Functionalist perspective on crime and deviance Flashcards
1
Q
- What are the two causes of crime according to Durkheim?
A
Inadequate socialisation and diversity in lifestyles
2
Q
- What is anomie?
A
The feeling of normlessness in society
3
Q
- Why did anomie increase from pre-industrial to modern society?
A
In PIS they had tight knit communities with very little change from generation to generation - but IR gave new ideas and jobs so created confusion
4
Q
- What 2 positives does Durkheim believe are attributable to crime?
A
- boundary maintenance
- adaptation and change
5
Q
- Name three other theorists that argue that crime has positive functions
A
- cohen - Polsky - Davis
6
Q
- Give 3 other positive functions of crime according to the theorists identified in the previous question. (Cohen, polsky and Davis)
A
Cohen -
Polsky -
Davis -
7
Q
- What is the American Dream?
A
Set of meritocratic principles that seem achievable to all people in the American public
8
Q
- How does The American Dream cause strain according to Merton?
A
The American Dream goals weren’t attainable by all, some couldn’t compete and couldn’t achieve financial success
9
Q
- What are Merton’s 5 responses to strain?
A
- conformity - innovation - ritualism -retreatism - rebellion
10
Q
- Which of Merton’s responses to strain is most likely to lead to legitimate success?
A
Conformity
11
Q
- Which response is most likely to lead to illegitimate success?
A
Innovation
12
Q
- Give 3 criticisms of Merton’s strain theory
A
- only accounts for utilitarian crime (shoplifting etc)
- assumes there’s value consensus and everyone strives for ‘money success’.
- Marxists argue that it ignores the power of the ruling class and how they enforce laws that criminalise the poor but not the rich.
13
Q
- Which subculture does A.K Cohen focus his study on?
A
Working class boys
14
Q
- Why did this particular group feel anomie (Cohen’s theory) ?
A
The w/c boys think they are bottom of the pile and have a lack of opportunities compared to others.
15
Q
- What did the w/c boys (Cohen’s theory) do to acquire status?
A
They have values of: mysogyny, drugs, vandalism, thuggery to provide an alternative status hierarchy in which they can be a success.
