Sociological analysis of James Gargasoulas

Introduction

How Sociological Theories explain human behaviour?
How they see law?
How they define crime?
How is society constructed?

Analysis of James Gargasoulas case under the conflict and consensus theory

Two main sociological perspectives

Consensus perspective

Conflict Perspective

James Gargasoulas Case

Background

Raised in a single parent family

Mother abandoned James and his brother

Abusive father

Drug issues

Mental health issues

Delusional beliefs

Analysis of the case under Consensus Theory

Deviant because of braking
social norms

Socially disapproved because
of drug use

Institutions like family and education
were almost nonexistent

Analysis under Conflict theory

He is seen as disadvantaged

Lack of opportunities

Lower social class

Brought up in rough and violent environment which led him to substance abuse and mental health issues

How society could change

Improvement of agencies

Stigmatisation from mass media to stop

Fair trials

Improvement of the criminal justice system

Conclusion

Brief outline of how society could change as well
as specific agencies

Police and duty of care

The role of mass media

Luck of support

Cooperation between agencies

Rights of the victims

Main body

Consensus theory

Human behaviour is seen as learned behaviour

People within society tend to follow specific patterns of behaviour

Those patterns are based on cultural rules called norms

Institutions like family, education or religion teach and spread those cultural rules/norms

People are expected to adopt approved ways of behaviour and thinking

Socialisation leads to social order and therefore to a functional society (Jones et al. 2011)

Durkheim's Functional Theory (McDonald, 2019)

Conflict theory

It sees inequalities between individuals and groups of people

Inequalities could be based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity etc.

Inequalities could also be a result of unequal distribution of wealth and power

Advantaged groups tend to dominate upon the disadvantaged

Advantaged groups have the means to manipulate laws cultural rules

Social order is achieved through the use of force (Jones et al. 2011)

Marxism (Haralambos et al. 2008, p.9)

Consensus vs. conflict
views of law and crime

Consensus Perspective

Laws are seen as a set of shared
cultural rules that apply to
everyone within the society

Breaking the social norms is
considered to be deviant and
therefore crime (Van Krieken et al. 2010)

Conflict Perspective

Law protects those who
hold wealth and power

Crime is a result of inequalities and
domination from the advantaged
groups to the disadvantaged
(Van Krieken et al. 2010)