CRIME AND DEVIANCE TOPIC 1: FUNCTIONALIST, STRAIN AND SUBCULTURAL THEORIES Flashcards
according to DURKHEIM, what are the 2 key mechanisms for society to achieve solidarity?
-socialisation: the teachings of norms and values of society
-social control: making sure everyone follows the same norms and values (consensus) to stop ppl going against them= subcultures judging ppl/ shaming ppl
what are 2 reasons why crime is found in all societies?
-socialisation isn’t always performed properly
-modern society is more diverse= forms deviant subcultures that go against societal norms & values
according to DURKHEIM, why are modern societies more likely to experience crime?
-prone to anomie (a sense of normlessness and moral confusion = anomie weakens the collective conscience = inc. criminal activity
according to DURKHEIM, what are the 2 main positives of crime?
-boundary maintenance: punishment of crime reminds ppl what’s acceptable nd wat isn’t= shows boundaries
e.g. through media shaming certain behaviour (deviance)
-adoption&change: change starts w/ deviance= going against the norms in order for society to develop
function of crime: DAVIS
-the function of prostitution: it’s a ‘safety valve’ = outlet for men to take out their frustrations on prostitutes instead of their wives = protects the nuclear family
function of crime: POLSKY
-the function of pornography: allows men to engage in sexual fantasies that doesn’t risk breaking the nuclear family
function of crime: COHEN
-the function to act as a ‘warning’: crime highlights the areas in society that are failing
function of crime: ERIKSON
-as a society, crime can be beneficial as we need it to show police forces are to be feared and that they have a purpose
what are 2 criticisms of the functionalist theory?
- Durkheim fails to mention how much of crime is ‘just right’
- Durkheim ignores the impact that crime has on individuals (victims involved)
according to the strain theory, what causes crime?
-crime is caused by a desire to achieve socially acceptable goals but lacking the means to do so legally
what are MERTON’S 5 strains to theory?
-CONFORMITY: accept societies goals and legal ways e.g. getting a job and working hard
-INNOVATION: accept wanting to be materially successful but don’t accept the legal ways= turn to crime to be successful
-RITUALISM: don’t chase success (given up on goals) but still accept legal ways of living e.g. working the same job
-RETREATISM: given up on being successful and given up on following societal rules e.g. drug addicts
REBELLION: reject society’s goals and means BUT then replace them with their own= deys the status quo w/ new definitions of success e.g. hippies
what are 3 criticisms of MERTON’S theory?
-it doesn’t explain non-utilitarian crimes e.g. beating smn up (gaining nothing from doing it)
-it assumes material success is a common goal that’s shared
-fails to recognise most w/c don’t commit crimes
what are 2 elements of MERTON”S THEORY?
-society sets material goals and encourages everyone to pursue them
-some people find their opportunities for achieving these goals are blocked
what is the ‘american dream’ ?
-anyone can be successful through hard work
-success is material, creates the conditions of crime
-people will try to become successful ‘by any means necessary’ =don’t care about the consequences behind actions
-‘dog-cat-dog’ world = survival of the fittest mentality for success
what is a subcuture and why do they form within crime?
-having different norms and values from society
-for validation, feeling a sense of community and gain symbolic capital (status)
- e.g. gangs offer money =shows alternative career paths
according to COHEN, why is crime a lower-class phenomenon?
-those from deprived backgrounds are denied access to achieve society’s goals
what is status frustration?
-argues that mainstream society has pushed them to the bottom of the societal hierarchy= create their own status themselves
what are 2 criticisms COHEN makes of MERTON?
-doesn’t explain non-utilitarian crimes e.g. vandalism&violence
-collective crime= why young w/c people are more prone to crime than others
according to COHEN, why do w/c boys face anomie?
(anomie- breakdown of norms and values)
-not valued by the education system, made for m/c in reality
-not socialised at home= parenting styles not stable causing cultural deprivation
how does the subculture offer an alternative status hierarchy?
-through ways that aren’t socially accepted= popularity with members to cause crime with violence= creates fear
evaluation of COHEN
-androcentric= focuses too much on men and not on women
-too deterministic and reductionist= assumes we had m/c goals to begin with
what are deviant subcultures?
-different subcultures as a result of different responses to lack of legitimate opportunities. Some even lack opportunity in world of deviance due to neighbourhood.
according to CLOWARD AND OHLIN, what are the 3 types of deviant subculture?
-Criminal= established criminal gangs & access to hierarchy of professional criminals in a longstanding network
-Conflict= loosely organised gangs as an outlet for frustration (turf wars and violence)
-Retreatist= most disorganised group w/ no access, double failures, failed to succeed in legal structures (drug use)
at the chicago school= cultural transmission theory
Cultural transmission theory- deviance learnt through interaction= easy ability to pass on crime
at the chicago school= social disorganisation theory
Social disorganisation theory- Breakdown of institutions, unemployment= learning criminal skills from people around them in certain areas
at the chicago school= differential association theory
Differential association theory= high population turnover with changes made constantly =no community looking out for eachother
EV. of CLOWARD AND OHLIN
-they over-focus on w/c crime = ignores the m/c crimes
-the system set up the w/c to commit crime= ignores that the law tends to criminalise the w/c more often so m/c crimes are underrepresented
-assume crime is a reaction to failure in order to achieve material wealth but not everyone is motivated by it
