FUNCTIONALISM Flashcards
1
Q
Durkheim - Collective conscience
- explanation
- example
A
- crime is necessary + healthy for society as not everyone in society is exposed to same influences/organisations - not all committed to same societal beliefs
- maintained when people react to criminal/deviant acts
EXAMPLE: 9/11, james bulger
2
Q
introduction
A
- different stance to psychological/physiological approaches
- focus on nature of society and how it can cause deviance and how its socially constructed
- believe social control mechanisms eg police and courts are necessary
3
Q
Durkheim - boundary maintenance
- explanation
- example
A
- crime needs to be punished
- if not: becomes dysfunctional
- society moral boundaries = defined when we see people being punished, acts as deterrent
EXAMPLE: harsh punishments during 2011 London riots
4
Q
Durkheim - social change
- explanation
- example
A
- crime can be functional as all change starts with acts of deviance
EXAMPLE: rosa parks, homosexuality
5
Q
Durkheim - A03
A
says crime can be functional for society but fails to mention how much - not scientific for positivist
6
Q
Robert Merton - introduction
A
- explains how deviance can result from structure/ culture of society
- looks at value consensus in America + feeling of anomie (normlessness) that people face when unable to achieve material wealth
7
Q
Robert Merton - Cause of strain in society
A
- value consensus in America: means everyone wants to achieve the goal ( wealth + material possessions)
- legitimate means = through talent + ambition in meritocratic society
- American dream = widely accepted but some WC people have blocked opportunities due to inequality of opportunity
- result = unbalanced society where winner is everything and rules are unimportant which leads to anomie/ strain especially in society where instant gratification is important
8
Q
Robert Merton: responses to strain
A
- conformity: strive for success legitimately
- innovation: wc, few qualifications, turn to crime for material success
- ritualism: lower mc, abandon goal, conform to standards of MC
- retreatism: dropouts, no goal or means
- rebellion: rejct goal and means but replace with own to create new society
9
Q
Robert Merton: A03
A
- doesnt explain non utilitarian crime eg vandalism and murder
- not everyone is motivated by wealth
10
Q
albert cohen: introduction
A
- developed durkheims views and believed deviance had 2 possible functions
- looks at how wc youth suffered from status frustration as a result of educational failure
11
Q
albert cohen: deviances 2 possible fucntions
A
`1. deviance can be a safety valve: provides relatively harmless expression of discontent
EXAMPLE: prostitution: men can escape from family life not undermining or threatening the family stability
- deviant acts can warn society that an aspect/institution isnt working
EXAMPLE: wide spread truanting from school
12
Q
Hirschi: introduction
A
- agrees with Durkheim: social order is based on shared values and socialisation through institutions
- focus is on why people don’t commit crime
- believe that people who have strong bonds of attachment are less likely to offend and when these bonds are absent people offend
- ideas closely relate to charles murray who argued improper socialisation is major cause of crime
13
Q
Hirschi: 4 bonds of attachment
A
- attachment: how much we care about others. EXAMPLE: close family wouldnt want to bring shame
- commitment: how much we would have to loose if caught. EXAMPLE: high power jobs such as doctors and lawyers wont ant to risk loosing job
- Involvement: how busy we are and if we have time for crime. EXAMPLE: full time jobs = less time
- belief: how strongly do we feel about sticking to the rules. EXAMPLE: strong primary socialisation and religion beliefs would deter criminals
14
Q
Hirschi: A03
A
- strong bonds of attachment eg gangs WCC are committed by people who have strong bonds of attachment
- Attachment: harold shipman = doctor
