Fuctionalist Explanations Flashcards
What does Merton discuss?
‘Strain Theory’
Why does crime and deviance occur according to Merton?
When goals are emphasised more than the acceptable means.
When does Merton believe an anomie will occur?
When alternative means to achieve the goal start to become acceptable/preferred.
What does it mean when Merton says there is a ‘strain towards anomie’?
The goal becomes more important than the means
What are the 5 different responses to goal of success?
Conformity
Innovation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion
What is the Conformity response?
Most common
Most people work hard and earn money legitimately
What is the innovation response?
- Individual has a goal but doesn’t have acceptable means to achieve it.
- Occurs when middle class people who are prepared to bend the rules to make more money.
- Working class are more likely to commit crime to achieve success.
What is the ritualism response?
Some don’t strive for great wealth and so lower aspirations. Can be seen as deviant in a society of achievers.
What is the retreatism response?
- Those who struggle to achieve success may drop out of society which judges them.
- May involve not working in ‘normal life’ rejecting family and friends and following self destructive deviant behaviour.
What is the rebellion response?
Reject societies goals and replace them with alternatives by joining groups which seek a different type of society.
What are criticisms of Merton?
- Assumes the goal of financial success is universal.
- There are many other goals like family and love.
- Maybe other reasons to display deviance.
- A person may fall into more than one category.
What are the modes of adaption in response to?
The goal of success.
Who discusses ‘strain theory’?
Merton
What functionalists discuss crime?
Merton
Durkheim
Davis (and Cohen)
Who discusses that deviance is a ‘safety valve’, allowing people to ‘let off steam’?
Davis
