functionalist, strain and subcultural theories Flashcards
what do functionalists believe about society
As based on value consensus (all members share a common culture eg norms, values, beliefs and goals), which provides solidarity by binding everyone together. In order to achieve this society has two key mechanisms which are socialisation and social control
they believe that society has two key mechanisms:
- socialisation
- social control
what does socialisation mean
instils shared culture. Internalize same norms and values.
what does social control
rewards for conformity punishments for deviance
what is argued about crime
- crime is universal and inevitable
- every society has some level of crime ‘normal and integral’
What are two reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies?
Not everyone is equally and effectively socialised into the shared norms and values, so some people would be prone to deviate. Also, particularly in complex modern societies, there is diversity of lifestyles and values as different groups develop subcultures with distinctive norms and values, so what subcultures view as normal, mainstream society may view as deviant
what does Anomie
modern societies, rules become weaker (collective conscience) and results in higher levels of deviance (suicide)
what does crime do in society
crime produces a reaction, unites members in the condemnation of the wrongdoer and reinforces norm.
what did boundary maintenance
punishment is not to make he criminal suffer but to reaffirm social solidarity eg courtroom dramatizing media and ‘folk devils’
what did Durkheim say about adaption and change
Durkheim says all change starts with an act of deviance. Individuals with new ideas, values and ways of living must not be completely stifled by the weight of social control. There must be some scope for them to challenge and change existing norms and values, and in the first instance this will inevitably appear as deviance
what did Davies say about adaption and change
- prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release men’s sexual frustration
what did polsky say about about adaption and change
pornography is an alternative to adultery
what is the AO3 for adaption and change
- crime doesn’t necessarily serve the function of social solidarity, unclear why crime exists in the first place
- doesn’t always promote solidarity eg women staying for fear of attack
what is the American dream
This ideology tells Americans that their society is a meritocratic one where anyone who makes the effort can get ahead-there are opportunities for all
AO3 for the American dream
society is not meritocratic. Many individuals group are denied opportunities to achieve legitimately. such as poverty and discrimination
what does strain to anomie mean
the strain between money and success with the lack of legitimate opportunities which produces frustration
What is Merton’s strain theory?
argue that people engage in deviant behaviour when they unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means. For example this creates frustration and may resort to crime
name some ways people respond to strain
- conformity= the one taken up by most people. They actually attain the goals
- retreatism=you give up and drop-out of society because you’ll never achieve anything and so retreat into a world of drugs and alcohol
A03 for Merton
- assumes that there is a valued consensus- not everyone strives for success
- only accounts for utilitarian crime and also not crimes of violence
what are subcultural strain theories
deviance is a product of a delinquent subculture which differs from mainstream society. These subcultures provide an alternative structure for those who are denied to achieve by legitimate means
what does Cohen say about status frustration (AO3 Merton strain theory)
agrees with Merton that deviance is lower class phenomenon. However criticizes Merton on two grounds
what two grounds does Cohen criticise Merton on (AO3 Merton strain theory)
1) Merton sees deviance as an individual response to strain, a act of deviance is committed in groups
2) Merton focuses on utilitarian crimes such as assault
what did Cohen say about working class boys
- face anomie in MC dominated school system eg cultural deprivation
- cant achieve by legitimate means, suffer from status frustration, so turn to other boys in the same situation (subculture)
what does Cohen say about alternative status hierarchy
the delinquent subculture inverts values of the mainstream- malice, hostility eg truanting( refer to willis and the lads study)
subculture offer an illegitimate opportunity to gain status from their peers with delinquent actions
what is the AO3 for Cohens alternative status hierarchy
+ offers an explanation of non utilitarian deviance, helps us to explain non economic delinquency
- assumes WC start off by sharing MC goals, may have never shared these goals in the first place
what did cloward and Ohlin say about subcultural strain theories
- agree WC youths are denied legitimate opportunities to achieve money success
- however different subcultures respond in different ways
- different neighbourhoods provide different opportunities develop criminal activities and skills
what did Cloward and Ohlin say bout how subcultures respond to deviance
1) criminal subcultures: apprenticeships for a career in utilitarian crime also neighbourhoods with criminal culture and role models
2) conflict subcultures: high population turnover. loosely organised gangs (post code wars)
3) retreatism subcultures: fail legitimately and illegitimately so turn to drug use
what is the AO3 for cloward and ohlin response to deviance
+ provides an explanation for different types of deviance
- reactive theories not everyone starts off with same goal
- could be possible to belong to more than one subculture
what is said about recent strain theories
- emphasise it not just on money, but popularity, masculinity too etc
- evidence shows countries that spend more on welfare, have lower imprisonment rates (shows crime is mainly about money)
what do interactionists look at
they look at interactions between humans
What does Durkheim see as the two important positive functions of crime?
Boundary maintenance and adaptation and change
example of boundary maintenance
It can be done through rituals in the courtroom, which dramatise wrongdoing and publicly shame and stigmatise the offender. This reaffirms the values of the law abiding majority and discourages other from rule breaking
What does Durkheim say about crime levels in society?
Neither a very high or very low level of crime is desirable as too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society apart, but too little means society is repressing and controlling its members too much, stifling individual freedom and preventing change
What does Cohen identify as another function of crime and deviance?
It is a warning that an institution is not functioning properly. For example, high rates of truancy may tell us that there are problems with the education system and that policy makers need to make appropriate changes to it
example of Merton’s strain theory
American culture which values ‘money success’-individual material wealth and the high status that goes with it . Americans are expected to achieve goals legitimately through self discipline, study, educational qualifications and hard work in a career
