3.2 Functionalists on Crime & Deviance Flashcards

1
Q

what did Durkheim see crime as?

A

good and inevitable for society

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2
Q

why is crime inevitable (D)?

A

you cannot socialise everyone perfectly

not everyone will agree with authority and the value consensus

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3
Q

what is a society of saints? (D)

A

a society in which there is no crime committed

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4
Q

why would there still be deviance in a society of saints? (D)

A

there will always be something classed as unacceptable e.g. bad manners would become an offence

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5
Q

crime is functional (D) as it promotes social solidarity and strengthens bonds, how?

A

shared outrage

us and them response

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6
Q

crime is functional (D) as it reinforces collective conscience, how?

A

by telling us what is right and wrong

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7
Q

crime is functional (D) as it maintains boundaries, how?

A

it reinforces the line of acceptable and unacceptable

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8
Q

what is public degradation (Erikson)?

A

when members of a community participate in the confrontation of a criminal

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9
Q

(Erikson) public degradation was formerly carried out as public punishments, such as:

A

hangings

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10
Q

(Erikson) how is public degradation carried out today?

A

public trials and media coverage

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11
Q

(Erikson) give some examples of shifting boundaries: (things formerly as bad, but not now)

A

homosexuality
divorce
single parenthood

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12
Q

crime is functional (D) as it can be a warning of what?

A

something wrong e.g. anomie

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13
Q

what is anomie?

A

sense of normlessness

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14
Q

how might anomie lead to crime?

A

people don’t know how to behave

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15
Q

crime is functional (D) as it is the start of social change, give an example:

A

the suffragettes

marches, protests and illegal acts to gain attention

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16
Q

crime is functional (D) as it is a safety valve, how?

A

minor crimes allow people to let off stem preventing worsening crime

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17
Q

what did Davis say about prostitution?

A

safety valve

outlet for men, less threatening to the family unit

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18
Q

what are some strengths of Durkheim’s argument?

A

explains why crime is good and inevitable

societies perspective - social impact of crime

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19
Q

(weaknesses) what doesn’t Durkheim’s argument explain/consider?

A

why crime is committed
negative effects of crime
why certain groups commit crime

20
Q

Merton’s strain theory argues deviance occurs due to strain between what?

A

accepted goals in society and the legitimate means to achieve them

21
Q

(M) what is the main goal in America?

A

American dream - money and success

22
Q

(M) what are the means of achieving the American dream?

A

education and a good career

23
Q

(M) why is there a strain between the goals and means in American society?

A

not everyone has an equal chance

24
Q

(M) why doesn’t everyone have an equal chance?

A

differences in access to education and money

some people are born into the dream

25
(M) the strain can create what?
anomie - normlessness
26
(M) how does American society create criminals?
emphasis on getting rich
27
(M) What do conformists do?
Accept the goals and the means
28
(M) Are conformists deviant?
No
29
(M) Give examples of conformists:
Doctors | Lawyers
30
(M) What do innovators do?
Accept the goals | Reject the means
31
(M) Why are innovators deviant?
They bend rules to make money
32
(M) Which groups are typical criminals?
Innovators
33
(M) Give an example of an innovator:
Drug dealer
34
What do ritualists do?
Don't accept the goals | Accept the means
35
(M) why are ritualists deviant?
Low ambitions in a society of achievers
36
(M) Give examples of ritualists:
Mundane jobs
37
(M) what do retreatists do?
Don't accept the goals | Don't accept the means
38
(M) why are retreatists deviant?
Don't work | Drop out of society
39
(M) give examples of retreatists:
Homeless | Addict
40
(M) what do rebels do?
Don't accept mainstream goals and means | Make their own
41
(M) why are rebels deviant?
They seek a different society
42
(M) give examples of rebels:
Campaigners | Revolutionaries
43
What does Merton assume?
Everyone wants to be rich and successful - nurses, charity workers
44
(Merton) why is this theory not relevant today for everyone?
From the 30s
45
What does mertons theory help explain?
Why people commit utilitarian crime
46
What doesn't Mertons theory explain?
Non utilitarian crimes
47
Merton - is everyone willing to commit crime to get rich?
No