Functionalism, Strain theory and Subcultural theory

Question 1

Durkheim (4)

Answer 1

(1) function of deviance (2)collective conscience (3) boundary maintenance (4) anomie

Question 2

Function of deviance

Answer 2

Durkheim- Deviance is a normal and necessary part of any society because it contributes to the social order (collective conscience, boundary maintenance, social progress/change, function of punishment)

Question 3

Collective conscience

Answer 3

Durkheim- Set of shared beliefs, ideas and moral attitudes which operate as a unifying force within society

Question 4

Boundary maintance

Answer 4

Durkheim- Official and unofficial

Can be revised and are reinforced

Question 5

Social progress/change

Answer 5

Durkheim- Deviance can encourage the dominant society to consider alternative norms and values, however there will always be things that won’t be tolerated, some things can also become even more intolerable

Question 6

Function of punishment

Answer 6

Durkheim- Affirmation of cultural norms and values
Compensating for the bad thing
Restoring the stability of society/restoring the equilibrium, Punishment is usually public (expressive function)- seeing a person punished for a deviant act reinforces what a society sees as acceptable or unacceptable behavior

Question 7

Anomie

Answer 7

Durkheim- Society with too much deviance is anomical
This can happen due to political movement, rapid change or recession
Anomic phases lead to society establishing order and making changes

Question 8

Davis- safety valves

Answer 8

Release pressure in order to prevent worse things happening
He gave the example of prostitution (a crime) which prevents the nuclear family been threatened by providing sexual outlets

Question 9

Cohen- warning signs

Answer 9

Deviant behavior can give warning signs for change

Question 10

Hirschi (3)

Answer 10

(1) bonds of attachment (2) formal control (3) informal control

Question 11

Bonds of attchment

Answer 11

Hirschi- Attachment to family, friends, status, job, home etc are important and the weaker the bond the more like it is that the individual will commit the crime as they have nothing to lose

Question 12

Formal control

Answer 12

Hirschi- Police, government etc

Controls the more serious deviance and crime that the individual can be convicted for

Question 13

Informal control

Answer 13

Hirschi- Family, friends, neighbours etc

Controls less serious deviance and crime

Question 14

Merton- Strain theory

Answer 14

Goal attainment is needed for a functioning society and trying to achieve these goals creates/leads to strain on an individual (this depends on their opportunities, class, gender, ethnicities etc)

Question 15

Culturally defined goals

Answer 15

Goals determined by a specific culture or society, eg in the west these goals are usually material or financial- “the American dream”

Question 16

Intrinsic satisfaction

Answer 16

Gratification of achieving the goal through a fair process

Question 17

Extrinsic satisfaction

Answer 17

Actually achieving the goal

Too much emphasis on the extrinsic satisfaction leads to deviance and crime

Question 18

Strain theory- conformists

Answer 18

Young people are encouraged to strive to succeed through the available and legitimate avenues of opportunity
“Playing it by the rules”

Question 19

Strain theory- innovators

Answer 19

Use their own initiative to devise novel, non-institutionalised means for achieving society’s goals, some of which may be deemed criminal

Question 20

Strain theory- ritualists

Answer 20

Those who become stuck in a rut
Unable to progress towards society’s goals
They obsessively repeat the same behaviour which might or might not be criminal

Question 21

Strain theory- retreatists

Answer 21

Drop out of society rejecting both the goals and the means apparently provided to achieve them
These are alcoholics, drug addicts and ultimately the homeless
Can be customers of the innovators

Question 22

Strain theory- rebels

Answer 22

Assert their own agendas specifying personal goals and the means of achieving them
An example would be a political or a social activist engaging terrorism

Question 23

Social solidarity

Answer 23

Durkheim

Strong sense of shared identity and shared values which makes individuals help and support each other

Question 24

Marxist evaluation of functionalist theory

Answer 24

Functionalists try to prove that everything (even if bad) has a function
Durkheim ignores structural factors (upper class= white collar crime, lower classes = petty crimes)
Durkheim doesn’t explain why we have crime, Marxists argue that crime exists because of capitalism
Marxists argue that the value consensus and laws are there to protect the ruling class “the ruling ideas are the ideas of the ruling class”

Question 25

Feminism (evaluation of functionalist theory)

Answer 25

Feminists argue that there is double standards of sexual morality
Domestic violence and sexual abuse etc are not a functioning factor of society/are not needed

Question 26

Labelling theory (evaluation of functionalist theory)

Answer 26

Boundary maintenance is labelling and people will do it more (self-fulfilling prophecy)

Question 27

Post- modernists (evaluation of functionalist theory)

Answer 27

In the 21st century there is multiple value consensus and we are no longer homogenous

Question 28

Evaluation of the strain theory

Answer 28

Most crime is property crime- American society values material wealth so highly
Lower class crime rates are higher because they have less opportunity to obtain wealth legitimately
Official statistic however over represent the working class- Merton sees crime as mainly a working class phenomenon
The working class experience the most strain but don’t deviate
Marxists argue that it ignores the power of the ruling class
The theory assumes that there is a value consensus and everyone strives for money success
Only accounts for utilitarian crime for money gain and not crimes of violence
Equality = no strain