Functionalist theories of crime and deviance

Question 1

Key word:

What does anomie mean

Answer 1

Normlessness - a social condition in which there is a disintegration or disappearance of the norms and values that were previously common to the society.

Question 2

Key word:

What does inadequate socialisation

Answer 2

Where people does not have enough interaction with others in order to develop the necessary social skills and behaviours e.g. limited opportunities.

(People who don’t have the same norms and values as everyone else in society does)

Question 3

Key word:

What does subculture

Answer 3

Groups within a larger culture that have distinct beliefs, values, or interests that differentiate them from mainstream culture.

(Often develop their own norms and practices e.g. anti-school subculture )

Question 4

Key word:

What does boundary maintenance mean

Answer 4

Ways in which societies establishes and enforces norms and boundaries of acceptable behaviour.

People label some behaviors as deviant or criminal and sanctions and punishments for those who violate these boundaries e.g. anti-social behaviour is deviant e.g. having loud music past 11pm).

Question 5

Key word:

What does social cohesion mean

Answer 5

the bonds that unite members of a society, promoting a sense of belonging and collective identity e.g. shared norms and values.

Question 6

Key word:

What does safety valve mean

Answer 6

A process that allows people to express their frustrations and emotions in a way that prevents them from committing more serious crimes

e.g. hooliganism

Question 7

Key word:

What does status frustration mean (use sociologist)

Answer 7

Cohen (1955)

The feelings of dissatisfaction and resentment individuals experience when they perceive a gap between their actual social status and their status that they want to achieve.

This frustration comes round when people feel that they aren’t receiving this recognition and opportunities they deserve based on their efforts/aspirations.

This leads to crime as because they cant achieve what they want through societies standards they will achieve this another way

Question 8

Key word:

What does focal concern mean

Answer 8

The values and priorities that are most important to a particular group/subculture, often influencing their behaviour and decision making

(This varies between the social classes)

Question 9

Key word:

What does societal goals mean

Answer 9

The shared aspirations that society want to achieve

e.g. money, success

Question 10

Key word:

What does conformity mean

Answer 10

Aligning ones beliefs, attitudes or behaviours with those of a group or societal norms

e.g. if everyone had black hair and you also dyed your hair black that it conforming

Question 11

Key word:

What does innovation mean

Answer 11

Innovators are people shares the cultural goal of the society but reaches this goal through illegitimate means

e.g. Thieves share the cultural goal of having wealth but do so through breaking the law.

Question 12

Key word:

What does ritualism mean

Answer 12

Ritualist - people who have given up hope of achieving society’s approved goals but still operate according to society’s approved means.

e.g. A member of middle management who accepts that they will never progress but stays in their position is a ritualist

Question 13

Key word:

What does retreatism mean

Answer 13

individuals who have rejected both a society’s goals and the legitimate means of obtaining them and live outside conventional norms altogether.

McCandleless - student found dead in Alaska after attempting to reject capitalism by hitchhiking and living off the land.

Question 14

Key word:

What does legitimate means

Answer 14

The socially-acceptable means to achieving social goals e.g. meritocracy

Question 15

Key word:

What does illegitmate means

Answer 15

The socially-acceptable means to achieving social goals e.g committing crime/deviance e.g. theft

Question 16

Key word:

What does criminal subculture mean

Answer 16

subcultures that socialise young people into criminal activity e.g. theft. These subcultures often develop in w/c areas - already where crime happens

Question 17

Key word:

What does conflict subculture mean

Answer 17

Conflict subcultures emerge in socially disorganized areas where there is high population and therefore lack community or social cohesion.

This lack of social cohesion creates gangs organised by young people themselves often based on claiming their territory from other gangs in ‘turf wars’ through robbery and gang warfare

Question 18

Key word:

What does social bond mean

Answer 18

the stronger one’s social bonds with society the less likely one is to commit crime.

Question 19

Key word:

What does attachment mean

Answer 19

Attachment - how much do we care about what others think? we might care about what our spouses or children think if we committed a crime

• means that we will less likely do it - people don’t want to be perceived in a negative light.

