Functionalism Flashcards
Durkheim (1985) positive and negative aspects of crime
positive - crime is necessary for society as it: reaffirms the boundaries, changes values and brings about social cohesion
negative - anomie occurs. This is when the collective conscience is weakened and people are freed from social control and go after their own selfish interests
Merton (1938)
Strain theory
Cloward and Ohlin (1960)
illegitimate opportunity structure
Cohen (1955)
Status frustration
Miller (1962)
Focal Concerns
who said crime is inevitable
durkheim
what is the collective conscience
everyone shares the same values and is in agreement over what is right and wrong
what is strain theory
merton said that society sets everyone goals and ways of achieving this. Hiowever, some people cant achieve these goals the socially acceptable way so do it another way. This is being deviant.
what is the illigitamate opportunity
they said that there is a paralell opportunity structure to the legal one where a illegal career is available with illegal means of reaching societies goals
what are the 3 subcultures in the illigitamate opportunity sructure
criminal - local criminal subculutre with rolemodels where they have ways of making a criminal career e.g theft
- conflict - no local criminal subculture so violence often occurs e.g gangs becuase they have no way of having a career so are just violent instead
retreatest - when he individual has no gang or subculture to join so is deviant by themselves e.g alcojol and drugs
what is sratus frustration
cohen said wc boys wanted mc values and aspirations but lacked the means to be successful so led to status frustration. this is personal failiure and inadequacy so rejecting these values and acceptable behaviour they were not successful in
what are the 6 focal concerns
smartness trouble excitement toughness autonomy fate
