3.2 Functionalists on Crime & Deviance Flashcards
what did Durkheim see crime as?
good and inevitable for society
why is crime inevitable (D)?
you cannot socialise everyone perfectly
not everyone will agree with authority and the value consensus
what is a society of saints? (D)
a society in which there is no crime committed
why would there still be deviance in a society of saints? (D)
there will always be something classed as unacceptable e.g. bad manners would become an offence
crime is functional (D) as it promotes social solidarity and strengthens bonds, how?
shared outrage
us and them response
crime is functional (D) as it reinforces collective conscience, how?
by telling us what is right and wrong
crime is functional (D) as it maintains boundaries, how?
it reinforces the line of acceptable and unacceptable
what is public degradation (Erikson)?
when members of a community participate in the confrontation of a criminal
(Erikson) public degradation was formerly carried out as public punishments, such as:
hangings
(Erikson) how is public degradation carried out today?
public trials and media coverage
(Erikson) give some examples of shifting boundaries: (things formerly as bad, but not now)
homosexuality
divorce
single parenthood
crime is functional (D) as it can be a warning of what?
something wrong e.g. anomie
what is anomie?
sense of normlessness
how might anomie lead to crime?
people don’t know how to behave
crime is functional (D) as it is the start of social change, give an example:
the suffragettes
marches, protests and illegal acts to gain attention
crime is functional (D) as it is a safety valve, how?
minor crimes allow people to let off stem preventing worsening crime
what did Davis say about prostitution?
safety valve
outlet for men, less threatening to the family unit
what are some strengths of Durkheim’s argument?
explains why crime is good and inevitable
societies perspective - social impact of crime
(weaknesses) what doesn’t Durkheim’s argument explain/consider?
why crime is committed
negative effects of crime
why certain groups commit crime
Merton’s strain theory argues deviance occurs due to strain between what?
accepted goals in society and the legitimate means to achieve them
(M) what is the main goal in America?
American dream - money and success
(M) what are the means of achieving the American dream?
education and a good career
(M) why is there a strain between the goals and means in American society?
not everyone has an equal chance
(M) why doesn’t everyone have an equal chance?
differences in access to education and money
some people are born into the dream
(M) the strain can create what?
anomie - normlessness
(M) how does American society create criminals?
emphasis on getting rich
(M) What do conformists do?
Accept the goals and the means
(M) Are conformists deviant?
No
(M) Give examples of conformists:
Doctors
Lawyers
(M) What do innovators do?
Accept the goals
Reject the means
(M) Why are innovators deviant?
They bend rules to make money
(M) Which groups are typical criminals?
Innovators
(M) Give an example of an innovator:
Drug dealer
What do ritualists do?
Don’t accept the goals
Accept the means
(M) why are ritualists deviant?
Low ambitions in a society of achievers
(M) Give examples of ritualists:
Mundane jobs
(M) what do retreatists do?
Don’t accept the goals
Don’t accept the means
(M) why are retreatists deviant?
Don’t work
Drop out of society
(M) give examples of retreatists:
Homeless
Addict
(M) what do rebels do?
Don’t accept mainstream goals and means
Make their own
(M) why are rebels deviant?
They seek a different society
(M) give examples of rebels:
Campaigners
Revolutionaries
What does Merton assume?
Everyone wants to be rich and successful - nurses, charity workers
(Merton) why is this theory not relevant today for everyone?
From the 30s
What does mertons theory help explain?
Why people commit utilitarian crime
What doesn’t Mertons theory explain?
Non utilitarian crimes
Merton - is everyone willing to commit crime to get rich?
No
