Crime & Deviance

Question 1

what is utilitarian crime

Answer 1

crime relating to a monetary reward eg theft

Question 2

what do functionalists believe about crime

Answer 2

that society cannot exist without crime because:
not everyone is effectively socialised and because of inequality (and meritocracy)

Question 3

evaluate the functionalist reason of crime

Answer 3

-drugs and alcohol are acc the biggest triggers for crime
-all people know that racism is wrong and no one in modern society is socialised to think any different
-fails to explain why rich people commit crime

Question 4

examples of crimes that are a result of inadequate socialisation according to functionalists

Answer 4

hate crimes, murder, rape and domestic abuse

Question 5

examples of crimes that are a result of inequality according to functionalists

Answer 5

theft, fraud and robbery

Question 6

what does durkheim suggest that the functions are of deviance

Answer 6

boundary maintenance and social change

Question 7

what are other positive functions of crime except durkheim

Answer 7

davis: prostitution (is positive): deviance acts as a safety valve for society and eg allows men to express their sexual frustration, without threatening the nuclear family.
polsky: pornography (is positive): provides a ‘channel’ for sexual desires away from things such as adultery, which would pose a greater threat to the nuclear family.

Question 8

evaluation of durkeim

Answer 8

realists (both left and right) criticise the idea of crime being normal as it’s a very real problem for victims- sociology of crime&deviance should inform policy makers how to prevent crime
-doesn’t explain why some people commit crime and others don’t
-marxists say he fails to consider the consensus among the ruling class who create the laws- their ideology benefits capitalism

Question 9

mertons strain theory

Question 10

evaluate of mertons strain theory