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Sociology > C&D- Theoretical Explanations Of C&D > Flashcards

C&D- Theoretical Explanations Of C&D Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What does Durkheim (1947) argue about crime in society? Functionalism

A

Durkheim argues that small amounts of crime are necessary for society to function and maintain boundaries based on value consensus, which are shared ideas about what is considered wrong and right.

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2
Q

Why does Durkheim believe crime is inevitable? Functionalism

A

Crime is inevitable because not everyone can fully integrate into the norms and values of society. These individuals remind others of the importance of social solidarity, where people value the social group they belong to.

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3
Q

What is anomie, according to Durkheim? Functionalism

A

Anomie, or normlessness, is a state that could occur if boundary maintenance is absent, leading to increased crime rates.

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4
Q

How does Merton (1968 [1957]) expand on functionalist ideas of crime? Functionalism

A

Merton claims that crime occurs due to a tension or strain between people wishing to achieve shared societal goals, like success, but being unable to do so.

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5
Q

How does Merton describe responses to strain? Functionalism

A

Merton describes responses to strain as ‘modes of adaptation,’ where crime is one possible response. For example, people who cannot achieve financial success through legitimate means may turn to crime.

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6
Q

What is a criticism of Durkheim’s explanation of crime? Functionalism

A

Durkheim does not explain why people commit crime in the first place or why certain crime rates are particularly high.

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7
Q

What are some issues with Merton’s approach to crime? Functionalism

A

Merton’s approach assumes motivations for crime are individual and overlooks the fact that crime often occurs in groups. It also does not explain why particular groups are more likely to commit crime or why some people who achieve societal goals still commit crimes.

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8
Q

Why might functionalist ideas not be useful in explaining contemporary global crimes? Functionalism

A

Functionalist ideas were developed in the modern era, therefore they may not be useful in explaining contemporary global crimes.

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9
Q

What assumption do functionalists make that may no longer be valid? Functionalism

A

Functionalists assume there are shared values, but today this may not be the case.

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10
Q

How might different ethnic groups challenge functionalist theories? Functionalism

A

Different ethnic groups may approach crime and deviance in different ways, creating issues with agreeing on what is deviant.

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11
Q

What are functionalist theories still useful for, despite criticisms? Functionalism

A

Functionalist theories are still useful in highlighting the positive functions of crime and different responses to strain.

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12
Q

What are functionalist theories still useful for, despite criticisms? Functionalism

A

Functionalist theories are still useful in highlighting the positive functions of crime and different responses to strain.

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13
Q

crime

A

A crime refers to any form of action that results in breaking a written, formal agreed rule in society. For example, a bank robbery, or burglary.

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14
Q

Deviance

A

Deviance refers to behaviour which at a specific time and in a specific place is seen as wrong. A deviant act may or may not be a crime, for example, spreading rumours about someone is deviant but not a crime.

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15
Q

Sociologists agree that crime is

A

socially constructed; that is, they are a reflection of a particular set of values in a specific place at a specific time

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16
Q

Social Control

A

Social Control refers to the formal or informal ways in which power is exerted over the individual or group.

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17
Q

Formal social control

A

Formal social control refers to any written rules which are set out, for example laws.

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18
Q

Informal social control

A

Informal social control refers to any rules which are agreed upon but not written down

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19
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
What is Conformity as a response to strain?

A

Accepting both society’s goals and the conventional means of achieving them.

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20
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who conform accept the conventionally accepted ways of achieving success?

A

Yes.

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21
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who conform accept the goals of society?

A

Yes.

22
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Give an example of Conformity.

A

Someone who abides by the rules and works to achieve societal goals in the conventional way.

23
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
What is Innovation as a response to strain?

A

Accepting society’s goals but rejecting the conventional means of achieving them, often finding alternative ways like crime.

24
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who innovate accept the conventionally accepted ways of achieving success?

A

No.

25
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who innovate accept the goals of society?

A

Yes.

26
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Give an example of Innovation.

A

People without the means for success, such as the poorly educated, achieving success through crime.

27
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
What is Ritualism as a response to strain?

A

Rejecting society’s goals but continuing to follow the conventional means.

28
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who engage in ritualism accept the conventionally accepted ways of achieving success?

A

Yes.

29
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who engage in ritualism accept the goals of society?

A

No.

30
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Give an example of Ritualism.

A

People who work without striving for promotion or caring about their work.

31
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
What is Retreatism as a response to strain?

A

Rejecting both society’s goals and the means of achieving them, often dropping out of society entirely.

32
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who engage in retreatism accept the conventionally accepted ways of achieving success?

A

No.

33
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who engage in retreatism accept the goals of society?

A

No.

34
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Give an example of Retreatism.

A

People who give up on achieving goals and withdraw from society.

35
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
What is Rebellion as a response to strain?

A

Rejecting both society’s goals and means, while seeking to replace them with alternative goals and means.

36
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who rebel accept the conventionally accepted ways of achieving success?

A

No.

37
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Do individuals who rebel accept the goals of society?

A

Yes and No.

38
Q

Merton’s Responses to Strain
Give an example of Rebellion.

A

People who seek radically different alternatives to society’s goals and means.

39
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What did Cohen (1971) argue about young working-class individuals in Functionalist Subcultural Theories?

A

He argued that young working-class individuals feel frustration in achieving society’s goals due to a lack of job opportunities.

40
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What term did Cohen use to describe the frustration of young working-class individuals?

A

Status frustration.

41
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What does ‘status frustration’ lead to, according to Cohen?

A

The development of an alternative set of values that run counter to the rest of society, known as a delinquent subculture.

42
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What role does deviant behavior play within a delinquent subculture?

A

It allows working-class individuals to experience an alternative form of status and respect from their peers.

43
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
Give examples of deviant behaviors associated with delinquent subcultures.

A

Stealing cars, vandalism, and antisocial behavior.

44
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
How does Cohen’s theory address criticisms of functionalist theories?

A

It highlights the role of group-based crime, which earlier functionalist theories tended to overlook.

45
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What is a limitation of Cohen’s theory, according to critics?

A

It simplistically assumes that delinquent young people embark on a lifelong path of crime, whereas many drift in and out of subcultures.

46
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
How do Cloward and Ohlin (1960) build on Cohen’s theory?

A

They argue that there are different subcultural responses to limited opportunities: criminal subcultures, conflict subcultures, and retreatist subcultures.

47
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What is a strength of Cloward and Ohlin’s theory?

A

It highlights the complexity of working-class subcultural responses and acknowledges that crime has a social aspect.

48
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What is a limitation of Cloward and Ohlin’s theory?

A

It overlooks the fluidity of subcultures, as individuals may move in and out of different subcultural types.

49
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What does Matza (1964) argue in criticism of functionalist subcultural theories?

A

He argues that delinquent individuals are not fundamentally different from others and that they justify their behavior using techniques of neutralization.

50
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What are techniques of neutralization, according to Matza?

A

Methods by which individuals justify their deviant behavior to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.

51
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What is the concept of delinquency and drift, as proposed by Matza?

A

The idea that individuals are not permanently delinquent but drift in and out of delinquency before settling into mainstream society as adults.

52
Q

Functionalist Subcultural Theories
What are subterranean values, according to Matza?

A

A set of deviant values that are particularly attractive to certain members of the working class.

Sociology (39 decks)

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