Question 20

Key word:

What does commitment mean

Answer 20

Commitment - is when conforming to a person’s behaviour protects what someone has (assets) while crime and delinquency put it at risk (as it means that they could lose them)

Question 21

Key word:

What does involvement mean

Answer 21

Involvement is when a person does conventional activities.

e.g. reading and walking

Question 22

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How does Durkheim view society

Answer 22

He has an organic view of society, he believes that all institutions are like body parts in the body that helps society function well.

Question 23

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How is crime and deviance good for society (use sociologist)

Answer 23

Durkheim argued that deviance was functional, normal and inevitable.

Although excessive deviance is a symptom of an unhealthy and dysfunctional society

Question 24

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

What function does crime and deviance have (use sociologist)

Answer 24

Durkheim - Boundary maintenance - the process in which society establishes and enforces norms and boundaries of acceptable behaviour. If people don’t follow the boundaries they are labelled as deviant/criminals

Social change - when something changes in society

warning to society

safety valve.

Question 25

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How does society have a value consensus (use sociologist)

Answer 25

Durkheim argued that in a functioning society there is a value consensus ( a shared set of norms and values), which because of various social institutions, the majority of society has been socialised

Question 26

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How is value consensus enforced through society e.g. policing of margins (use sociologist)

Answer 26

Durkheim - Policing of margins, the formal (criminal record) and informal sanctions (disapproval) used to either reward those who conform or punish those who deviate.

The shared disapproval of deviant behaviour strengthens social solidarity (unity)

Question 27

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How would there still be deviance if everyone was ‘perfect’ (use sociologist)

Answer 27

Durkheim - deviance describes any behaviour that goes against the norms, values and expectations of a society even though the sort of behaviour considered deviant might vary from society to society

e.g. in some countries it is deviant to not take off shoes while inside in others it is not.

Question 28

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How does deviance lead to social change (use sociologist)

Answer 28

Durkheim - Deviance allows social change as if people never deviated from society’s norms and values then society would never change and change can be a good thing (small progressive change over time not radical change)

The process of social change is started by society responding positively to deviant responses. Slowly the deviant behaviour becomes normalised and this can lead to alterations in the law e.g. Same-Sex Marriage Act 2013.

Previously being homosexual was illegal and frowned upon, now it is normalised.

Question 29

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How does deviance act as a safety valve (use sociologist)

Answer 29

Davies (1967) - deviance acts as a safety valve for society. He gives the example of prostitution, suggesting that it has the positive function of releasing men’s sexual tension.

a more contemporary stance on this is that if people commit little acts of deviance such as hooliganism or anti-social behaviour it helps them get their frustration out an stops them from committing bigger crimes such as robbery/murder.

Question 30

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How is too much/too little deviance bad for society (use sociologist)

Answer 30

Durkheim - too much or too little deviance was bad for society as it shows that there is either too much or too little social order and control.

He argues that there was less deviance in pre-industrial society because of the solidarity of the society e.g. how the economy and society was meant that social bonds were very tight.

However, increased isolation and privatisation of modern industrialised societies increased the likelihood of deviance (people were no longer united like they used to be, makes it easer to commit crime, you are more likely to rob a stranger than a friend)

Question 31

Functionalist theory of crime and deviance:

How does rapid change cause deviance (use sociologist)

Answer 31

Durkheim - when societies underwent rapid change e.g. industrialisation there would be increased deviance because of something he called anomie e.g. normlessness or an absence of social control and cohesion.

A more contemporary version is that during the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic there was increased deviance as now one knew what they were doing - didn’t know what they could/couldn’t do - there was an absence of control, politicians said different things

Question 32

The functionalist theory of crime:

What are left and right realists?

Answer 32

Right realists - see crime as being caused by biological and social problems . Because these causes cannot easily be changed, they focus on deterring offenders.

Left realists - believe crime is caused by relative deprivation, subcultures and marginalisation.

Question 33

Evaluating Durkheim:

How do realists criticise Durkheim’s view on crime and deviance E.G. WEAKNESS

Answer 33

Realists (of both left and right) criticise the idea that crime is both normal and functional.

They point out that crime is a very real problem for victims (causes psychological damage) and for society (creates strain on the prion system and makes society divided).

Crime and deviance should inform policy-makers on how to prevent crime.

