functionalist and subcultural theories of crime

Question 1

what are durkheims functions of crime?

Answer 1

boundary maintenance, social change, safety valve and warning device

Question 2

what are mertons 5 responses to strain?

Answer 2

innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion and conformity

Question 3

who are the notable subcultural theorists?

Answer 3

Albert Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin

Question 4

what is innovation?

Answer 4

accept the socially shared goals but use illegal means to achieve it, namely through utilitarian crime. This usually involves the lower classes, where legitimate opportunities are blocked.

Question 5

what is ritualism?

Answer 5

ritualists give up striving for success. they end up in a dead end job.

Question 6

what is retreatism?

Answer 6

this is where an individual rejects both the goals and the means of society. Merton argues these to be vagrants, drug addicts and alcoholics.

Question 7

what is rebellion?

Answer 7

rebels rejecting the existing means and goals, rather replacing them with new ones with the aim to change society. Examples of this include political radicals.

Question 8

what are conformists?

Answer 8

these are individuals who strive to achieve societies shared goals through legitimate means, rather than turning to deviance.

Question 9

what did Davis say in relation to Durkheims functions of crime?

Answer 9

That prostitution acts as a safety valve. He believes that prostitution allows men to release their sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family.

Question 10

Who is an example of when crime aided social change?

Answer 10

Nelson Mandela, he was arrested and labelled a terrorist by the South African court in 1963, however in 1964 he was elected to be the new president.

Question 11

Name an example of when deviance acts as a warning light in society

Answer 11

High truancy rates could indicate problems with the education system.

Question 12

What is albert cohens theory called?

Answer 12

Status frustration

Question 13

Why does Cohen criticise Merton?

Answer 13

Cohen criticises Merton for ignoring non-utilitarian crime, such as vandalism. As well as this, he argues that Merton sees crime as individual failure rather than as a group, subcultural one.

Question 14

Who does Cohen argue suffers from status frustration?

Answer 14

Working-class boys, mostly because teachers label them as ‘thick’ and put them in lower streams, this can become their master status and eventually a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 15

What three subcultures do Cloward and Ohlin identify?

Answer 15

Conflict subculture
criminal subculture
retreatist subculture

Question 16

what is a retreatist subculture?

Answer 16

These are made up of drop outs who have failed in both the legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures. These are often based on drug use.

Question 17

what are criminal subcultures?

Answer 17

arise in areas with long standing professional criminal networks. They select suitable youths for an ‘apprenticeship’ in utilitarian crime and a future criminal career.

Question 18

What are conflict subcultures?

Answer 18

arise in areas where the only criminal opportunities are within street gangs. Violence provides a release of frustration and a source of status earned by winning territory from rival gangs.