Functionalism and strain Flashcards
1
Q
Durkehims theories
A
How social change has lead to an increase in criminal activity
The purpose that crime have in society
2
Q
Durkheim - Crime and deviance in the preindustrial era
A
- Society had mechanical solidarity meaning similar roles, wages etc so no competition or envy
- Ascribed status (roles are passed down through the family and everyone had a role)
- High levels of social control eg sense of family honour and more religious so wanted to go to heaven
- Nature of punishments was harsher, humiliating and public which served as a deterrent
3
Q
Durkheim : Crime and deviance in modern industrial societies
A
- Post 1700’s
- Organic solidarity, where people have different statuses/ roles but are interconnected
- Specialised division of Labour where there are different levels of pay so this creates envy and competition
- Roles and statuses are achieved rather than ascribed so people have to find their own paths/goals and those who don’t achieve may turn to crime
- There are declining controls eg loss of family honour due to migration and secularisation
- People are more individualistic so put their needs above others eg don’t care about the consequences of crime
- These changes have created anomie
- Anomie has caused social integration to decline
- The vast majority of people don’t commit crime due to value consensus and those who don’t deviants
4
Q
Evaluation of the relationship between social change and criminal activity
A
- In the preindustrial era there was no national measure for recording crime so it’s not comparable
- Crime and social disorder actually seem to be bigger issues in nations which are still modernising
- Crimes of violence have always existed (especially women and children) and could be due to patriarchy instead
5
Q
Durkheim - The functional role of crime and deviance within society
A
A certain amount of crime is necessary
Too much crime indicates a problem :
- Could weaken social integration
- Shows a lack of control
- In some latin countries, it is thought they are largely under the control of drug cartels who pay off gov. officials to turn a blind eye
- too much crime leads to anomie and social disorder
Why too much crime indicates a problem
- Too little crime implies that society is too controlling eg North Korea claims that prostitution doesn’t exist
6
Q
5 positive functions of crime and deviance for wider society (Card 1)
A
- Some activity is functional rebellion - Provokes social change by highlighting problems in the way society is organised
- People actively protest / challenge the law that is no longer appropriate eg suffragette movement
- If people start acting against a traditional norm it could lead to a natural transition eg same sex couples - Some crimes may encourage social cohesion by bringing law abiding citizens together in collective shock - global and national
- Eg the Manchester and Paris attacks
- Events like this strengthen the unity of those who feel attacked and value consensus comes out stronger #prayforparis - Punishments of criminals encourages boundary maintenance as it reminds us certain behaviours aren’t acceptable
- When people get caught breaking the law, they have a price to pay eg Death penalty is saudi arabia and the south wales police name and shame drink drivers
- This acts as a deterrent to the general public
7
Q
Evaluation of the 5 positive functions played by crime
A
Crime is not needed to achieve boundary maintenance and social cohesion
Societies like Japan have low crime rates due to a strong sense of consensus not excessive control
Some crimes can further divide the population eg terror offences cause surges in racial crimes
8
Q
Merton- Strain theory : causes of strain
A
- Crime in America can be linked to the American dream (everyone can do what they want to do)
- This is a cultural myth ie some people are more likely to be successful than others eg WASPs
- Not everyone has access to the dream eg African Americans, women etc so they suffer strain (wanting to be able to achieve goals but being unable to do so)
- Strain is caused by 2 main issues
1. value consensus and the desire to achieve normal goals eg money, family + property
2. Blocked opportunities preventing access to goals eg poor education and segregation
9
Q
Mertons 5 responses to strain
A
- Most common is conformity
- Where they continue to accept the goals of society and possess an ongoing desire to achieve them eg someone will work hard on a shopfloor in the hopes of promotion - Innovation
- Where an individual still wants to achieve the goals of society but through alternative/criminal means instead eg people will engage in financially lucrative crime such as fraud - Ritualism
- Give up on trying to achieve anything in life however they continue to accept societies norms and values eg someone who works a repetitive, low-paid job with no prospects of promotion - Retreatism
- Gives up on trying to achieve societies goals and on trying to maintain a legitimate means of survival (social dropout) eg an individual who partakes in begging - Rebellion
- Goes out of their way to completely reject the goals of society and instead create their own goals and rules eg environmentalists reject goals set by modern society and focus on their planet saving lifestyle
10
Q
Evaluation of different responses to strain
A
- Ignores that people can have multiple responses at once and that it can vary over time
- Fails to tell us why people have different responses
11
Q
Evaluation of the causes of strain
A
- Theory could be considered outdated as segregation is outlawed and there is anti-discriminatory legislation
- America is a large and diverse country with lots of opportunities eg free education
12
Q
Subcultural strain theories
A
- Cohen : status frustration
- Cloward and Ohlin : illegitimate opportunity structures
- Supporting Cloward and Ohlin : Shaw and McKay
13
Q
Status frustration
A
- Cohen
- Main cause of strain = desire to achieve status
- Chain of events that cause WC boys to lack status
1. They receive inadequate socialisation at home eg lack appropriate norms, values and skills needed to succeed
2. WC boys have a poor experience of education due to their poor socialisation so arrive at school unequipped and are written off as badly behaved resulting in low sets and streams so mocked
This is called status frustration where boys can see privileged students respect and want it but are frustrated as they cannot achieve it
3. WC gravitate to one another and set up subcultural groups in which there is an alternative status hierarchy (boy invert the rules in terms of what behaviours deserve respect)
In order to gain status from the other boys eg vandalism
14
Q
Evaluation of Cohen
A
- It only focuses on WC boys and fails to acknowledge that WC girls are subject to the same issues yet don’t have the same responses
- Stereotypical assumptions are made towards WC families parenting skills
- Fails to acknowledge that crimes are committed for financial gain not just status and recognition
15
Q
Illegitimate opportunity structures
A
- Cloward and Ohlin
- Three types of subcultures that people may engage in :
- Criminal subculture which is the most organised and operates like a business with people working their way up the ladder
Tends to be recruited by people already part of it and dominated illegal trading opportunities
-2. Conflict subculture made up of young WC males (found in inner cities)
Less formal and people tend to only be members for a certain amount of time + tends to be territory rivalry and turf wars
-3. Retreatist subculture (collective retreatist activity) in which members tend to be double failures being unsuccessful legitimately and illegitimately
They gravitate to people in a similar position and take part in collective deviance
- Criminal subculture which is the most organised and operates like a business with people working their way up the ladder
