Functionalist, Strain & Subcultural Theories Flashcards
What do functionalists believe that society is based on?
A value consensus, passed on through socialisation
Who is the main functionalist that provides a view of crime?
DURKHEIM
Does Durkheim see crime as positive or negative for society? Why?
Sees it as positive / healthy. Crime is inevitable. A crime free society is impossible.
What 3 reasons does Durkheim provide for all societies having some crime?
- breakdown of socialisation
- emergence of subcultures with differing norms
- focus on individualism leading to anomie
What is anomie?
NORMLESSNESS. a complete breakdown of norms - chaos
How many positive functions of crime does Durkheim identify?
2
What are the 2 positive functions of crime which Durkheim identifies?
1) BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE
2) ADAPTATION AND CHANGE
Explain crime’s function of boundary maintenance
-crime produces a shocked reaction from society, uniting us in condemnation of the criminal.
-reinforces their commitment to shared norms values.
-explains punishment: reaffirms society’s shared rules
Give an example of boundary maintenance in action
Celebrities being called out and condemned on twitter / social media / papers for deviant or criminal acts
Explain crime’s function of adaptation and change
-All change starts with an act of deviance.
-there must be some scope for individuals with new ideas for them to challenge/change existing norms + values. If those with new ideas are suppressed, society will stagnate and be unable to make changes
Give an example of the adaptation and change function of crime in action
- emergence of socialism / marxism
- womens rights and suffragettes
- civil rights movement
NAME the 3 other functionalists that identified positive functions of crime
- DAVIS
- POLSKY
- COHEN
What additional positive function of crime does functionalist Davis identify?
Argues that prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of men’s sexual frustrations without threatening the monogamous nuclear family
What additional positive function of crime does functionalist Polsky identify?
Argues that pornography safely ‘channels’ a variety of sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultery, which would pose a much greater threat to the family
What additional positive function of deviance does functionalist Cohen identify?
Deviance has another function: a warning that an institution is not functioning properly.
Give an example of Cohen’s argument that deviance is a warning that an institution isn’t functioning properly.
- high rates of truancy may tell us that there are issues with the education system + that policy makers need to make appropriate changes to it.
- political protests: UK farmer protests show issue with the farming policies
What does Durkheim suggest sometimes happens to crime & deviance instead of eliminating it completely?
Societies allow it to happen in controlled environments like festivals, demonstrations
What kind of acts of deviance and crime occur at music festivals?
-drug use and selling
-underage drinking
- spiking
- sexual offences
- littering
- pick pocketing and general theft
- violence and weaponry
- vandalism, arson
Why does Durkheim argue that allowing crime and deviance to happen on controlled environments is important?
It’s important in allowing people to deal with stress and transition, especially the transition from childhood to adulthood
Give 2 criticisms of Durkheim’s functionalist view of crime and deviance
- doesn’t tell us how much crime is too much crime
- gives us little info on the causes of crime
- ignores the impact crime may have on individuals, victims
- crimes don’t bring people together, can isolate them
Which sociologist created ‘strain theory’ ?
MERTON
what does Merton mean by ‘success goals’ ?
the goals that society tells us we should strive to achieve. Focused on money success + the push to have lots of money, a nice home and car etc
what does Merton mean by ‘strain’ ?
pressure, tension, stress
what does Merton mean by ‘utilitarian crimes’ ?
crimes for economic gain / crimes that have monetary value
what does Merton mean by ‘legitimate means’ ?
conforming to the law, sticking to the rules, doing things legally
Merton’s strain theory suggests that …?
people take part in criminal + deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve goals by legitimate means. People become frustrated and resort to crime as a way of getting what they want.
explain the 2 factors which Merton identifies in Strain theory
cultural factors - the strong emphasis in cultural beliefs on ‘success goals’ and the weaker emphasis on using legitimate means to achieve them
structural factors - society’s unequal opportunity structure
What case study example can be used to support Merton’s strain theory?
The American Dream
put simply, what is the message of the American dream?
the belief that anyone can be (financially) successful + can have upward social mobility.
Merton identifies 5 different what?
5 different responses to strain.
