Taylor et al agrees with Marxist views but differs slightly from trad Marxist ideas. Anti-determinism -
trad Marxism is deterministic - sees workers driven to commit crime out of economic necessity. Reject
that crime is caused by external factors such as labelling. Take a voluntaristic view (free will) - crime
is a meaningful action and down to choice. Individuals shouldn't be called deviant for being diff
A fully social theory of deviance
Taylor et al - A comprehensive understanding of crime with two main
sources; 1). Traditional Marxist ideas about the unequal distribution of
wealth and who has power to enforce the law. 2). Ideas from the
interactionism and labelling theory about the meaning of the deviant
act/reactions from society/effects of the deviant label
6 aspects: 1). The wider origins of the deviant act; pro and bourg in capitalism. 2). Ideas from
interactionism + labelling theory about the in-depth meaning of the deviant act. 3). The act itself -
meaning behind it. 4). Immediate origins of social reaction (police etc). 5). The wider origins of social
reaction - who has the power to define acts as deviant? 6). The effects of labelling - why does
deviance sometimes amplify and sometimes not?
Evaluation of critical criminology
Feminists say it's 'gender biased' - too much focus on males
Left realists make two related criticisms, firstly critical criminology romanticises working-class criminals
as 'Robin Hoods' who are fighting capitalism, when really these criminals simply prey on the poor.
secondly, Taylor et al do not take such crime seriously and they ignore its effects on working-class
victims.
Roger Hopkins Burke argues critical criminology is too general to explain crime and too idealistic to be useful in tackling crime
Walton and Young defend some aspects of new criminology; in calling for
greater tolerance of diversity in behaviour. 'Correctionalist bias' - th
assumption that sociology's role is to find ways of correcting deviant
behaviour.