This review will attempt to critically analyse the methodology of six books. The themes and underlying themes will be reviewed, as will the ethical considerations made during the studies. The first five studies will be a brief overview of the themes, methodologies and ethical considerations. The final review will be a more in depth, 2500 word review. The relevance and contribution of the studies within the field of criminology will also be assessed. The books that will be reviewed are listed as follows.
The Jack Roller- Clifford Shaw
Asylums- Erving Goffman
Outsiders- Howard Becker
Conflicts as Property- Nils Christie
The Tearoom Trade- Laud Humphreys
Discipline and Punish- Michel Foucault
Table of Contents
1. The Jack Roller – Clifford Shaw
2. Asylums – Erving Goffman
3. Outsiders – Howard Becker
4. Conflicts as Property – Nils Christie
5. The Tearoom Trade – Laud Humphreys
6. Discipline and punish, the birth of the prison – Michel Foucault
Objectives and Topics
The core objective of this critical review is to analyze the methodologies, underlying themes, and ethical considerations employed in six seminal criminological texts. The work evaluates how these authors utilized qualitative research, life histories, and ethnography to shape the contemporary understanding of delinquency, total institutions, labeling, and the shift from sovereign to disciplinary power.
- Methodological analysis of qualitative and ethnographic research in criminology
- Evaluation of ethical implications in controversial sociological studies
- Exploration of social learning theory, labeling theory, and restorative justice foundations
- Examination of the structural shift from bodily punishment to disciplinary control
Excerpt from the Book
Discipline and punish, the birth of the prison – Michel Foucault
Discipline and punish was written in 1977 by Michel Foucault, a French philosopher who showed a high interest in psychology and has been referred to as the most influential philosopher since Sartre. The reader is dramatically enticed with voyeuristic descriptions of the torture spectacle that was used as punishment, whilst placid descriptions of contemporary prison are contrasted with images of burning flesh and cutting off an offender’s limbs (Appelrouth and Edles, 2007). The second part of the text compares late 17th century cities, with Foucault’s developments of his ideas around Bentham’s panopticon and the unrelenting gaze of surveillance within contemporary society (Appelrouth and Edles, 2007). An attempt will be made to evaluate and critically discuss the relevance and suitability of Foucault’s work and themes within ‘Discipline and punish’. Ethical judgements will be made around the research methods used by Foucault within this review and an evaluation will be made as to whether these methods were the most suitable. Foucault (1920), suggests that the development of punishment and the emergence of the contemporary prison, have merely changed the focus of punishment from the prisoner’s body to their soul. Despite other historians welcoming the birth of the penal system, Foucault did not, during this review it will become evident that Foucault does not loose sight of the manipulative, strategic premises of both discipline and punishment during his text (Miller, 2000).
Summary of Chapters
1. The Jack Roller – Clifford Shaw: This chapter analyzes the use of life histories in understanding juvenile delinquency and explores the influence of social learning theory.
2. Asylums – Erving Goffman: This chapter discusses the concept of total institutions and examines the impact of institutional degradation on the self of mental patients.
3. Outsiders – Howard Becker: This chapter evaluates the development of labeling theory and how social norms construct the identity of the deviant.
4. Conflicts as Property – Nils Christie: This chapter explores the philosophy of restorative justice and the mobilization of community resources as an alternative to the professionalized criminal justice system.
5. The Tearoom Trade – Laud Humphreys: This chapter critically addresses the ethical controversies surrounding covert ethnographic research into homosexual activity.
6. Discipline and punish, the birth of the prison – Michel Foucault: This chapter explores the transition from sovereign, corporal punishment to disciplinary and surveillance-based control over the soul.
Keywords
Criminology, Methodology, Ethics, Qualitative Research, Social Learning Theory, Labeling Theory, Total Institutions, Restorative Justice, Ethnography, Power, Surveillance, Discipline, Punishment, Genealogy, Sociology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this review?
The work provides a critical review of six foundational texts in criminology, focusing on their methodologies, ethical challenges, and their contributions to understanding social control.
Which theoretical frameworks are discussed?
Key frameworks include social learning theory, labeling theory, restorative justice, and Foucault's theories on power, knowledge, and discipline.
What is the primary research goal of the document?
The goal is to determine the significance and academic contribution of these classic studies within the broader field of criminology and research methodology.
What scientific methods were used in the reviewed texts?
The authors utilized diverse methods including life histories, ethnographic participant observation, secondary data analysis, and philosophical genealogical inquiry.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body systematically analyzes each of the six books individually, discussing the research techniques employed, the specific findings, and critical scholarly reactions to them.
How would you characterize the core themes of the analyzed works?
The themes center on deviance, institutionalization, the social construction of rules, human rights in research, and the evolution of penal systems.
How does Foucault differentiate between sovereign and disciplinary power?
Foucault argues that sovereign power relied on public torture and bodily harm, whereas disciplinary power operates through constant surveillance and the control of the soul/consciousness.
What is the ethical controversy associated with the 'Tearoom Trade' study?
The study is criticized for using covert observation, failing to inform participants of the researcher's identity, and tracing participants to their homes to obtain personal information.
What argument does Christie make regarding conflict in modern society?
Christie argues that personal conflicts are stolen by specialists within the current justice system and should instead be returned to the community for resolution.
- Quote paper
- Susan Bailey (Author), 2016, Criminological literature reviews, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/373710
