Functionalist theories Flashcards
Durkheim’s belief that Crime is Inevitable
Durkheim argued that crime is an inevitable and normal aspect of social life. He pointed out that crime is inevitable in all societies because not every member of society can be equally committed to the collective values and moral beliefs of society). Since individuals are exposed to different influences and circumstances,
durkheim believes that Crime Performs Positive Functions outline 3 functions
1- strengthens collective values
2- acts as a safety valve: letting off stem can be helpful in preventing rebellion and rioting.
3- enables social change
how does C&D strengthen collective values
1- : when particularly horrific crimes have been committed the whole community joins together in outrage and the sense of belonging to a community is therefore strengthened
how does C&D enable social change
When the law is clearly out of step with the feelings and values of the majority, legal reform is necessary. Criminals, therefore, perform a crucial service in helping the law to reflect the wishes of the population and legitimising social change
what do functionalists durkheim and hirschi contend that crime is caused by
Undeniably, some functionalists contend that crime is caused by a fundamental “breakdown” and “weakening” of the “value consensus”. Indeed, functionalists Emile Durkheim and Hirschi both recognise the importance of shared beliefs that are transmitted through institutions via the socialisation process. Hirschi also spoke of social bonds (attachment, belief, involvement and commitment) that when broken down can lead to crime and deviance.
how can durkheims theory be criticised for being to general
Durkheim talks about crime in very general terms. He theorizes that ‘crime’ is necessary and even functional but fails to distinguish between different types of crime. It could be that some crimes may be so harmful that they will always be dysfunctional rather than functional.
how would feminist and marxist theories criticise functionalism
Secondly, Durkheim is suggesting that the criminal justice system benefits everyone in society by punishing criminals and reinforcing the acceptable boundaries of behaviour. However, Marxist and Feminist analysis of crime demonstrates that not all criminals are punished equally and thus crime and punishment benefit the powerful for than the powerless. for example, corporate crime committed by the richest in society has worse effects for the poor in society yet often goes unnoticed
explains Merton’s argument of what causes crime and how it has been developed by subcultural theorists
Functionalists, such as Robert Merton spoke of how anomie and strain cause individuals to feel like outcasts in society and therefore turn to crime. This concept was then taken further by Cohen who applied this to subcultural youths who were experiencing status frustration within normal society.
what does strain and anomie lead to
these lead to status frustration where people feel motivated to break the traditional rules of society as it feels impossible to be successful within its constraints
Five Adaptations to Strain
Conformity: pursing cultural goals through socially approved means.
Innovation: using socially unapproved or unconventional means to obtain culturally approved goals. Example: dealing drugs or stealing to achieve financial security.
Ritualism:
Retreatism: to reject both the cultural goals and the means to obtain it, then find a way to escape it.
Rebellion: to reject the cultural goals and means, then work to replace them.
how is Merton’s theory a limited explanation of C&D
He doesn’t explain why most people who face strain and anomie like working-class individuals, do not turn to crime or other deviance, and so we need something else to explain why some of them do. Subcultural theorists argued that the role of working-class subcultures provide rewards for individuals who commit crimes.
what do marxists point out criticising merton
certain Marxists, such as Chambliss, would argue that society is inherently criminogenic. By this Chambliss means that crime is natural in a capitalist society and the law perpetuates elite interests. Overall, this disadvantages the lower classes
how does cohens subcultural theory explain C&D
Subcultural theorists argue that deviance is the result of whole groups breaking off from society who have deviant values and conforming to the values and norms of the subculture to which they belong.
thus it is the pull of the peer group that encourages individuals to commit crime, rather than the lack of attachment to the family or other mainstream institutions.
Albert Cohen: Deviant Subcultures emerge because of Status Frustration
Albert Cohen argues that working-class subcultures emerge because they are denied status in society. as they lack the means to achieve success. This leads to status frustration: a sense of personal failure and inadequacy.
how is status gained in deviant subcultures
delinquent subcultures reverse the norms and values of mainstream culture, offering status to those who are the most deviant. Status may be gained by being malicious, intimidating others, breaking school rules or the law and generally causing trouble.
Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 types of subculture
- Criminal Subcultures
- Conflict subcultures
- Retreatist subculture
Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 types of subculture
- criminal subcultures
are characterised by utilitarian crimes such as theft to get money alternative to legitimate means like finding a job
Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 types of subculture
conflict subcultures
commit aggressive crimes targeted at those who seem to represent their oppressors. they’re characterised by violence, gang warfare, ‘mugging’ and other street crime
Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 types of subculture
retreatist subcultures
emerge among those who are ‘double failures’ – they have failed to succeed in both mainstream society and in the crime and gang cultures above. The response is a retreat into drug addiction and alcoholism and prostitution
how does Paul Willis’ 1977 study of the Counter-School-Culture represents a Marxist critique of consensus subcultural theory?
Willis argued that the working class lads formed a subculture in order to ‘have a laff’ in a school system which they had accurately identified as being irrelevant to their futures. Unlike Cohen, these lads identified themselves as working class, rejected middle class aspirations, and rejected the middle class system of the school – thus why Willis coined the term ‘counter (against) school culture’.
outline how cloward and ohlins theory can be useful in explaining the limitations of cohens theory
C & O argue that Cohen’s theory doesn’t allow for the diversity of responses found among working-class youth specifically. This research is helpful as it gives insights into why working-class delinquency may take different forms in different circumstances. nonetheless, C & O Can be criticised for exaggerating the differences between the three types of subculture, as there is often overlap between them.
