Functionalism/strain+subculture

Question 1

Durkheim functionalist theory

Answer 1

– Crime is inevitable = Not everyone effectively socialised/different groups develop and subculture

– Positive functions of crime = creates Boundary maintenance & adaptation

– Crime is NORMAL = no crime no society as it can create unity / collective conscience /

Question 2

Hirschi - control theory

Answer 2

4 types of social bonds / if not strong they lead to crime

• attachment (care about others)
• commitment (what would we lose)
• involvement (has time for crime )
• belief (Believe in obeying rules)

• Family crucial in developing strengths/weaknesses of these social bonds

There are direct correlation between crime and poor parenting = likely to be poor and a single parent

Question 3

Merton - Strain theory

Answer 3

People committing crime unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means.

Due to anomie = society Unequal opportunity structure / Strong emphasis on success goals and weaker emphasis on legitimate means to achieve them.
“American dream” = causes strain + pressure to deviate

Goalsbcreate desire to succeed but lack of opportunity creates pressure to adopt illegitimate means

Question 4

Merton 5 types of adaption

Answer 4

Conformity – individual excepts culturally approved goals achieve legitimately e.g. middle-class

Innovation – individual accept goal of success but use a illegitimate means e.g. theft

Ritualism – individual give up achieving goal but have the legitimate means and follow rules for own sake

Retreatism - Individual reject goals and legitimate means

Rebellion – individual reject societies goals and legitimate means but have desire to bring revolutionary change and create new society

Question 5

Cohen - status frustration

Answer 5

Deviance largely lower class phenomenon.

• Focus on w/c boys = face anomie due to m/c dominated school system = bottom of status hierarchy.
• Resolve status Frustration by rejecting m/c values and turn to boys in same situation = form or join subculture and praise what society condemns

Leads to crime because can’t achieve legitimately
Eg Non-utilitarian deviance /vandalism

Question 6

Cloward and Ohlin

Answer 6

Agree w/c youth denied legitimate opportunities to achieve - deviance a response to this.
Different subcultures respond differently

• Criminal subculture = Utilitarian crime/occur in neighbourhoods with long-standing local criminal culture- adult crime/ role modelling crime gaining financial rewards
• Conflict subculture = in areas of high-level social disorganisation/ instead of learning how to commit serious monetary crimes the young people instead focus on gaining respect through gang violence.

Retreatist Subculture = double failures = those who fail in legitimate and illegitimate opportunity = They tend to retreat to drugs and alcohol abuse to deal with the fact that they have been rejected from other subcultures.

Question 7

Miller - focal concerns

Answer 7

crime is a result of the fact that there is a w/c subculture with different norms and values to the rest of society.
6 focal concerns :

– Smartness (look good/witty)

• trouble (violence )
• excitement (thrill seeking)
• toughness (masculine and strong)
• autonomy (don’t get pushed around)
• fate (accept life)

Question 8

Matza- Subterranean values

Answer 8

Everyone has subterranean values (Bad temptations that we have the potential to do) and use this it justify themselves

1) Appealing to higher loyalties = I did it for my race/religion/country/friend/family
2) denial of responsibility =Wasn’t me/not my fault
3) denial of victims = you deserve it/what did you expect/doesn’t deserve to be a victim
4) denial of injury = it didn’t hurt/they have insurance
5) condemnation of condemners= You’re just as bad/your only blaming me because etc condemning someone who is wrong

Question 9

Matza - drift theory

Answer 9

Young people feel like they lack control. Don’t feel The constraining bonds of society. Young people drift in and out of crime – they are susceptical to peer pressure but doesn’t mean you have deviant career and settle into normal jobs and become less law-abiding adults

Question 10

Wilmot - study of W/c

Answer 10

Studied working-class in London. He explained young people commit crime because they are bored. Idea of leisure value. Young people in the stage of life they want to have fun

Question 11

ASBOS

Answer 11

Antisocial behaviour common time used to describe incidents that damage or affect the quality of life of people in a community e.g. vandalism/graffiti/intimidation

ASBO= Giving to anyone over age of 10/can stop offender going to certain area or spending time with certain people/if time is broken can be arrested – designed to protect members of public and not punishing offender