Functionalist, Strain & Subcultural Theories

Question 1

What do functionalists believe that society is based on?

Answer 1

A value consensus, passed on through socialisation

Question 2

Who is the main functionalist that provides a view of crime?

Answer 2

DURKHEIM

Question 3

Does Durkheim see crime as positive or negative for society? Why?

Answer 3

Sees it as positive / healthy. Crime is inevitable. A crime free society is impossible.

Question 4

What 3 reasons does Durkheim provide for all societies having some crime?

Answer 4

• breakdown of socialisation
• emergence of subcultures with differing norms
• focus on individualism leading to anomie

Question 5

What is anomie?

Answer 5

NORMLESSNESS. a complete breakdown of norms - chaos

Question 6

How many positive functions of crime does Durkheim identify?

Answer 6

2

Question 7

What are the 2 positive functions of crime which Durkheim identifies?

Answer 7

1) BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE
2) ADAPTATION AND CHANGE

Question 8

Explain crime’s function of boundary maintenance

Answer 8

-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

Question 9

Give an example of boundary maintenance in action

Answer 9

Celebrities being called out and condemned on twitter / social media / papers for deviant or criminal acts

Question 10

Explain crime’s function of adaptation and change

Answer 10

-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

Question 11

Give an example of the adaptation and change function of crime in action

Answer 11

• emergence of socialism / marxism
• womens rights and suffragettes
• civil rights movement

Question 12

NAME the 3 other functionalists that identified positive functions of crime

Answer 12

• DAVIS
• POLSKY
• COHEN

Question 13

What additional positive function of crime does functionalist Davis identify?

Answer 13

Argues that prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of men’s sexual frustrations without threatening the monogamous nuclear family

Question 14

What additional positive function of crime does functionalist Polsky identify?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What additional positive function of deviance does functionalist Cohen identify?

Answer 15

Deviance has another function: a warning that an institution is not functioning properly.

Question 16

Give an example of Cohen’s argument that deviance is a warning that an institution isn’t functioning properly.

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

What does Durkheim suggest sometimes happens to crime & deviance instead of eliminating it completely?

Answer 17

Societies allow it to happen in controlled environments like festivals, demonstrations

Question 18

What kind of acts of deviance and crime occur at music festivals?

Answer 18

-drug use and selling
-underage drinking
- spiking
- sexual offences
- littering
- pick pocketing and general theft
- violence and weaponry
- vandalism, arson

Question 19

Why does Durkheim argue that allowing crime and deviance to happen on controlled environments is important?

Answer 19

It’s important in allowing people to deal with stress and transition, especially the transition from childhood to adulthood

Question 20

Give 2 criticisms of Durkheim’s functionalist view of crime and deviance

Answer 20

• 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