Functionalism Flashcards
What is Émile Durkheim’s view on crime?
Crime is inevitable and necessary for society.
Functions of crime include boundary maintenance and social change.
What are the functions of crime according to Durkheim?
- Boundary maintenance: Reinforces shared norms and values.
- Social change: Deviance prompts societal adaptation and innovation.
What is Robert Merton’s strain theory?
Individuals experience strain when they cannot achieve societal goals through legitimate means
conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
What are the modes of adaptation in Merton’s strain theory?
- Conformity: Accepting societal goals and legitimate means.
- Innovation: Accepting goals but using illegitimate means.
- Ritualism: Rejecting goals but adhering to means.
- Retreatism: Rejecting both goals and means.
- Rebellion: Replacing existing goals and means with new ones.
What is Albert Cohen’s concept of status frustration?
Working-class boys fail to achieve middle-class values and create delinquent subcultures with alternative status hierarchies.
What is Cloward and Ohlin’s differential opportunity theory?
Access to illegitimate opportunities determines the type of subculture formed.
What are the types of subcultures according to Cloward and Ohlin?
- Criminal subcultures: Focus on financial gain.
- Conflict subcultures: Focus on violence and territorial conflict.
- Retreatist subcultures: Focus on drug use and escapism.
What are Miller’s focal concerns of the working class?
- Trouble: Concerns about staying out of or dealing with trouble.
- Toughness: Valuing physical strength and resilience.
- Smartness: Street smarts and resourcefulness.
- Excitement: Seeking thrills and risky activities.
- Fate: Belief in destiny or luck.
- Autonomy: Resisting authority and control.
