AC2.3 sociological theories Flashcards
Outline Durkheims functionalist theory
Not everyone will conform to societies values and norms so crime is unavoidable
So we should consider crimes positive consequences e.g. when society has a common enemy and so unites to make positive change
Durkheims 4 functions
Boundary maintenance- criminal justice system punishes people reinforcing boundaries of acceptable behaviour
Social change- society adapting as a result of deviance and crime
Safety valve- some deviant behaviour can be good for society
Warning device- crime and deviance can indicate social problem that need to be acknowledged
Strengths of Durkheim
Durkheim was first person to recognise crimes positive features
Hollistic views of crime allows futhet political approach
Criticisms of Durkheim
Durkheim says society needs crime to stay healthy but doesn’t offer how much
Crime might be functional for society but not helpful from victims POV- lack of justice
Summarise what Merton said about the reasons why people commit crime
Society puts pressure on individuals to achieve culturally valued goals even if they lack the means to do so creating a strain that leads to deviance
Outline Mertons adaptations
Conformists- accepting both societal goals and the legitimate means to achieve them
Innovators- accepting societal goals but resorting to illegitimate means to achieve them e.g. crime
Ritualists- rejecting societal goals but adhering to legitimate means e.g. dead-end jobs
Retreatists- rejecting both societal goals and means to achieve them e.g. homeless
Rebels- attempting to replace societal goals and means with new ones, could lead to riots
Strengths Merton
Explains crime patterns shown if official statistics e.g. most crime is property crime because society values wealth
Shows how normal and deviant behaviour arises from same goal but different means
Criticisms Merton
Ignores group crime
Ignores crime with no economic motive
Ignores crime of wealthy that have already achieved the goals
Outline Cohens subculture theory
Crime is a result of the working class not being able to achieve goals by legitimate means
Crime is a group response to failure when they are unable to gain status and so turn to criminal subcultures
What are the three subcultures
Criminal subcultures- organised crime
Conflict subcultures- gangs organised by young people themselves based on claiming territory
Retreatist- those unable to access opportunity might abuse drugs and drop oit
Strengths Cohen
Shows how subcultures differ in different neighborhoods
Shows how subcultures perform a function for their members by giving them the opportunity for success
Criticisms Cohen
Ignores crime committed by wealthy
Assumes everyone begins with same goals and only turn to subcultures when they fail to achieve them
Outline what labelling theory is
Labelling people as deviant leads to criminal behaviour (self-fulfilling)
Label of deviance can have long-lasting effects on their self-identity (master status)
Social control responses such as the police play a role (moral entrepreneurs)
Labelling theory leads to selective law enforcement reinforcing stereotypes
Lemert’s argument
Primary deviance involves minor acts of deviance that nearly everyone does so doesn’t attract a label e.g. avoiding publuc transport fares
Secondary deviance results from being labelled when it becomes their master status which overrides other status e.g. son
The person may find it hard to escape their status leading them to accept it (self- fulfilling prophecy)
Interactionalism/ labelling theory strengths
Explains crime statistics that show law enforcement focuses on working class crime
Shows how punishment can sometimes lead to more crime
Interactionalism/ labelling theory criticisms
Gives victim status to offenders and overlooks victims
Doesn’t explain primary act of deviance
Doesn’t explain why some groups are labelled more than others e.g. working class
Marxist explanation of society
Society is based on the conflicts of interests between the wealthy (bourgeois) and poor (proletariat). The purpose of most laws is to keep the proletariat in order so the bourgeois can benefit and keep profits.
Marxist argue capitalism is criminogenic
(encourages crime)
Capitalism encourages greed and exploitation
The law serves the capitalist elites interests and focuses on policing the working class
Frustration from lower class causes crime
Chambliss- reasons behind law making
Most laws in the US and UK are property laws which protect property owners
1978 study of Seattle argued wealthy criminals used influence to bribe and avoid punishment
He found the wealthy were the main instigators and benefactories of crime
Evidence to support Marxism
Crime statistics show working class crime is most common
Judges are part of ruling clas and give harsher sentences to poor
Media focuses on crime of poor and ignores powerful
Marxism strengths
Shows how poverty and other social factors can cause blue collar crime
Shows buas against working class by law makers and enforcers
Marxism criticisms
Crime still happens in communist societies
Also capitalist societies have some low crime rates e.g. Japan
Doesn’t explain why most working class don’t commit crime
Outline right realism
Inadequate socialisation is a cause of crime
Single mothers of boys lack discipline and so without a male role model children are more likely to be deliquent
Overreliance on welfare state encourages laziness as there is a lack of personal responsibility
Believe in harsh and strict policing
What is rational choice theory
If rewards are greater than costs individual will continue with criminal behaviour
