Functionalism Flashcards
What does Durkheim claim about society?
He argues that if crime is regulated correctly is beneficial in creating a collective conscience.
What are the two functions of crime according to Durkheim?
- Boundary maintenance
- Adaptation and change
Define what Durkheim means by Boundary maintenance
When crimes are punished by the CJS it reminds society of the value consensus. Creates social solidarity.
Define what Durkheim means by Adaptation and change
He argues that all change starts with acts of deviance.
What did Davis suggest about prostitution?
He argues that sex work is necessary for maintaining the nuclear family as it can act as a ‘safety valve’ for men to release their sexual tension.
What does Strain theory argue?
Argues that people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved groups by legitimate means.
Explain the difference between goals and means
Goals are the things we are expected to want and strive for, such as success, money, fast cars;
means are the ways in which a person may obtain or achieve these goals.
How is ‘The American Dream’ flawed?
Many disadvantaged groups are denied opportunities to achieve legitimately.
Define conformity in terms of adaptations to strain
Those who fail to achieve success but still believe that hard work help them achieve the goal of material success.
Define Rebels in terms of adaptations to strain
Those who react badly to not achieving the cultural goal of material success and therefore abandon it all together and create new goals.
Define Innovators in terms of adaptations to strain
Those who realise that they cannot achieve material success by conforming to the conventional mean of hard work. instead they create new ways to achieve wealth which may lead to criminal activity
Define Ritualists in terms of adaptations to strain
Individuals give up on trying to achieve the goals, but have internalised the legitimate means and so they follow the rules for their own sake.
Define Retreatists in terms of adaptations to strain
Those who give up on the goals they lack the self-belief to achieve
What does subculture strain theory suggest?
Sees deviance as the product of a deviant subculture
What does Cohen suggest about working-class boys?
Cohen argues that WC boys face anomie in a MC dominated school system. Due to cultural and material deprivation, they are unable to achieve. As a result the boys suffer ‘status frustration’
What does Becker argue?
Crime is a social construct. Society labels different acts as deviant.
What does criminogenic mean?
Refers to factors that contribute to criminal conduct.
Name the three ways capitalism can be seen as criminogenic.
- Encourages self-interest over public duty
- Encourages materialistic consumerism
- Generates mass poverty and inequality
