Functionalism And Subculture Flashcards
What do all consensus approaches share?
- believe in moral absolutism: fundamental agreement majority what is right and wrong
- accept official statistics: crime largely w.c
- deviants distinct from rest of us
- poor socialisation causes criminality
What is durkheims main arguments on crime and deviance?
- value consensus
- anomie
- reinforces collective conscience
- boundary maintenance
- adaption and change
- social cohesion
Why does Durkheim argue crime is found in all societies?
Not everyone effectively socialised. Modern complex society leads diversity and subcultures. More individualised.
Why does Durkheim argue crime helps with boundary maintenance?
Unites members reinforcing commitment.
What is a positive aspect of Durkheims theory of crime?
Social cohesion: draws communities together in shared outrage
Adaption and change
State a recent example of durkheims social cohesion in action?
Terrorist attack in London police officer ran over public raised over half a million £
What does Davis argue?
Crime is a safety valve
What is an example of crime being a safety valve?
Prostitution allows men release frustrations
Who argues crime acts as a warning device?
Cohen
How does crime act as a warning device?
Warning institutions not working properly
High rates truancy = problems education
What is Functionalist negative side of crime
Anomie: social change and collective conscience unclear
Evaluation of Durkheim
- ignores negative impact deviance
- assumes value consensus and laws reflect majority
- doesnt explain why some deviate and others do not
Who came up with the strain theory?
Merton
What is Mertons aim?
Explain why w.c. appear more likely to turn to crime
What is Mertons argument for why w.c. turn to crime?
Mismatch between goals and means in American society - anomie
What is the American dream?
Ideology tells citizens society meritocratic anyone makes the effort same opportunities.
Less emphasis on legitimate means, pressure to deviate.
What are the 5 deviant adaptations by Merton?
- conformity: accept goals, achieve legitimately
- innovation: accept goals, achieve illegitimately
- ritualism: give up goals, follow legitimate rules for own sake
- Retreatism: reject goals and legitimacy turn drink and drugs
- rebellion: replace own desires e.g. Political activist
Evaluation of Merton
- Valier: variety goals strive for
- doesnt explain non profit crimes e.g. ‘Lad in Willis’ having a laugh
- agnew: doesnt have to be economic strain
What are the 2 types of subcultural theory
- reactive
- independent
Who came up with reactive subcultural theory
A.Cohen
What is the main concept of reactive subcultural theory?
Status frustration
Whos work does A.Cohen expand on
Mertons
But expands look at non economic utilitarian crime and group responses (collectivist)
Outline status frustration
W.c. boys initially accept mainstream norms but when they realise they wont achieve them (e.g. in school) suffer status frustration. Reject norms and replace with their own.
Gain status from peers
Evaluation A.Cohens status frustration theory
- Marsh: work football hooligans supports
- doesnt explain why some deviate and some do not
- lads just ‘having a laugh’ Willis - Neo marx approach
What subcultural theory do Cloward and Ohlin support
Reactive
What us cloward and ohlins theory based on
Legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures
Who believes in legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures as a cause of crime?
Cloward and Ohlin
Outline Cloward and Ohlins argument
Just as some better achieve legitimately some better at achieving illegitimately
May be regular illegitimate career opportunities available
What are the 3 illegitimate opportunity structures that produce 3 types subculture as suggested by Cloward and Ohlin?
- criminal
- retreatist
- conflict
Outline criminal subculture identified Cloward and Ohlin
thriving criminal subculture, successful role models, attracted to others same background being successful experience criminal careers e.g. Mafia
Outline retreatist subculture identified Cloward and Ohlin
No opportunities
Double failures
Turn drugs alcohol
Burglary and shoplifting to finance
Outline conflict subculture identified Cloward and Ohlin
Highly masculine territorial respect driven violence gangs
Pitt: youth inner city London difficult resist gang membership risk themselves and their family
Non affiliation too great
Evaluation Cloward and Ohlin
- south: categories overlap
- wolfgang and Ferrucuti: evidence violent subcultures in urban slums
Who looked at independent subculture theory
Miller
What is Millers main concern
Focal concerns
What does miller argue
W.c. youth subculture developed series ‘focal concerns’ give meaning to life outside work
Include masculinity and excitement
Evaluation of miller
- post modernist katz: young drawn crime as seductive - thrilling not rejection
- PM Lyng: young enjoy taking risks engaging edgework
- neo marx: P.Cohen resistance through ritual resistance society and breakdown communities
- interactionist: matza and downes: suspend mainstream values but do not reject
- ignores girls McRobbie ‘teeny bopper culture’
What is Matzas delinquency and drift
Everyone subterranean values but most control it. All adolescents engage delinquency casual and intermittent most give up adult life
SUSPEND NOT REJECT
Techniques neutralisation
Evaluation matza
- willmotts ‘adolescent boys East London’ boys were looking for fun
- maybe boys only expressed regret as matza interviewed them correctional institutions
What theorist is P Cohen
Marxist
What is P cohens main concept
Resistance through ritual
Outline P cohens resistance through ritual
Studied 70s skinheads proposed style symbolic reaction declining w.c. communities. Exaggerated w.c. masculinity and aggression, anti-immigrant stance reaction to white w.c. neighbourhoods
Evaluation P Cohen
- neglects influence gender and ethnicity
- neglect globalisation
General evaluation subcultural theories
- challenges psychological and biological explanations
- influenced social policy
- assumes all criminals distinct
- concentrates w.c crime
- assumes all same values and laws reflect this. Marx: if value consensus exists simply r.c. ideology
