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Sociology p3 > functionalism > Flashcards

functionalism Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

what is a functionalists view on crime

A

-society cant exist without crime because not everyone is effectively socialised
-because of inequality

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2
Q

who thinks crime has positive functions for society

A

-Durkheim
-Davis
-Polsky
-Cohen

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3
Q

what’s Durkheim’s view on crime and deviance

A

-believes crime is not only inevitable but normal, universal and positive.
-in complex modern societies, not everyone shares the same norms and values

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4
Q

how does Durkheim believe crime has positive functions

A

-boundary maintenance
-adaption and change

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5
Q

define boundary maintenance

A

-crime produces a reaction which strengthens existing norms and values
-e.g. Sarah Everard case

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6
Q

define adaption and change

A

-all social change starts with an act of deviance and if people were never deviant then society would never change
-e.g. homosexual laws

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7
Q

what’s Davis view on crime and deviance

A

believes prostitution provides a positive function as it allows men to express sexual tension without threatening the nuclear family

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8
Q

how does Davis believe crime had positive functions

A

-safety valve

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9
Q

define safety valve

A

allowing people to ‘let off steam’ in a relatively harmless way

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10
Q

what does Polsky say about safety valve

A

-thinks society has found a better way of providing a positive function
-pornography

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11
Q

what’s Cohens view on crime and deviance

A

-a warning sign

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12
Q

how does Cohen believe crime has positive functions

A

crime and deviance is a sign that institutions are not functioning properly

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13
Q

what’s a boundary maintenance weakness

A

may be functional for society but not for the victims of crime, functionalists ignore this

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14
Q

what’s an issue with safety valves

A

big issue with feminists

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15
Q

what’s an overall weakness of functionalism

A

functionalists don’t specify what is considered too much or too little crime.

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16
Q

who came up with strain theory

A

Robert Merton

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17
Q

define strain theory

A

society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (e.g. American dream) even though they lack the means to do so

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18
Q

how does strain theory cause crime and deviance

A

-people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to chieve socially approved goals by legitimate means
-people may become frustrated and try to achieve goals through criminal means

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19
Q

define American dream

A

the idea that everyone no matter where or what class they are born into, can attire their own version of success in society

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20
Q

what’s Merton’s view on the American dream

A

says the American dream places more emphasis on the goals than the legitimate means of gaining then, leading to crime

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21
Q

what are 2 elements in Merton’s explanation for crime

A

-structural factors
-cultural factors

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22
Q

define structural factors

A

society has an unequal opportunity structure (class focused)

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23
Q

define cultural factors

A

strong emphasis on success in goals and weaker emphasis on legitimate (legal ways of achieving them)

24
Q

what are Merton’s categories of strain theory

A

-conformity
-innovation
-ritualism
-retreatism
-rebellion

25
Q

define conformity

A

-people who want to achieve goals of society and have the means to do so
-e.g. the average american

26
Q

define innovation

A

-people who want to achieve the goals of society but turn to illegitimate means to do so
-e.g. drug dealer

27
Q

define ritualism

A

-people who have given up on achieving the goals, but believe its through their own fault as they had means to do so
-e.g. dead end jobs (office jobs)

28
Q

define retreatism

A

-people who reject both goals and means
-e.g. alcoholic

29
Q

define rebellion

A

-people who form their own goals and means to create a new society
-e.g. terrorists

30
Q

what are weakness of Merton’s strain theory

A

-marxists say it ignores the way laws criminalise the poor and not the rich
-assumes value consensus
-only explains utilitarian crime and not violent and other crimes
-ignores the role that groups play in crime and focuses on individuals
-deterministic

31
Q

define subcultural strain theories

A

see deviance as the product of delinquent subculture with different values from those of mainstream society

32
Q

who discusses status frustration

A

Cohen

33
Q

how does Cohen criticize Merton

A

-fails to account for group accountability in crime
-focuses on utilitarian crime only and doesn’t explain violent crimes

34
Q

who comes up with alternative status hierarchy

A

Cohen

35
Q

define alternative status hierarchy

A

realising your not achieving the standard so become frustrated because of this.

36
Q

what example does Cohen focus on for alternative status hierarchy

A

-focuses on w/c boys in school who fail to succeed in m/c environments
-believes because of this they join delinquent subcultures
-so, when they fail in schools values, they try succeed with their own established subcultures

37
Q

what’s a strength of alternative status hierarchy

A

explains why people commit violent (non utilitarian) crimes

38
Q

what’s a weakness of alternative status hierarchy

A

assumes m/c value consesus

39
Q

who discusses 3 subcultures

A

Cloward and Ohlin

40
Q

what do Cloward and Ohlin believe

A

-agree with Merton that people have unequal access to legitimate opportunity structure
-say that people also have unequal access to illegitimate opportunity structure

41
Q

what are Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures

A

1) criminal subcultures
2) conflict subcultures
3) retreatist subcultures

42
Q

define criminal subculture

A

-provide apprenticeships for utilitarian crime
-exist in areas with stable criminal subcultures, with hierarchies of professional criminals
-e.g. drug dealers

43
Q

define conflict subculture

A

-gang organised by young people and is based on claiming territory
-allows young men’s frustration with blocked opportunities to find alternative status
-often also part of criminal subcultures
-e.g. street gangs, turf wars

44
Q

define retreatist subcultures

A

-people who fail in both legitimate and illegitimate meaning they may turn to illegal drug use and alcoholism
-knows as double failures
-e.g. junkies

45
Q

what are weakness of Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures

A

-ignores crimes of the wealthy by arguing most crime is w/c
-ignores wider social structure (who actually makes the law and enforces it)
-boundary’s between subcultures are too established

46
Q

what’s a strength of Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures

A

provides explanations for different types of crime and subcultures and those who engage in violent crimes.

47
Q

who discusses focal concerns

A

Miller

48
Q

what does Miller argue

A

lower class has its own autonomous subculture. is distinct from mainstream culture and has its own values

49
Q

what are millers 6 focal concerns

A

1) excitement
2)toughness
3)smartness
4)trouble
5)autonomy
6)fate

50
Q

why is excitement a focal concern

A

lower class seek out excitement (particularly when not at work)

51
Q

why is toughness a focal concern

A

lower class wish to prove they are tough/hard

52
Q

why is smartness a focal concern

A

lower class use wit (might use smart remarks)

53
Q

why is trouble a focal concern

A

-linked to excitement and toughness
-lower class might find themselves in trouble

54
Q

why is autonomy a focal concern

A

lower class wish to be independent and not reliant on others

55
Q

why is fate a focal concern

A

lower class believe that their future is already decided and what they do wont influence it

56
Q

what is an overall example of strain theory

A

London riots 2011

Sociology p3 (21 decks)

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