Crime: Functionalist, Strain and subcultural theories Flashcards
Paragraph on Durkheim:
Identified that crime was inevitable part of society and that it performs important social functions. One main function is Boundary maintenance, where society is reaffirmed through shared values to reinforce social solidarity. (harsher sentences = sets example on the wrongdoers. Example: Suffragettes lead to change. Evaluation: rose tinted view, postmodernists would say that Durkheim assumes we live in a value consensus. (not the case due to modern complex society).
Paragraph on Merton:
Identified that deviance occurs when people are unable to achieve the socially approved goals in society. Strain theory, unable to meet cultural goals results in amine. - shown via, Innovator: where people turn to crime to achieve goals, strain leads to utilitarian crime. AO2: Hannon and Defronze, investigated that places with higher welfare provisions had less crime. Evaluation: Ignores non-utilitarian crime such as graffiti etc. People not influenced by strain but by self satisfaction.
Paragraph on Cohen:
Cohen explored the group responses of juvenile delinquency. He found that boys create their own subcultures through shared experiences and create new goals that are achievable to them. Cohen claims this results in an alternative status hierarchy. This is evident through Paul Willis (synoptic link) - WC boys felt this need to hopelessness and to rebel and reject the system. Evaluation: postmodernists, do boys really think about their decisions? (free will).
Paragraph on Cloward and Ohlin:
working class are denied the opportunity to achieve money success, however not all innovate. Different subcultures respond in different ways. For example he argues that different neighbourhoods have different illegitimate opportunities in criminal structure , conflict or retreatist structures. A02: Venkatesh 2009 Chicago criminal subculture. Eval: Assume all crime is working class, ignores crimes of the wealthy and corporate crimes.