Question 34

Evaluating Durkheim:

How do Marxists criticise Durkheim’s view on crime and deviance e.g. WEAKNESS

Answer 34

Marxists - Durkheim fails to consider where the consensus comes from and in whose interests it exists for.

They argue that out the laws are made by the state are made for the interests of the ruling class.

Instead of there being a value consensus in the interests of society and everyone there is ideology that benefits the interests of capitalism and the ruling class.

Question 35

Evaluating Durkheim:

How do other functionalists criticise Durkheim’s view on crime and deviance E.G. WEAKNESS

Answer 35

Other functionalists note that Durkheim doesn’t explain why why some individuals or groups in a society commit crime and others do not.

While the existence of some crime in society is normal, most people most of the time do not to commit crime.

Question 36

The functionalist view of crime:

How are people socialised into believing in society’s values/goals (use sociologist)

Answer 36

Merton (1938) - Americans were socialised into believing the American Dream

A consensus existed about what people’s social goals should be e.g. success and material wealth.

People were socialised into believing that in order to achieve the American Dream they had to work hard and they would succeed because the society was meritocratic .

Question 37

The functionalist view of crime:

How is there not equal access to achieving these goals? (use sociologist)

Answer 37

Merton (1938) - Equal access to those goals did not exist.

There was a strain between the socially-encouraged goals of society (success and wealth) and the socially-acceptable means to achieve them (working hard)

Not everyone has access to that e.g. the w/c

Question 38

The functionalist view of crime:

What is strain theory (use sociologist)

Answer 38

Merton (1938) - Theory that individuals inability to achieve culturally and valued goals causes frustration which can lead to deviant/criminal behaviour.

As they want to achieve those goals but don’t have the necessary means to do that.

Question 39

The functionalist view of crime:

What adaptations do people make in order to achieve their goals e.g. conformist

Answer 39

DOESNT LEAD TO CRIME/DEVIANCE

Conformists are people who follow individuals society’s goal through legitimate means.

Although a conformist may not achieve the society’s goals, they will do it in a legitimate way

e.g. a student who is going to school in order to get a good job is conforming, as they are following the cultural value of success through an approved means

Question 40

The functionalist view of crime:

What adaptations do people make in order to achieve their goals e.g. innovator

Answer 40

LEADS TO CRIME/DEVIANCE

Innovators shares the cultural goal of the society but reaches this goal through illegitimate means

e.g. Thieves share the cultural goal of having wealth but do so through breaking the law.

Question 41

The functionalist view of crime:

What adaptations do people make in order to achieve their goals e.g. ritualist

Answer 41

DOESNT LEAD TO CRIME/DEVIANCE

Ritualist - people who have given up hope of achieving society’s approved goals but still operate according to society’s approved means.

e.g. A member of middle management who accepts that they will never progress but stays in their position is a ritualist.

Question 42

The functionalist view of crime:

What adaptations do people make in order to achieve their goals e.g. retreatists

Answer 42

LEADS TO CRIME/DEVIANCE

(like dropouts or hermits): individuals who have rejected both a society’s goals and the legitimate means of obtaining them and live outside conventional norms altogether.

McCandleless - student found dead in Alaska after attempting to reject capitalism by hitchhiking and living off the land.

Question 43

The functionalist view of crime:

What adaptations do people make in order to achieve their goals e.g. rebel

Answer 43

CAN LEAD TO CRIME/DEVIANCE

Rebels - aim to replace societal goals with those of their own and devise their own means of achieving them.

e.g. terrorist organizations which attempt to replace a goal through means such as violence

Question 44

Evaluation of Merton’s views on crime and deviance:

How can strain theory be used in contemporary society e.g. STRENGTH

Answer 44

Merton explains strain theory in lots of detail.

As the product of a strain between socially-accepted goals and the socially-accepted means to achieve them.

While Merton’s theory was based on 20th century America, it can still be seen in contemporary, western, developed capitalist society e.g. when people are in poverty, it often leads to crime e.g. robbery

Question 45

Evaluation of Merton’s views on crime and deviance:

How do Marxists criticise Merton’s view on crime and deviance e.g. WEAKNESS

Answer 45

Merton fails to consider the source of social goals and whose interests does these socialised goals benefit.

