functionalism Flashcards
what is a functionalists view on crime
-society cant exist without crime because not everyone is effectively socialised
-because of inequality
who thinks crime has positive functions for society
-Durkheim
-Davis
-Polsky
-Cohen
what’s Durkheim’s view on crime and deviance
-believes crime is not only inevitable but normal, universal and positive.
-in complex modern societies, not everyone shares the same norms and values
how does Durkheim believe crime has positive functions
-boundary maintenance
-adaption and change
define boundary maintenance
-crime produces a reaction which strengthens existing norms and values
-e.g. Sarah Everard case
define adaption and change
-all social change starts with an act of deviance and if people were never deviant then society would never change
-e.g. homosexual laws
what’s Davis view on crime and deviance
believes prostitution provides a positive function as it allows men to express sexual tension without threatening the nuclear family
how does Davis believe crime had positive functions
-safety valve
define safety valve
allowing people to ‘let off steam’ in a relatively harmless way
what does Polsky say about safety valve
-thinks society has found a better way of providing a positive function
-pornography
what’s Cohens view on crime and deviance
-a warning sign
how does Cohen believe crime has positive functions
crime and deviance is a sign that institutions are not functioning properly
what’s a boundary maintenance weakness
may be functional for society but not for the victims of crime, functionalists ignore this
what’s an issue with safety valves
big issue with feminists
what’s an overall weakness of functionalism
functionalists don’t specify what is considered too much or too little crime.
who came up with strain theory
Robert Merton
define strain theory
society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (e.g. American dream) even though they lack the means to do so
how does strain theory cause crime and deviance
-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
define American dream
the idea that everyone no matter where or what class they are born into, can attire their own version of success in society
what’s Merton’s view on the American dream
says the American dream places more emphasis on the goals than the legitimate means of gaining then, leading to crime
what are 2 elements in Merton’s explanation for crime
-structural factors
-cultural factors
define structural factors
society has an unequal opportunity structure (class focused)
define cultural factors
strong emphasis on success in goals and weaker emphasis on legitimate (legal ways of achieving them)
what are Merton’s categories of strain theory
-conformity
-innovation
-ritualism
-retreatism
-rebellion
define conformity
-people who want to achieve goals of society and have the means to do so
-e.g. the average american
define innovation
-people who want to achieve the goals of society but turn to illegitimate means to do so
-e.g. drug dealer
define ritualism
-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)
define retreatism
-people who reject both goals and means
-e.g. alcoholic
define rebellion
-people who form their own goals and means to create a new society
-e.g. terrorists
what are weakness of Merton’s strain theory
-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
define subcultural strain theories
see deviance as the product of delinquent subculture with different values from those of mainstream society
who discusses status frustration
Cohen
how does Cohen criticize Merton
-fails to account for group accountability in crime
-focuses on utilitarian crime only and doesn’t explain violent crimes
who comes up with alternative status hierarchy
Cohen
define alternative status hierarchy
realising your not achieving the standard so become frustrated because of this.
what example does Cohen focus on for alternative status hierarchy
-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
what’s a strength of alternative status hierarchy
explains why people commit violent (non utilitarian) crimes
what’s a weakness of alternative status hierarchy
assumes m/c value consesus
who discusses 3 subcultures
Cloward and Ohlin
what do Cloward and Ohlin believe
-agree with Merton that people have unequal access to legitimate opportunity structure
-say that people also have unequal access to illegitimate opportunity structure
what are Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures
1) criminal subcultures
2) conflict subcultures
3) retreatist subcultures
define criminal subculture
-provide apprenticeships for utilitarian crime
-exist in areas with stable criminal subcultures, with hierarchies of professional criminals
-e.g. drug dealers
define conflict subculture
-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
define retreatist subcultures
-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
what are weakness of Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures
-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
what’s a strength of Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures
provides explanations for different types of crime and subcultures and those who engage in violent crimes.
who discusses focal concerns
Miller
what does Miller argue
lower class has its own autonomous subculture. is distinct from mainstream culture and has its own values
what are millers 6 focal concerns
1) excitement
2)toughness
3)smartness
4)trouble
5)autonomy
6)fate
why is excitement a focal concern
lower class seek out excitement (particularly when not at work)
why is toughness a focal concern
lower class wish to prove they are tough/hard
why is smartness a focal concern
lower class use wit (might use smart remarks)
why is trouble a focal concern
-linked to excitement and toughness
-lower class might find themselves in trouble
why is autonomy a focal concern
lower class wish to be independent and not reliant on others
why is fate a focal concern
lower class believe that their future is already decided and what they do wont influence it
what is an overall example of strain theory
London riots 2011
