functionalist, strain and subcultural theories

Question 1

Durkheim - society’s 2 key mechanisms

Answer 1

1. socialisation = instils the shared culture into its members
2. social control = rewards for conformity and punishments

Question 2

Durkheim - crime as inevitable

Answer 2

sees crime as inevitable and universal
crime is normal and an important part of healthy societies

Question 3

Durkheim - 2 reasons why crime is found in all societies

Answer 3

1. not everyone is effectively socialised
2. there’s a diversity of lifestyles - different groups form subcultures and they construct they own norms and values

Question 4

Durkheim - anomie and normlessness

Answer 4

rules become weaker because societies have a complex division of labour which leads to individual becoming increasingly different from each other

this weakens the shared culture and increases deviance

Question 5

Durkheim - 2 positive functions of crime

Answer 5

1. boundary maintenance
2. adaption and change

Question 6

Durkheim - 2 positive functions of crime - 1. boundary maintenance

Answer 6

crime produces a reaction from society and reinforces their commitment to the shared norms

the purpose of punishment is to reaffirm societies shared rules and social solidarity

Question 7

Durkheim - 2 positive functions of crime - 2. adaption and change

Answer 7

all change starts with an act of deviance individuals with new ideas mustn’t be put off by the weight of social control - there must be some scope to challenge and change existing norms

at first, this change will appear as deviance

Question 8

Durkheim - high/ low levels of crime and their meanings

Answer 8

neither high nor low is desirable

high = threats to tear the bonds of society

little = society is repressing and controlling

Question 9

Durkheim - other functions of crime - Cohen

Answer 9

another function of deviance is a warning - that society isn’t functioning properly

Question 10

Durkheim AO3 - functional for whom?

Answer 10

it ignores how it might affects different groups or individuals within society

Question 11

Durkheim AO3 - how much is too much?

Answer 11

it says a certain amount of deviance is necessary but fails to say how much is the right amount

Question 12

merton - strain theory - what is it?

Answer 12

people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means

Question 13

2 elements of Merton’s strain theory explanation

Answer 13

1. structural = society’s unequal opportunity structure
2. cultural factors = the strong emphasis on success goals but not on legitimate ways to achieve them

Question 14

merton strain theory - deviance is a result of a strain between 2 things:

Answer 14

1. the goals that. culture encourages
2. what the institutional structure allows them to achieve legitimately

Question 15

merton strain theory - the American dream AO2

Answer 15

the ideology of the AD say that society is meritocratic and this who make the effort will get ahead

however, many disadvantaged groups are denied the opportunities to achieve legitimately

the resulting strain between the cultural goal of utilitarian success and lack of legitimate opportunities = pressure to resort to illegitimate means
= the strain to anomie

Question 16

merton strain theory - adaptions to the strain examples (2)

Answer 16

1. conformity = individuals accept the goals and prescribed means for achieving the goal
   they will accept but not always achieve
2. rebellion = cultural goals and legitimate means are rejected

individuals create their own goals and their own means

Question 17

merton strain theory - AO3 - deterministic

Answer 17

too deterministic
the WC experience the most strain yet they don’t all deviate

Question 18

merton strain theory AO3 - value consensus

Answer 18

it assumes that there is a value consensus that everyone strives for utilitarian success

Question 19

subcultural strain theory - what is it?

Answer 19

deviance is a product of a delinquent subculture with different values from mainstream society

subcultures provide alternative structure for those who are denied a change to achieve by legitimate means

Question 20

subcultural strain theory - Cohen’s status frustration

Answer 20

deviance is a lower class phenomenon due to an inability to achieve mainstream goals by legitimate means

due to cultural deprivation their ability to succeed cease them at the bottom of the status hierarchy - they resolve this frustration by rejecting main stream MC values and joint. delinquent subculture of similar boys

Question 21

subcultural strain theory - Cohen’s status frustration - alternative status hierarchy

Answer 21

the subcultures inverts the values of main stream society

the boys create their own illegitimate opportunity structure to win status

Question 22

subcultural strain theory - Cohen’s status frustration - AO3 - explanation of non-utilitarian

Answer 22

It offers an explanation of non-utilitarian crime so can help to explain non-economic deviance

Question 23

subcultural strain theory - Cohen’s status frustration - AO3 - WC have MC goals

Answer 23

assumes that all WC boys start off with sharing MC goals only to reject these when they fails

Question 24

subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin

Answer 24

different subcultures respond differently to the lack of legitimate opportunities

there isnt just unequal access to legitimate opportunities but all illegitimate

identifies 3 subcultures
1. criminal
2. conflict
3. retreatist

Question 25

subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - 3 subcultures

Answer 25

1. criminal
2. conflict
3. retreatist

Question 26

subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - 3 subcultures - criminal

Answer 26

Provide youth with an apprenticeship for a career in crime

In neighbourhoods with a stable criminal culture with an established hierarchy of adult crime

Association with adult criminals provides the young with training and role models and opportunities ties to climb the criminal career ladder

Question 27

subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - 3 subcultures - conflict subcultures

Answer 27

Areas of high population turnover

High levels of social disorganisation and prevents a stable criminal network

Th only illegitimate opportunities are available within loosely organised gangs

In these, violence provides a release for men’s frustration

Question 28

subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - 3 subcultures - retreatist subculture

Answer 28

Any neighbourhood

Not everyone who aspires to have a professional criminal career succeeds

These ‘double failures’ turn to illegal drug use

Question 29

subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - AO2 - Sutherland

Answer 29

Differential association theory
Sutherland
Deviance was behaviour learned through social interaction with others who are deviant
Learning criminal values and skills

Question 30

subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - AO3 - Miller, separate subculture

Answer 30

Miller - lower class has its own independent subculture separate from the mainstream culture
This subculture does not value success in the first place so its members are not frustrated by failure

Deviance arises out of an attempt to achieve their own goals

Question 31

subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - AO3 - Matza, not committed

Answer 31

Matza - most delinquents are not strongly committed to their subculture but merely drift in and out of delinquency