears little relationship to the rewards gained. For example, as ex-con John McVicar
(1979) once remarked, could make more money as a day labourer
.
• The Soft City: people can mould the city to how they want it to be. The soft city
is where all possibilities are on offer – but it is an environment for crime. The appearance of the city is changeable, i.e. by graffiti
• Transgressive Subject: people commit crime just to break the rules
not particularly for gain, for example: joy riding
.
• Attentive Gaze: Criminological Verstehen.
Criminological verstehen interested in causation of crime at the moment of crime. Interested in the emotions that drive crime.
Weber’s definition of verstehen is “empathetic understanding”
“inner sociology that concerns itself with the interpretive understanding of social action…empathetic or appreciative accuracy is attained when, through sympathetic participation, we can adequately grasp the emotional context in which it took place.” (Weber, 1978)
It is not just ethnography or watching people do what they do; it is actually taking part in the deviant and criminal activities. That way they can feel the adrenaline rush
of committing crime, being chased by the police, being caught e.t.c... to better understand why criminals commit crime.
E.g. Ferrell spray painting
with gang members and then being caught and prosecuted
Pros
o Can appreciate the experiences of criminals, crime victims and control agents
o Gives access to criminal groups
o Teaches us more about crime as abstract analysis: you can only see so much from statistics
Disadvantages
o Researcher has a different lifestyle from the people being studied. E.g. probably been to uni e.t.c…
o Emotions may be an individual experience
o The risks involved can limit the research. E.g. a lot of crimes can not be researched in this way, unless the researcher is willing to murder e.t.c…
o The consequences of this research can have a negative affect
on professional and personal life, can lose academic credibility
Deviants not influenced by upbringing or social background but by their surroundings, culture i.e. Streetlife, peers
Rational choice theory, as described by Hayward and Young (2004), portrays deviance and crime as being boring, mundane and lacks adrenaline
Cultural criminology is the idea that people turn to crime and deviance for the hedonistic pleasures that they receive from these acts. It looks at the adrenaline and thrills that offenders get when committing illegal acts
Deviants look at the media representation of a lifestyle and think that is how they need to act and behave
“Cultural criminology strives to place this interplay deep within the vast proliferation of media images of crime and deviance, where every facet of offending is reflected in a vast hall of mirrors.” (Ferrell, 1999)
• The Lens of Adrenaline: Act of committing crime bears little relationship to the rewards gained. For example, as ex-con John McVicar
John McVicar
John McVicar is a British journalist and one-time convicted armed robber.-Career:In the 1960s, he was an armed robber who was tagged "Public Enemy No. 1" by Scotland Yard. He was apprehended and given a 23-year jail sentence. He escaped from prison on several occasions and after his final...
(1979) once remarked, could make more money as a day labourer
Day labor
Day labor is work done where the worker is hired and paid one day at a time, with no promise that more work will be available in the future. It is a form of contingent work.-Types:Day laborers find work through three common routes....
.
• The Soft City: people can mould the city to how they want it to be. The soft city
Soft City
Soft City is the first book written by Jonathan Raban, and published by The Harvill Press in 1974.-Synopsis:Soft City records one man's attempt to plot a course through the urban labyrinth...
is where all possibilities are on offer – but it is an environment for crime. The appearance of the city is changeable, i.e. by graffiti
• Transgressive Subject: people commit crime just to break the rules
Break the rules
- Personnel :* Namie Amuro – vocals, background vocals* Poppa L.Q. – vocals* Terry Bradford – background vocals* Alex Brown – background vocals* Andy Caine – background vocals* Jennifer Carr – background vocals* Debra Killings – background vocals...
not particularly for gain, for example: joy riding
Joyride (crime)
To joyride is to drive around in a stolen car, boat, or other vehicle with no particular goal, a ride taken solely for pleasure.In English law, joyriding is not considered to be theft, because the intention to "permanently deprive" the owner of the vehicle cannot be proven...
.
• Attentive Gaze: Criminological Verstehen.
Criminological Verstehen
– method of research by cultural criminologistsCriminological verstehen interested in causation of crime at the moment of crime. Interested in the emotions that drive crime.
Weber’s definition of verstehen is “empathetic understanding”
“inner sociology that concerns itself with the interpretive understanding of social action…empathetic or appreciative accuracy is attained when, through sympathetic participation, we can adequately grasp the emotional context in which it took place.” (Weber, 1978)
It is not just ethnography or watching people do what they do; it is actually taking part in the deviant and criminal activities. That way they can feel the adrenaline rush
Adrenaline Rush
An adrenaline rush is the fight or flight response of the adrenal gland, in which it releases adrenaline . When releasing adrenaline, one's body releases dopamine which can act as a natural pain killer. An adrenaline rush causes the muscles to perform respiration at an increased rate improving...
of committing crime, being chased by the police, being caught e.t.c... to better understand why criminals commit crime.
E.g. Ferrell spray painting
Spray painting
Spray painting is a painting technique where a device sprays a coating through the air onto a surface. The most common types employ compressed gas—usually air—to atomize and direct the paint particles. Spray guns evolved from airbrushes, and the two are usually distinguished by their size and the...
with gang members and then being caught and prosecuted
Pros
o Can appreciate the experiences of criminals, crime victims and control agents
o Gives access to criminal groups
o Teaches us more about crime as abstract analysis: you can only see so much from statistics
Disadvantages
o Researcher has a different lifestyle from the people being studied. E.g. probably been to uni e.t.c…
o Emotions may be an individual experience
o The risks involved can limit the research. E.g. a lot of crimes can not be researched in this way, unless the researcher is willing to murder e.t.c…
o The consequences of this research can have a negative affect
Affect theory
In psychology, affect is an emotion or subjectively experienced feeling. Affect theory is a branch of psychoanalysis that attempts to organize affects into discrete categories and connect each one with its typical response. So, for example, the affect of joy is observed through the reaction of...
on professional and personal life, can lose academic credibility