Functionalism

Question 1

Functionalist subcultural theory
Status frustration
Cohen
AO1

Answer 1

Young wc males join deviant subcultures to over come status frustration

Annoyed they can’t achieve goals legitimately - lack of qualifications/job opportunities
Form deviant subcultures with own values and gain respect from peers by achieving the values

Question 2

Functionalist subcultural theory
Status frustration
Cohen
AO2

Answer 2

Gangs use mopeds to mount pavements and snatch phones/bags from unsuspecting pedestrians
Help gain street capital building reputation to rise up in the gang

Overcomes status frustration achieving deviant values of the group - have encouragement to go out and commit crimes where their status will rise

Question 3

Functionalist subcultural theory
Status frustration
Cohen
AO3

Answer 3

Membership of deviant subcultures starts at school with wc boys who can’t achieve values of school so form anti school subcultures and gain status from mates by messing about
Leave school with no qualifications and carry subcultures on into society

Question 4

Functionalist subcultural theory
Focal concerns
Miller
AO1

Answer 4

Groups of wc youths commit criminal and deviant acts to achieve focal concerns
Things they value - toughness, excitement - criminal/deviant acts are a result of them demonstrating this - getting involved in street fights

Question 5

Functionalist subcultural theory
Focal concerns
Miller
AO2

Answer 5

Tractor crime in East Yorkshire
Excitement can be seen in cases of young people stealing tractors and smashing them into cash machines in villages around Yorkshire

Question 6

Functionalist subcultural theory
Focal concerns
Miller
AO3

Answer 6

Postmodernists disagree - young males commit crime for thrill and adrenaline - they are about accomplishing edgework
Committing crimes near danger or safety eg illegal raves - risk of arrest but do it for the buzz

Question 7

Functionalist subcultural theory
Locality
Cloward and ohlin
AO1

Answer 7

Type of deviant subcultures wc boys join depends on locality
Depends where they live eg living near organised crime = more opportunity to carry out a criminal career where as small town people lack opportunity so choose retreat subcultures

Question 8

Functionalist subcultural theory
Locality
Cloward and ohlin
AO2

Answer 8

Young wc males live in inner city council estates - join conflict subcultures - deprived high population areas where people move in n out of the area
Youths more likely to join violent gangs and fight for territory committing non utillitarian crimes against gangs to gain respect and treat eachother as family

Question 9

Functionalist subcultural theory
Locality
Cloward and ohlin
AO3

Answer 9

Radical feminists critical - fail to consider girls in gangs - more girls getting involved carrying knives and transporting drugs to fight against patriarchy and gangs want women to distract police

Question 10

Functionalism
Merton strain theory
AO1

Answer 10

Crime occurs due to strain or tension between people wanting to achieve shared goals of society but can’t

Question 11

Functionalism
Merton strain theory
AO2

Answer 11

American society - importance on American dream (money/success)
Not everyone has same opportunity and wc face hardships like poverty and lack of quals
Strain to anomie - gap between goals and achieving them
No legit ways of achieving goals so turn to crime to achieve

Question 12

Functionalism
Merton strain theory
AO3

Answer 12

Assumes people’s motivations for crime are individual and ignores crime occurs in groups
Failed to explain crimes that don’t include material rewards eg violence