Functionalist Flashcards
1
Q
what does Durkheim believe about crime?
A
- crime and deviance is inevitable
- certain amount is necessary
- too much=anomie therefore not functional for society
- 4 functions of crime
2
Q
Durkheim
what are the 4 functions of crime?
A
- crime defines boundaries
- crime tests boundaries
- crime leads to social change
- crime creates social cohesion
3
Q
how does crime define boundaries?
A
- media informs us of consequences faced by criminals to make clear to rest of society whats acceptable and whats not
4
Q
how does crime test boundaries?
A
- commit crime to test what acceptable/isnt.
- boundaries pushed by more deviant=acceptable
- shows needs change in law eg Gay Rights
5
Q
how does crime lead to social change?
A
- social change begins with some deviance progress in society
- unintended or intended
- eg gun legislation- school shootings
6
Q
how does crime create social cohesion?
A
- unite against common enemy acts as binding force pulling people together
- eg 9/11 / terrorist attacks. brought them all together, bonds them
7
Q
Cohen
A
2 functions of deviance
8
Q
Cohen
what are the 2 functions of deviance?
A
- saftey valve
- warning device
9
Q
how is deviance a saftey valve?
A
- deviance as a way of providing relative harmless expression of discontent in society
- without threat to stability of society
- eg recreational drug use
10
Q
how is deviance a warning device?
A
- certain deviant acts act as warning to indicate that aspect of society is malfunctioning
- eg knife crime in inner city areas/carrying knife as others are/threat
11
Q
Challenges to Cohen/Durkheim
A
- crime lead to divisions in society rather than cohesion
- crime can lead to further crime, criticises saftey valve
- dehumanising crime is harmful to individuals
- useful? “crime is inevitable? justifies it
- merton has more practical applications
12
Q
Merton strain theory
A
- interplay between goals and means
- 4 responses to anomie
13
Q
4 responses to anomie
A
- innovation
- ritualism
- retreatism
- rebellion
14
Q
what is innovation?
A
- rejects normative means of achieving sucess
- turns to deviance means
- lower social strata where have little opportunity to advance through conventional channels so innovate to crime
- drug dealer
15
Q
What is ritualism?
A
- deviant because abandoned success goals
- lower middle class
- bc of their occupation have less opportunities for success
- solution is to give up striving for success
16
Q
What is retreativism?
A
- internalised cultural goals + means yet cant achieve
- resolve conflict by abandoning goals + menas to reach
- unable to cope “drop out of society” eg trap
17
Q
What is rebellion?
A
- reject of success goals + means replacing them with diff goals and means
- wish to create new eg cult
18
Q
Evaluation of Merton
A
Doesn’t acknowledge can be more than one/ for short period of time
19
Q
Hirshi
A
Chances of committing crime based on 4 levels
20
Q
4 levels chance of crime based on?
A
- Attachment- eg family
- Commitment- eg investment in society
- Belief- degree person believes should obey law
- Involvement- being busy
21
Q
Positives of Hirshi
A
Useful and practical
