Crime and Deviance

Question 1

What 2 key mechanisms do functionalists believe society needs to achieve social solidarity

Answer 1

1. Socialisation - instils shared culture to internalise same norms and values
2. Social control - rewards and punishments to teach expected behaviour

Question 2

Overall functionalist thoughts of crime

Answer 2

Crime is inevitable and universal - Durkheim says needed for a healthy society - too much or too little not good

Question 3

Durkheim - modern societies

Answer 3

modern societies ten towards “anomie” because they have a specialised division of labour - weakens shared culture

Question 3

Why do functionalists believe crime and deviance happens

Answer 3

1. Not everyone is equally and effectivley socialised into shared norms and values - some more prone to deviate
2. There is diversity of lifestyles and values - different groups develop own subculture with norms and values

Question 4

What are the positive functions of crime

Answer 4

1. Boundary maintenance (Durkheim)
2. Adaptation and change (Durkheim)
3. Safety valve
4. Warning device
   5.

Question 5

How does crime act as boundary maintenance

Answer 5

Crime produces a reaction from society - condemns actions and reinforces norms and values - public shaming has more effect

Question 6

How does crime cause adaptation and change

Answer 6

An act will first off be seen as deviant but it may get attention and therefore give rise to new cultures and values and change ways of thinking - eg bristol statue

Question 6

How can crime act as a safety valve

Answer 6

pornography can release mens sexual frustration without threatening the monogamous nuclear family and committing adultery

Question 7

What do strain theories argue

Answer 7

people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means

Question 8

Criticisms to crime having positive functions

Answer 8

1. society does not create crime in advance with the intention of strengthening solidarity
2. Functionalism looks at what functions crime serves society as a whole not how it affect certain grousps/individuals
3. Crime doesnt always promote solidarity - can have opposite effect

Question 9

American dream in relation to strain theory

Answer 9

American culture values monetary success and individual material wealth - expected to achieve this goal through legitimate means of working hard and studying but many disadvantaged groups are denied opportunities to achieve this legitimately - produces frustration so people act in illegitimate ways

Question 10

What is Mertons theory

Answer 10

An individuals position in the social structure affects they way they adapt or respond to the strain to anomie

Question 11

In Merton’s theory what are the 5 adaptations of individuals

Answer 11

1. Conformist = accepts the cultural goals and attempts to achieve by legitimate means
2. Innovators = accepts the goals but tries to achieve by illegitimate means
3. Ritualist = reject cultural goals but follow legitimate rules for own sake
4. Retreatist = reject the goals and the means
5. Rebellions = reject the goals and means but replace with new goals and means

Question 12

Criticism of Merton’s theory

Answer 12

1. Takes official crime statistics at face value - too deterministic - over represent w class crime
2. Marxists say ignores power of ruling