NAME the 5 responses to strain according to Merton
1) CONFORMITY
2) INNOVATION
3) RITUALISM
4) RETREATISM
5) REBELLION
who are the conformists according to Merton?
those who:
-accept society’s goals
-accept the legitimate means
-middle class
-have education, well paid job
who are the innovators according to Merton?
those who:
-accept society’s goals
-reject the legitimate means
-lower class
- may commit fraud, theft
who are the ritualists according to Merton?
those who:
-reject society’s goals
-accept legitimate means
-lower middle class
-office worker in dead end job
who are the retreatists according to Merton?
those who:
-reject society’s goals
-reject legitimate goals
-lower class
-drop outs, drug addicts, homeless
who are the rebels according to Merton?
those who:
-accept / reject society’s goals (have their own)
-accept / reject legitimate means (have their own)
-lower class
-trying to bring about revolutionary change. eg - terrorists, hippies, political radicals
give 2 criticisms of Merton’s strain theory
-he sees crime as mainly a working class issue
-he assumes all working class will turn to crime
-he only accounts for utilitarian crime and not violence / vandalism
-he only explains individual crime, not crimes committed by groups
-he assumes we all start with the shared goal of money success
define subculture
a group of people who share norms, values, beliefs and attitudes that are in some way different from mainstream culture.
name the 3 key sociologists for subcultural strain theory
COHEN, (CLOWARD & OHLIN)
Sociologists argue that subcultures provide members with?
illegitimate means of achieving goals when they can’t achieve them in mainstream society legitimately.
how does Cohen criticise Merton?
1) Merton ignores the fact that deviance is often committed by groups, not just individuals.
2) Merton ignores non-utilitarian crimes.
what crime does Cohen focus on?
deviance among working class boys - vandalism, truancy etc
what does Cohen mean by STATUS FRUSTRATION?
The boys are unable to achieve status by legitimate means (education)
According to Cohen, how do the boys resolve their status frustration?
reject mainstream middle class values + they turn to other boys in the same situation, forming / joining a delinquent subculture.
what values are the subcultures characterised by, according to Cohen?
spite, malice, hostility and contempt for those outside it
give a strength of Cohen’s subcultural theory of crime
offers an explanation of non-utilitarian deviance
give a criticism of Cohen’s subcultural theory of crime
like Merton, Cohen ignores the possibility that all working class boys may not initially share the same middle class goals and aspirations
How do sociologists Cloward & Ohlin disagree with Merton?
they point out that different subcultures respond in different ways to the lack of legitimate opportunities. Not just violence / vandalism.
NAME the 3 types of subcultures which Cloward & Ohlin identify
1) CRIMINAL SUBCULTURES
2) CONFLICT SUBCULTURES
3) RETREATIST SUBCULTURES
explain criminal subcultures - Cloward & Ohlin
provide youths with an ‘apprenticeship for a career in utilitarian crime. They arise only in neighbourhoods ‘with a long standing + stable criminal culture
explain conflict subcultures - Cloward & Ohlin
arise in high population turnover, creating social disorganisation + prevents a stable professional criminal network. loosely organised gangs - violence.
explain retreatist subcultures - Cloward & Ohlin
not everyone can get a well paid job - these people fail at legitimate + illegitimate opportunities. may turn to illegal drug use
Name the 3 sociologists who criticise Cloward & Ohlin’s work
SOUTH
MILLER
MATZA
how does South criticise Cloward & Ohlin’s study on subcultural strain?
drug trade is a mixture of both ‘disorganised’ crime (conflict subculture) + professional ‘mafia’ style subcultures. Can belong to multiple subcultures.
how does Miller criticise Cloward & Ohlin’s study on subcultural strain?
argues that the lower class has its own independent subculture separate from the mainstream with its own values. Doesn’t value success in the first place so not frustrated by ‘failure’.
how does Matza criticise Cloward & Ohlin’s study on subcultural strain?
argues that most delinquents are not strongly committed to their subculture as suggested, but merely drift in and out of delinquency.
what do RECENT strain theories argue?
-young people may pursue other goals than money success, including popularity with peers, autonomy from adults etc
-the failure to achieve THESE goals may result in delinquency.
-middle class juveniles may also struggle to achieve these goals, which offers an account of middle class crime aswell
what is the name of the case study that can be used to support recent strain theories?
INSTITUTIONAL ANOMIE
explain the Institutional anomie case study presented by Messner and Rosenfeld to support recent strain theories. How is it linked to the American Dream?
-the American Dream’s obsession with money success exerts pressures towards crime by encouraging a chaotic environment where people have an ‘anything goes’ attitude
-America values economic values above all else, including social institutions. EG - schools focus on preparing pupils to enter the workforce, at the expense of other values.
-in capitalist societies that lack adequate welfare (America), high crime rates are inevitable
