Functionalism and Crime

Question 1

Durkheim - crime is inevitable

Answer 1

poor socialisation results in not everyone being taught the same norms and values. the inevitability of crime stems from the inequality that exists in society

Question 2

Durkheim - crime is positive

Answer 2

‘boundary maintenance’ is the concept that crime is functional in society when there is the right amount. when people are punished for committing crime, it teaches the rest of society not to go against norms and values, strengthening boundaries and preventing further crime

Question 3

Durkheim - adaption and change

Answer 3

some crime can be functional for society as it allows adaption and change; this means that for society to have norms and values that change as a form of rationalism, a criminal act must take place
e.g: suffragettes, civil rights

Question 4

Davis - positivity of crime

Answer 4

prostitution provides positive functions as it allows men to express sexual frustration without threatening the nuclear family

Question 5

Merton’s strain theory

Answer 5

crime is cased by the failure to achieve the goals of the American dream through legitimate means - there are 5 responses to the American dream:
- conformism: accepting the goals and legitimate means to achieve them
- innovation: subscribe to the goals but use illegitimate means to achieve them
- ritualism: reject the goals but conform to the means
- retreats: reject toe goals and subscribe to illegitimate means
- rebellion replace the goals and means with their own

Question 6

Cohen - subcultural theories

Answer 6

status frustration - focuses on working-class boys in schools who fail to succeed in middle-class environments and form delinquent subcultures that go against middle-class norms and values. subsequently, working-class boys try to succeed within subcultures by trying to rise in the hierarchy, which they have more chance of succeeding in. this explains why people commit non-utilitarian crimes

Question 7

Cloward and Ohlin: subcultural theories

Answer 7

there are 3 types of subcultures:
- criminal: provide ‘apprenticeships’ for utilitarian crime. exists in areas with stable criminal cultures, with hierarchies of professional criminals (e.g: drug dealers, mafia)
- conflict: exist in areas of high population turnover. there is social disorganisation and only loosely organised gangs (e.g: postcode/turf wars)
- retreatist: formed of people who fail in both legitimate and illegitimate means and may turn to illegal drug use (e.g: junkies)