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Soc 224 > Chp 2 - Functionalist Theories > Flashcards

Chp 2 - Functionalist Theories Flashcards

1
Q

Why are theories necessary?

A

Because facts never interpret themselves.

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2
Q

What did early theories of deviance focus on?

A

The supernatural.

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3
Q

When did theories of deviance move on from a focus on the supernatural?

A

During the Enlightenment.

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4
Q

What is demonology?

A

The theory that deviance and crime resulted from demonic possession of temptation by the devil.

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5
Q

Are supernatural explanations done away with now?

A

No, the catholic church still practices exorcisms.

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6
Q

What did Lombroso believe?

A

That criminals were atavists.

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7
Q

What are atavists?

A

Evolutionary throwbacks incapable of behaving by society’s rules. Distinguished by various traits known as stigmata.

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8
Q

What are the two broad types of theories?

A

Objective and subjective.

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9
Q

What three types of theories are included within objective theories?

A

Functionalist, learning, and social control.

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10
Q

What are the 5 functionalist theories?

A

Durkheim’s Anomie, Merton’s Anomie and Strain, Cloward and Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity, Agnew’s General Strain, and Cohen’s Status Frustration.

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11
Q

What are the assumptions underlying functionalist theories?

A

The social structure creates deviance, social structures fulfil important functions and are necessary for social order, and the rules that make up social order are based on consensus.

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12
Q

What are the two types of functions that social structures fulfil under the functionalist assumption?

A

Manifest and latent.

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13
Q

What are manifest functions?

A

Intended functions.

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14
Q

What are latent functions?

A

Unintended [dys]functions.

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15
Q

What does Durkheim’s Anomie theory state?

A

A certain level of deviance is functional for society, but beyond this level it becomes dysfunctional.

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16
Q

[Durkheim’s Anomie] How can a certain level of deviance be functional?

A

By increasing social solidarity and uniting us against deviance and by determining and testing moral boundaries.

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17
Q

[Durkheim’s Anomie] What transition led to the creation of deviance?

A

As mechanical solidarity gave way to organic solidarity.

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18
Q

[Durkheim’s Anomie] What is mechanical vs. organic solidarity?

A

Mechanical solidarity involved lots of people being similar, organic solidarity is lots of people being different.

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19
Q

[Durkheim’s Anomie] How did the transition from mechanical to organic solidarity lead to deviance?

A

People’s relationships became more impersonal, this rapid social change led to anomie, which leads to harmful levels of deviance.

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20
Q

What is anomie?

A

Normlessness; lack of structure.

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21
Q

What are some examples of anomie?

A

During wartimes or after natural disasters.

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22
Q

What are the two key concepts for Merton’s Anomie & Strain theory?

A

Institutionalized goals and legitimate means.

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23
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] What are institutionalized goals?

A

Culturally identified goals for success.

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24
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] What are legitimate means?

A

Culturally approved ways of obtaining goals.

25
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] How does deviance result from institutionalized goals and legitimate means?

A

Everyone is socialized to pursue the goals, but the structure of society makes access to the legitimate means easier for some than others.

26
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] Why does anomie result?

A

When goals become more important than the means (deinstitutionalization of the means).

27
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] Why does strain result?

A

When there is a structural gap between the goals and the means.

28
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] What are the five modes of adaptation?

A

Conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.

29
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] What is conformity?

A

Acceptance of goals and means.

30
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] What is innovation?

A

Acceptance of goals, rejection of means.

31
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] What is ritualism?

A

Rejection of goals, acceptance of means.

32
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] What is retreatism?

A

Rejection of goals and means.

33
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] What is rebellion?

A

Rejection and substitution of goals and means.

34
Q

[Merton’s Anomie & Strain] Which modes of adaptation are seen as most deviant?

A

Innovation and retreatism.

35
Q

How does Differential Opportunity theory differ from Merton’s Strain theory?

A

The structure of society doesn’t only result in differential access to legitimate opportunities (means), but also access to illegitimate means.

36
Q

[Cloward & Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity] How does one become deviant?

A

It depends on one’s access to illegitimate opportunities in their place of work or residence.

37
Q

[Cloward & Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity] What are the three types of youth gangs?

A

Criminal, retreatist, and conflict.

38
Q

[Cloward & Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity] What is the point of criminal gangs? Where do they emerge?

A

To make money. They emerge in areas where there is an adult criminal subculture that young people can participate in.

39
Q

[Cloward & Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity] What is the point of retreatist gangs? Where do they emerge?

A

To retreat into heavy drug use. They emerge in areas where people are failures at both legitimate and illegitimate opportunities.

40
Q

[Cloward & Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity] What is the point of conflict gangs? Where do they emerge?

A

They use competition and violence as a way to ensure their dominance. Emerging in areas characterized by a lack of stability, transience, and a lack of legitimate and illegitimate role models.

41
Q

[Agnew’s General Strain] What must combine with strain to cause deviance?

A

Strain must be accompanied by negative affect.

42
Q

[Agnew’s General Strain] How can strain come about?

A

Loss of something or negative life experiences.

43
Q

[Agnew’s General Strain] When is deviance most likely?

A

When strain is unjust, sever,e and unable to be controlled.

44
Q

What is the main concept in Cohen’s Status Frustration theory?

A

The middle-class measuring rod.

45
Q

[Cohen’s Status Frustration] What is the middle-class measuring rod?

A

The standards against which we evaluate ourselves and others emphasizes middle class values (manners, hard work).

46
Q

[Cohen’s Status Frustration] What occurs when lower-class boys are exposed to middle-class aspirations they can’t obtain?

A

Status frustration.

47
Q

[Cohen’s Status Frustration] What is status frustration?

A

Not being able to get out of a born class.

48
Q

[Cohen’s Status Frustration] What do boys experiencing status frustration do?

A

Join with similarly situated boys to develop their own oppositional norms and values by which they are able to achieve status.

49
Q

[Cohen’s Status Frustration] What is the name of the process by which status frustrated boys join together?

A

Mutual conversion.

50
Q

[Cohen’s Status Frustration] What is the name of the process by which mutually converted boys act out against middle-class norms?

A

Reaction formation.

51
Q

[Cohen’s Status Frustration] What do mutually converted boys value?

A

Being tough, hedonistic, and the general opposite of all middle-class norms and values.

52
Q

[Cohen’s Status Frustration] Why did Cohen reason the boys engaged in reaction formation?

A

In order to overcome anxiety stemming from their inability to achieve middle-class standards.

53
Q

What are the two criticisms of functionalism from a logic perspective?

A

Teleological and tautological.

54
Q

What is the teleological criticism of functionalism?

A

It tells us that there re goals that must be fulfilled, and that institutions are needed to fulfil them. But it doesn’t specify why they are necessary.

55
Q

What is the tautological criticism of functionalism?

A

It’s based on circular reasoning. We see families socializing children, the socialization of children is an important function of the family.

56
Q

What are the three criticisms of functionalism based on ideology/politics?

A

Conservative bias, androcentric bias, and assumes deviance is a lower-class phenomenon.

57
Q

What is the conservative bias criticism?

A

That anything can be justified as functional in some way. By not challenging issues it also encourages the status quo.

58
Q

What is the androcentric bias criticism?

A

Women are ignored by functionalist theories.

Soc 224 (10 decks)

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