Functionalist, strain and subcultural theory

Question 1

Functionalist theories of crime
Societies two key mechanisms

Answer 1

• Socialisation into the shared culture ensuring all act towards the same social norms and have the same values instilled in them.
• Social Control, this refers to punishments for deviance and rewards for conformity.

Question 2

Functionalist theories of crime
Inevitability of crime

Answer 2

Durkheim says that crime is inevitable
He argues that modern say society has become ‘normless’ - this means that there has been a move away from social norms and conformity and instead now there is much less punishment for deviant behaviours.

Question 3

Functionalist theories of crime
Positive functions of crime

Answer 3

1. Maintains Boundaries: Crime provokes a reaction from society, thus leading to them reaffirming their shared values.
   Punishment is not to reform people and is more to reaffirm shared values that what the individual has done is incorrect and breaches societies value consensus and solidarity.
2. Adaptation and change: Durkheim argues that all change starts with deviance. Upon deviating from social norms, change comes. EG a religious priest may be persecuted by authorities at first and later on create his own culture.

Question 4

Functionalist theories of crime
Other functions of crime

Answer 4

• Davis says that prostitution acts as a safety valve in order for men to release their frustrations withou truining the traditional nuclear family.
• Cohen argues that where there is high levels of crime this is a sign that society is not functioning effectively.
• Eriksen argues that if it is deviance that brings change and performs these positive funtions maybe it is promoted in society.

Question 5

Mertons strain theory

Answer 5

This refers to the idea that people engage in deviant behaviour due to the pressure to be successful and the lack of legitimate opportunities to do so, leading to a strain that causes frustration and then the individual turns to crime as an easy way to gain success, or drug use to comfort their frustration.

Question 6

Mertons strain theory
2 elements

Answer 6

1. Structural factors : This refers to the unequal structure of society that leads to a lack of legitimate ways to succeed
2. Cultural factors : There is a strong emphasis on success but a weaker emphasis on acheiving this through legitimate means

Question 7

Mertons strain theory
What is deviance a result of?

Answer 7

Society encouraging goals and what the structure of society actually allows for individuals to achieve.

Question 8

Mertons strain theory
The American dream

Answer 8

Americans are expected to acheive and be successful off the back of legitimate means.
They see society as meritocratic and see that all can succeed but this isnt true as being in poverty or having inadequate schooling can taint that.
The strain caused by not being able to succeed thus leads to frustration in individuals and this means they turn to crime and ilegitimate means to make money.
There is a strong emphasis on wealth and success however this is paired with a weak emphasis on acheiving through legitimacy.

Question 9

Mertons strain theory
Deviant adaptions to strain
Conformity

Answer 9

Internalise and accept societys goals, work toward them and acheive through hard work (meritocracy)

Question 10

Mertons strain theory
Deviant adaptions to strain
Innovation

Answer 10

Accept goal of success and acheive this through new ways such as theft or fraud.

Question 11

Mertons strain theory
Deviant adaptions to strain
Ritualism

Answer 11

Accept that they wont succeed, stay in legitimate ways of work - usually stuck in dead end low paid office work

Question 12

Mertons strain theory
Deviant adaptions to strain
Rebellion

Answer 12

Create new goals as a result of being unable to acheive others
- hippies

Question 13

Mertons strain theory
Deviant adaptions to strain
Retreatism

Answer 13

Become bums essentially, reject the legit means and the goals.
Drug users and drunkards.

Question 14

Evaluations of mertons strain theory
SUPPORT

Answer 14

• Most crime is property crime emphasing the emphasis of US on wealth
• Crime rates are HIGHER in WC as they dont have the legit means.

Question 15

Evaluations of mertons strain theory
Criticisms

Answer 15

• Only considers utilitarian crime
• Assumes all want these goals
• Marxists argue it ignores power of the ruling class
• Not all WC deviate.

Question 16

Subcultural theories of crime
Cohen : Status frustration

Answer 16

Cohen agrees with Merton that crime is largely working class, and results from the ability to succeed legitimately however he criticises merton
1. merton largely sees crime individually and ignores group crime.
2. merton focuses on utilitarianism crime and ignores crimes of violence.
Cohen focuses on deviance in young working class males and sees they suffer from anomie and status frustration so they find comfort in creating deviant subcultures.

Question 17

Subcultural theories of crime
Alternative status hierarchy

Answer 17

The subculture values are those of hostility malice and spite. They do the opposite of middle class values. The function of SC is that they allow for the boys to gain status from illegiciamy, explaining non utilitarian crime.
- But he assumes all boys shared the mc values.

Question 18

Subcultural theories of crime
CLOWARD AND OHLIN

Answer 18

• Retreatist subculture is when they can become criminals etc and therefore become bums.
• Conflict subculture is in areas of high population, which are disorganised meaning the only illegitimate ways to succeed are through loosely organised gangs and this allows for release of frustration - cohen
• Criminal subculture is when youth take part in ‘criminal apprenticeships’ in utilitarian crime and this is usually in areas with high criminal culture as it allows for youth to have leaders.

Question 19

EVAL of subculural theories

Answer 19

• Miller MC values are not the same as WC so how can they be frustrated
• Matza Most criminals arent commited to a subculture and drift in and out
• Ignores the wider power of structure.