functionalist theories of crime

Question 1

durkheim

Answer 1

crime is inevitable and it’s 2 positive functions are boundary maintenance and adaption and change. he says crime occurs for 2 reasons - not everyone is socialised effectively and there is a diversity of lifestyles/values

Question 2

merton

Answer 2

strain theory. crime occurs due to a strain between goals set by society and the requirements to achieve these goals legitimately

Question 3

what are mertons 5 adaptions to crime?

Answer 3

conformity
innovation
ritualism
retreatism
rebellion

Question 4

criticisms of merton

Answer 4

takes crime statistics at face value
assumes there is a value consensus
only accounts for utilitarian crime
ignores the role of group deviance

Question 5

cohen

Answer 5

status frustration. working class boys are culturally deprived and lack the means to achieve which leads them to be frustrated. they resolve this frustration by forming delinquent subcultures with other working class boys where they achieve an alternative status hierarchy

Question 6

criticisms of cohen

Answer 6

assumes all working class boys start off sharing middle class goals

Question 7

cloward and ohlin

Answer 7

working class youths are denied legitimate opportunities but they have different responses to this inequality. these different responses stem from access to illegitimate opportunities

Question 8

what are cloward and ohlins 3 subcultures?

Answer 8

criminal subculture
conflict subculture
retreatist subculture