functionalist, strain and subcultural theories

Question 1

Durkheim - crime as inevitable AO1

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Durkheim - 2 reasons why crime is found in all societies AO1

Answer 2

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 3

Durkheim - 2 positive functions of crime AO1

Answer 3

1. boundary maintenance
2. adaption and change

Question 4

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

Answer 4

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 5

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

Answer 5

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 6

Durkheim - high/ low levels of crime and their meanings

Answer 6

neither high nor low is desirable

high = threats to tear the bonds of society

little = society is repressing and controlling

Question 7

Durkheim - other functions of crime - Cohen

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Durkheim AO3 - functional for whom?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Durkheim AO3 - how much is too much?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Durkheim AO2

Answer 10

Davis: prostitution acts as a safety valve for men to release sexual frustrations

Question 11

merton - strain theory - what is it? AO1

Answer 11

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

Question 12

merton strain theory - deviance is a result of a strain between 2 things: AO1

Answer 12

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

Question 13

merton strain theory - the American dream AO2

Answer 13

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

Question 14

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

Answer 14

rebellion = cultural goals and legitimate means are rejected
individuals create their own goals and their own means

conformity - individual accepts the culturally approved goals and aims to achieve them legitimately

Question 15

merton strain theory - AO3 - deterministic

Answer 15

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

Question 16

merton strain theory AO3 - value consensus

Answer 16

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

Question 17

subcultural strain theory - what is it? Ao1

Answer 17

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

subcultures provide alternative structure for those who are denied the chance to achieve by legitimate means

Question 18

subcultural strain theory - Cohen’s status frustration AO1

Answer 18

WC boys have cultural deprivation and lack the skills to achieve by legitimate means so they suffer staus frustration
resolve this by rejecting mainstream MC values and inverts them in their own delinquent subculture

Answer 19

n

Question 20

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

Answer 20

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

Question 21

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

Answer 21

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

Question 22

paragraph 2 - subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin Ao1

Answer 22

different subcultures respond differently to the lack of legitimate opportunities

there isnt just unequal access to legitimate opportunities but also illegitimate

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

Question 23

paragraph 2 - subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - 3 subcultures

Answer 23

1. criminal
2. conflict
3. retreatist

Question 24

paragraph 2 - subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - 3 subcultures - criminal

Answer 24

Provide youth with an apprenticeship for a career in crime

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

Question 25

paragraph 2 - subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - 3 subcultures - conflict subcultures

Answer 25

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 26

paragraph 2 - subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - 3 subcultures - retreatist subculture

Answer 26

Any neighbourhood

Not everyone who aspires to have a professional criminal career succeeds

These ‘double failures’ turn to illegal drug use

Question 27

paragraph 2 - subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - AO2 - Sutherland

Answer 27

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

Question 28

paragraph 2 - subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - AO3 - Miller, separate subculture

Answer 28

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 29

paragraph 2 - subcultural strain theories - Cloward and Ohlin - AO3 - Matza, not committed

Answer 29

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