functionalist strain and subcultural theories Flashcards
what are society’s two key mechanisms in order to achieve social solidarity?
socialisation and social control
socialisation
individuals internalise the same norms and values and instils shared culture
social control
rewards for conformity, and punishment for deviance
why is crime found in all societies
crime is universal and inevitable.
what is Durkheim’s theory on crime?
every society has some levels of crime “normal and integral”.
What are the two reasons that crime and deviance are found in all societies
- not everyone is effectively socialised into shared norms and values
- diversity of lifestyle and values
anomie
Normlessness, anomie arises when there is rapid social change, because existing norms become unclear and outdated
collective conscience
the shared norms, values, beliefs and knowledge that make cooperation between individuals possible
what are the two positive functions of crime
boundary maintenance and adaption and change
Boundary maintenance
crime produces a reaction, unites members in condemnation of the wrongdoer and reinforces norms.
what is aim of punishment according to Durkheim?
creates social solidarity because it brings people together
adaption and change
new ideals cannot be stifled by social control. firstly appears as deviance for things to change
how does Durkheim say that change starts
with an act of deviance
why is neither high or low levels of crime desirable?
too much crime threatens to tear society apart and too little crime means society is being oppressed
davis
prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release for men’s sexual frustration.
polsky
pornography is an alternative to adultery
cohen
deviance is a warning that society is not functioning properly.
criticisms for Durkheim’s theory
crime doesn’t necessarily serve the function of social solidarity, unclear on why crime exists in the first place
doesn’t always promote solidarity e.g women staying in fear of attack
Merton’s strain theory
merton argues that people are deviant because they are unable to achieve goals legitimate means eg ange and frustration.
The American dream
American’s study get qualifications and have a career. also society is meritocratic
how the reality different to the American dream
there is poverty and inequality.
Strain to anomie
Strain between the goal of money but you don’t have the ways to get there
Responses to strain
Conformity innovation ritualism retreatism rebellion
Conformity
Individuals accept culturally approved goals and strive to achieve them legitimately
Innovation
Individuals accept the goal of money success but use “new” illegitimate means like theft
Ritualism
Individuals give up ok trying to achieve goals, but have interlised the legitimate means and follow the rules
Retreatism
individuals reject both the goals and the legitimate means and become drop outs
Rebellion
Individuals reject the existing society’s goals and means but they replace them with new ones in a desire to bring revolutionary change
Evaluation of Merton’s theory
Most crime is property crime because American society values material health so highly
Lower class crime rate are higher because they have least opportunity to obtain wealth legitimately
Cohen status frustration
Agrees with Merton that deviance is lower-class phenomenon
How does Cohen criticise Merton (A03)
- Merton sees deviance as an individual response to strain, a lot of deviance is committed In groups
- Merton focuses on ultilirian crime and ignores crime such as assault
Cohen working class boys
Face anomie in mc dominated school system e.g cultural deprivation
Can’t achieve status by legitimate means, suffer from status, so turn to other boys in the same situation
Anomie
Normlessness
What are subcultures functions
Is that it offers an illegitimate opportunity to gain status from their peers with delinquent actions
Cohen alternatives status hierarchy
The delinquent subculture inverts value of the mainstream-malice, hostility and contempt e.g value truanting
Strength Cohen alternative status hierarchy
Offers an explanation of non-ultiliariance deviance, helps to explain non- economic delinquent
Limitation of Cohen alternative status hierarchy
Assumes Wc starts off by sharing Mc goals, may have shared their goals but n the first place
What did Cloward and ohlin day about subculture strain theories
Agree that wc youths the denied legitimate opportunities to s give money and success
How subcultures respond to deviance
Criminal subcultures
Conflict subculture
Retreatist subcultures
Criminal subculture
Apprenticeships for a career ultilitaruanism crime . Neighbourhood provide different opportunities to develop crime and skills.
Conflict subculture
High populations turnover. Loosely organised gangs winning “turf”
Retreatist subcultures
Those who fail both legitimately and illegitimately and turn to drug use
Strength cloward and ohlin strength and deviance subculture strain theories
Provides an explanation for different types of deviance
Limitation of cloward and ohlin subculture strain theories
Ignores wider power structures, such as who makes the law-could be possible to belong to more than one subculture
Reactive theories-not everyone starts off with same goals
Recent stray theories
Emphasis not just on money, but popularity, masculinity too etc-in America and the uk, economic goals are valued above others
Evidence shows countries that spend more money on welfare have lower imprisonment rate
Becker
A deviant is someone whom the label has been successfully labelle d
Moral entrepreneurs
People who lead a moreover”crusade” to change the law- creates a new group of “outsiders” and expansion and of social control agencies
Platt
“Juvenile delinquency” result we f upper class Victorian moral entrepreneurs aimed at protecting young people state could extend powers such as truancy
Functionalist
Society is based on value consensus which deviance threatens, but also performs positive functions such as reinforcing solidarity and adapting to change
Strain theories
Argue that deviance occurs when people cannot achieve society’s goals by legitimate means. Merton argues that this produces a strain to anomie that may result in innovation retreating rebellion ritualism
Subculture theories
See much deviance as a collective rather than individual response A.K Cohen argues subculture deviance results from status frustrations and takes a non_ultilian form.
What three different deviant subcultures see
Criminal conflict and retreatism
