Functionalism Flashcards
What are the 4 functions of crime in society according to Functionalism?
Boundary Maintenance
Adaption and Change
Safety Valve
Warning Light
Aims of Boundary Maintenance?
Crime creates a reaction from society uniting to condemn the wrongdoer-Punishment reaffirms society’s shared rules and reinforces social solidarity. Discourages others from rule breaking.
Why is some deviance necessary for society?
Society needs to adapt with new ideas and change rather than stagnate.
What does Davis argue about crime and sexual frustrations?
Crime can release men’s sexual frustrations without threatening the monogamous nuclear family, preventing more serious disruptions.
How does Polsky view pornography in relation to crime?
Polsky argues that pornography safely ‘channels’ a variety of sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultery.
What was a positive outcome of the 2011 UK Riots?
People came together to clean up the streets after the riots.
What is Natasha’s Law?
A law protecting allergy sufferers that requires food businesses to include full ingredients labelling on pre-packaged food.
What is Clare’s Law?
The Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme that allows people to find out if their partner has an abusive or violent past.
What impact did the Suffragettes have on society?
The Suffragettes movement led to gradual reforms such as The Equal Pay Act.
What is a criticism of the Functionalist view on crime and deviance?
It recognizes how crime and deviance may be functional for society but ignores how it may affect individuals.
What does Durkheim fail to provide regarding deviance?
Durkheim offers no way of knowing how much deviance is the right amount for society to function successfully.
How would Radical Feminism criticize the positive function of prostitution?
Radical Feminism would argue that it exploits women and perpetuates gender inequality.
Example of Boundary Maintenance?
Courtrooms- dramatise wrongdoer and publicly shame and stigmatise offender
-James Venables
-2011 Riots: came together to clean streets after riots
No deviance =
No social change
MLK
Arrested over 30 times to promote and force change peacefully in white only areas.
Why is ‘Safety Valve’ a function of crime?
Davis argues crime can release men’s sexual frustrations without threatening monogamous nuclear family- prevents more serious disruptions
Why is a ‘Warning Light’ a function of crime?
Cohen argues that deviance indicates when an institution is malfunctioning.
- Informs society a change needs to be made
Example of a Warning Light?
TRUANCY-
high rates of truancy indicates there’s a problem with the education system, so the issue can be rectified e.g. fines for absences.
What is a criticism of the Warning Light?
Marxists argue they assume norms and laws reflect wishes of the population but ignore the possibility that a powerful group is imposing its values on the rest of society
What do strain theories argue about deviant behavior?
People engage in deviant behavior when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means.
Who developed the first strain theory?
Robert Merton
What concept did Merton adapt to explain deviance?
Durkheim’s concept of anomie
What are the two main elements of strain theory?
- Structural factors
- Cultural factors
What is the cultural goal identified by Merton?
To achieve wealth and status.
Fill in the blank: The ideology of the American Dream says that American society is _______.
meritocratic
What is a criticism of strain theory regarding the types of crime it focuses on?
It focuses on utilitarian crime and fails to explain crimes such as vandalism and violence.
What does strain theory ignore in terms of crime?
- ‘Crimes of the suites’
- State crimes such as genocide or torture
- Collective deviance
True or False: Strain theory accounts for the power of the ruling class to criminalize the poor but not the rich.
False
What are the structural factors in strain theory?
Society’s unequal opportunity structure.
What does the American Dream suggest about achieving success?
That anyone who makes the effort can get ahead through legitimate means.
What is a limitation of strain theory regarding disadvantaged individuals?
Disadvantaged people may not be able to achieve the American Dream legitimately.
What causes a ‘strain to anomie’?
Restrictions by social structures causing frustration.
What does American culture emphasize more than legitimate means?
Achieving cultural goals
This reflects a societal tendency to prioritize success over the methods used to achieve it.
What is the first adaptation to strain as per Merton?
Conformity
Individuals accept the goal (American Dream) and strive to achieve it by legitimate means.
What does ‘innovation’ mean in the context of Merton’s adaptations to strain?
Accepting the goal but using illegitimate means to achieve it
This is typical of those who lack legitimate opportunities.
What happens in the adaptation of ‘ritualism’?
Giving up on the goal but following the legitimate means
Individuals internalize the rules but do not strive for the goal.
Define ‘retreatism’ as an adaptation to strain.
Rejecting both the goals and the means and becoming dropouts
This adaptation indicates a complete withdrawal from societal expectations.
What is ‘rebellion’ in Merton’s adaptations to strain?
Rejecting existing societal goals and means, replacing them with new ones
Individuals desire to create a new kind of society.
What does the Strain theory focus on? AO3
Utilitarian crimes, and fails to explain crimes of vandalism and violence.
Ao3 for strain theory?
Labelling Theory- police focuses on WC areas more than MC areas and as a result police are much more likely to find WC committing crimes.
How does the American culture force people to deviate further?
‘Winning the game is more important than playing by the rules’ mindset.
How does Cohen criticize Merton’s strain theory?
Cohen criticizes Merton for ignoring group deviance of delinquent subcultures and non-utilitarian crime.
Merton’s theory primarily focuses on individual responses to strain.
What explanation does Cohen provide for non-utilitarian deviance?
WC boys face anomie in the MC education system.
What does Cohen assume about WC boys in relation to MC goals in education system?
WC boys start off sharing MC goals but reject them when they fail.
When does status frustration occur according to Cohen?
When WC boys are at the bottom of the Official Status Hierarchy and cannot achieve success.
How do WC boys resolve status frustration?
They resolve status frustration by rejecting mainstream MC values and turning to others in the same situation thus forming subcultures.
What is the role of a delinquent subculture according to Cohen?
Offers an illegitimate opportunity structure for boys who have failed to achieve legitimately.
So, provides a sense of belonging and alternative methods for gaining status.
What alternative status hierarchy is provided by the delinquent group?
Members can gain status through delinquent acts, inverting mainstream values allows them to achieve recognition.
How does the delinquent subculture invert mainstream values?
The group inverts mainstream values by doing the opposite- gaining status from acts like vandalism, which society typically disrespects.
True or False: Cohen’s theory ignores female delinquency.
True.
Cohen’s analysis primarily focuses on male delinquency, neglecting the experiences of females.
