Theories of crime and deviance: postmodernist

Introduction to Postmodernist Theories of Crime and Deviance

Postmodernism in the context of crime and deviance refers to contemporary theories that reject traditional explanations of crime.
Postmodernists argue that the concept of deviance is fluid and changes with societal changes, therefore, no single definition or explanation can be universally applied.

Key Concepts of Postmodernist Theories

They reject the ‘grand narratives’ of other theories such as functionalism or Marxism. Instead, they focus on the role of media and cultural diversity in shaping criminal behaviour.
Postmodernists argue that due to globalisation and a rapidly-changing society, traditional methods of understanding and controlling crime are no longer effective.
The concept of hyper-reality explains how the media introduction of crime stories and images can blur the line between reality and fiction, influencing behaviours.

Postmodernist Theories on Crime

Postmodern theory of Baudrillard posits that media representation of crime, such as news coverage or crime TV shows, can shape the perception of crime and influence individuals to replicate these acts.
Lyotard argues that the breakdown of grand narratives, such as religion or the idea of a nuclear family, increase the risk of deviance as societal norms become less clear.
The Late Modern Theory of ‘Liquid Fear’ by Zygmunt Bauman suggests that in a postmodern society, fear and uncertainty can increase the potential for criminal behaviour.

Implications of Postmodernist Theories

Postmodernist theories often suggest that traditional solutions to control crime, such as harsh penalties or increased surveillance, are ineffective.
Instead, they suggest a closer study of cultural context, media influences and societal changes to truly understand and address the problem of crime.
Postmodernist theories also challenge the concept of ‘deviance’, arguing that what may be considered as deviant in one society or era might not be in another.

Critiques of Postmodernism

Critics of postmodernism argue that these theories often overly complicate the concept of crime and deviance with abstract ideas, making them less practical for real-world applications.
Some sociologists argue that postmodernism tends to disregard the economic, political, and social structures that contribute significantly to crime.
Critics also add that there is a lack of empirical evidence supporting many postmodernist theories.

Conclusion

Despite these critiques, postmodernist theories of crime and deviance offer important insights into how societal changes, media influences and cultural diversity impacts our perception and reality of crime.
Understanding these theories allows us to see how crime and deviance should not be viewed as static, but are instead impacted by a host of variable factors in an ever-changing global society.