Functionalist essay plan

Question 1

Durkheim

Answer 1

Crime has positive functions (Boundary Maintenance, Functional rebellion, social cohesion, early warning system, safety valve)

Question 2

Davis

Answer 2

Elaborated on safety valve - Prostitution has a positive impact on society - allows men to release their sexual tension/frustration

Question 3

Durkheim AO3

Answer 3

Doesn’t cover all types of crime - white collar crime for example

Question 4

first point AO3

Answer 4

Durkheim neglects the effects of crime on it’s victims

Question 5

Merton’s strain theory

Answer 5

Merton argued people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to meet socially approved goals - everyone has the same dreams but not the same opportunities. Merton argued there are 5 different types of adaptations. Example: Innovation accept the goals but reject the legitimate means (Al Capone)

Question 6

Cohen

Answer 6

Supports Merton with his status frustration theory - deviance occurs when someone cannot meet the expectations placed upon them

Question 7

AO3 - goals

Answer 7

Assumes everyone has the same goal of money success

Question 8

AO3 - Marxists

Answer 8

argue it ignores the power of the ruling class

Question 9

Miller

Answer 9

W/C boys are socialised into a number of distinct values - focal concerns. Example: Toughness, I won’t back down

Question 10

Cohen W/C boys

Answer 10

Study on delinquent subcultures - W/C boys lead to deviance due to them not having the status they crave.

Question 11

Feminists

Answer 11

argue that these focal concerns might be masculine values instead of W/C ones

Question 12

Matza

Answer 12

Argues that everyone shares deviant values but learn not to act on them

Question 13

Evidence - prostitutes

Answer 13

there were 20,000 prostitutes in the Netherlands, 455 sexual offences in 2010

Question 14

Evidence - W/C

Answer 14

49% of criminals in 2023 were members of the working class