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Sociology U3 WJEC > Functionalist Perspective > Flashcards

Functionalist Perspective Flashcards

1
Q

Crime: Functionalist View on society - COVE

A

Organic change (e.g. urbanisation)
Experiences of modern society has impacted social cohesion
Crime reinforces value consensus
Society unites to condemn wrongdoers

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2
Q

Crime creates a healthy and functional society

A

Too little crime = Stagnate
Too much crime = Astrophe

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3
Q

Durkheim 4 Functions of Crime

A

Boundary Maintenance
Adaption & Change
Warning Light
Safety Valve

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4
Q

Boundary Maintenance

A

When crime creates a united reaction from society
-Shared dissaproval of deviant behaviour reinforces value consensus and social solidarity
Commitment to shared norms & values

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5
Q

Boundary Maintenance A02

A

Mx: Stan Cohen: folk devils fulfil this purpose ‘not one of us’
Mx: Distraction from capitalistic oppression (blaming lower-class, not upper-class
E.g. single parents / unemployed / immigrants

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6
Q

Adaption & Change

A

Cirme can be used to show societal changes and adaptions of norms and values
All social change is initiated through deviance (e.g. gay marriage legalisation)

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7
Q

Warning Light

A

Crime can act as a warning light to a bigger issue in society / institutions
E.g. Deviance in schools suggest a problem in the education system

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8
Q

Safety Valve

A

Social release - relieves tension which would otherwise be released through crime
E.g. Polsky -> pornography & prostitution acts as a safety valve for the nuclear family (male frustrations)

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9
Q

Hirschi

A

Why people don’t commit crime; attachment to and integration into society acts as a deterrent for committing crime.
4 BONDS TO SOCIETY
Anomie

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10
Q

4 Bonds to society - BACI

A

Hirschi:
Attachment
Commitment
Involvement
Belief

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11
Q

Attachment bond

A

People have goals & activities which allow them to achieve legitimately
E.g. Education system = legitimate means of success
Youth = requried attendance -> access to legitimate means of achievement

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12
Q

Committment bond

A

People committed to the opinions of their family, peers, work collegues
People don’t commit crime out of fear of dissaproval from these people (shame & social stigma)

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13
Q

Involvement bond

A

The extent to which people are involved in their community
People are preoccupied with the involvement of their community; don’t have time to commit crime
E.g. PTA meetings = means of involvement for a community

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14
Q

Belief bond

A

People share moral beliefs that we shouldn’t commit crime
Strength in value consensus

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15
Q

Anomie

A

Hirschi
People do not commit crime because they are not in a state of anomity
People feel apart of society

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16
Q

Hirschi Bonds :) + :(

A

:( - Not a sufficient standalone explanation for crime

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17
Q

Merton Strain theory

A

Fracture / Strain between the American dream & achieving it
Blames individuals not the system; system = meritocratic

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18
Q

5 Classifications (Mertion Strain Theory)
CIRRR

A

Conformity
Innovation
Retreatism
Ritualism
Rebellion

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19
Q

Conformity (Merton)

A

Accepts the goals & means of accievement
Follows the rules in hopes of success
E.g. Enrolment into University

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20
Q

Innovation (Merton)

A

Accepts goals of society, does not accept means of achievement
Looks at illegitimate ways of achieval
E.g. theft / drug dealing

21
Q

Retreatism (Merton)

A

Rejects the goals of society and the means of achievement
Turns to alternative lifestyles or substance abuse
E.g. drug addicts

22
Q

Ritualism (Merton)

A

Rejects the goals of society, accpets the means of achievement
Value doesn’t stem from traditional success
Frames success differently

23
Q

Rebellion (Merton)

A

Accepts alternative means and goals
May use violence for achievement
E.g. political activists

24
Q

Strengths of Merton’s Strain theory

A

Explains statistical patterns
Most crime is property crime
w/c crime rate is higher

25
Q

Weaknesses of Merton’s Strain theory

A

Does not explain white collar crime
Overlooks criminal subcultures with values at variance to wider society
Blames individuals; not societal structures (Mx + Fem)
Deterministic (w/c behaviour is determined by their clas alone)

26
Q

Support of Merton’s Strain theory

A

Mx Box: Already successful people committed crime to maximise success

27
Q

Feminism Criticsm to Merton’s Strain theory

A

Women are put under more strain and have fewer means to achieve goals yet statistics show they commit less crime

28
Q

Marxist Criticsm to Merton’s Strain theory

A

Ignores the fact that the rich are not criminalised as much

29
Q

Albert Cohen Criticsm to Merton’s Strain theory

A

Ignores group deviance (why some w/c boys face anomity)
Focusses only on utilitarian crime

30
Q

A. Cohen Status Frustration

A

w/c boys cannot achieve status through legitimate means
w/c boys formed subcultures and gained status in these groups (through criminal / deviant behaviour - ASH)

31
Q

Alternative Status Hierarchy (Status Frustration)

A

Subcultures offer illegitimate opportunity structure
ASH can be done through delinquent actions
Values spite, malice & hostility towards outsiders
Inverts mainstream values (vandalising>respecting property)
Following social norms & values = lowers status

32
Q

Why w/c boys cannot achieve status (Status Frustration)

A

W/c boys face anomie in the m/c education system
Culturally deprived = lacking skills to achieve consequently suffer from status frustration
Resolved through gaining status in illegitimate ways (rejecting mainstream values)
Deviance = response to being marginalised (anomie)

33
Q

Pull of the peer group (Status Frustration)

A

W/c boys go through the same experiences, find each other, form groups with deviant values (those which oppose society’s values)

34
Q

Cloward and Ohlin: 3 Subcultures

A

Criminal Subculture, Conflict subculture, Retreatist subculture

35
Q

Criminal Subculture

A

Provides youth with an ‘apprenticeship’ in utilitarian crime
Exists in neighbourhoods with longstanding and stable crime culture

36
Q

Conflict Subculture

A

Crime is focussed on violence
Exists in areas with high population turnover; high levels of social disorganisation
Loosely organised gangs (criminal network is constantly changing)

37
Q

Retreatist Subculture

A

‘Double Failures’
Fail to achieve in a mainstream and illegitimate sense
Subcultures are based on illegal drug use

38
Q

Cloward & Ohlin: Weaknesses

A
  • Ignores white collar crime
  • Subcultures can overlap in type
  • Reactive theory (subcultures form as a result of mainstream failure; assumes everyone shares the same goals - value consensus)
39
Q

Miller: Focal Concerns [concept]

A

Why w/c boys are encouraged to commit crime
W/c boys = socialised into distinct values (focal concerns)
More likely than others to commit crime (due to socialisation)
Focal concerns led w/c boys to deviate from socially acceptable norms & values

40
Q

Miller: Focal concerns [types]

A

FATEST
Excitement
Toughness
Smartness
Trouble
Autonomy
Fate

41
Q

Excitement Focal Concern

A

W/c boys seek out excitement (particularly when not at work)

42
Q

Toughness Focal Concern

A

W/c boys wish to prove their toughness (find themselves in trouble due to these factors)

43
Q

Smartness Focal Concern

A

W/c boys use with through ‘smart’ remarks

44
Q

Trouble Focal Concern

A

Linked to excitement and toughness
W/c boys find themselves in trouble due to these factors

45
Q

Autonomy Focal Concern

A

W/c boys wish to be independent and not reliant on others

46
Q

Fate Focal concerns

A

W/c boys believe that their future is already decided; what they do won’t influence it
- Leads them to deviate from socially acceptable norms & values

47
Q

Focal Concerns: Strengths

A
  • Explains socialisation process of w/c boys into crime
  • Other researchers found evidence of focal crime
48
Q

Focal Concerns: Weaknesses

A
  • Unclear definition of ‘lower class’
  • FEM: male focusses; unrepresentative to 51% of the population

Sociology U3 WJEC (11 decks)

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