Marxists - argue that that the source of social goals is bourgeois ideology and that the interests these socialised goals benefit is capitalism

e.g. Everyone wants money to buy things but they are also socialised into believing that the best way to achieve that goal is to work harder

This is not a value consensus ensuring social solidarity (unity) rather it capitalist ideology under the foil of social solidarity that serves the interests of the bourgeoisie at the expense of the proletariat e.g. harder the proletariat work, the more money/profit the ruling class make

Question 46

Evaluation of Merton’s views on crime and deviance:

How does Merton not consider why some people find it harder to achieve society’s goals than other e.g. WEAKNESS

Answer 46

Merton doesn’t spend any time considering why some people find it harder to achieve society’s goals than others and does not consider why different people have different adaptations.

He does not pursue the idea that inequality and unequal opportunities in society are a social problem or what the cause of that problem might be.

Though many people feel that the socially-accepted means to achieve their goals are too difficult, a small number of them go on to commit crimes.

Question 47

Evaluation of Merton’s views on crime and deviance:

How does Merton not explain why groups of people are deviant e.g. WEAKNESS

Answer 47

Merton does not explain why groups of people are deviant.

Most people conform but those who don’t often socialise together (e.g. gangs) don’t conform to society’s goals.

Question 48

Evaluation of Merton’s views on crime and deviance:

Merton does explain why non-utilitarian crime happens e.g. WEAKNESS

Answer 48

Merton doesn’t explain why non-utilitarian crime happens(crime from which the criminal does not materially benefit)?

Merton has explanation for some non-utilitarian crime e.g. drug abuse there is nothing in his theory that would explain fighting or vandalism.

While not being able to achieve the American Dream might encourage someone to rob a bank, there is no reason why it would lead to someone to draw graffiti on a bridge or to beat someone up.

Question 49

The functionalist view of crime:

What are the bonds of attachment (use sociologist)

Answer 49

Hirschi (1969) - argues the stronger one’s social bonds with society the less likely one is to commit crime.

Hirschi argues that social bonds promote conformity with the community’s shared values and norms.

Question 50

The functionalist view of crime:

How does attachment help to keep value consensus and keep social order and control (use sociologist)

Answer 50

Hirschi (1969) - how much do we care about what others think? we might care about what our spouses or children think if we committed a crime - means that we will less likely do it - people don’t want to be perceived in a negative light.

Those who had stronger emotional ties to their parents were less likely to be delinquent.

Hindelang (1973) - Attachment to school is another predictor of delinquency e.g. Students who report liking school and caring about the opinion of their teachers are less likely to be delinquent those who have negative thoughts about school see it as less effective as a moral force.

Question 51

The functionalist view of crime:

How does commitment help to keep value consensus and keep social order and control (use sociologist)

Answer 51

Commitment - is when conforming to a person’s behaviour protects what someone has (assets) while crime and delinquency put it at risk (as it means that they could lose them)

Hirschi (1969) - What have we got to lose? If we have got a good job committing a crime puts that a risk. However if someone has nothing there is nothing to lose.

People calculate the costs and benefits of crime. The more that a person has to lose the less likely it is to be committed as they don’t want to lose what they currently have

e.g. W/C are more likely to commit a crime as they don’t have much in the first place

Question 52

The functionalist view of crime:

How does involvement help to keep value consensus and keep social order and control (use sociologist)

Answer 52

Involvement is when a person does conventional activities.

Social control theorists - people who do conventional activities e.g. playing sports, doing homework are unable to commit delinquent.

Those who are connected/a part of society are less likely to both engage in activities that can lead to deviance/crime as they see it as damaging the unity of society.

Question 53

The functionalist view of crime:

How does belief help to keep value consensus and keep social order and control (use sociologist)

Answer 53

Hirschi (1969) - some beliefs prevent delinquency while others permit it.

e.g. those who believe that those who break the law are almost always caught and punished are less likely to commit delinquent acts than those who do not.

Those who think in the short term (saying that most acts are not caught) and have a lack of engagement are more likely to commit deviant acts compared to those who think in the long term that criminals will get caught

Question 54

Evaluation of Hirschi views on crime and deviance:

How does Hirschi’s research answer been useful to wider society (STRENTGH)

Answer 54

Hirschi answers the question of not only why people commit crimes but also what stops people from committing crimes.

This is useful because it introduces ideas of how to prevent crime and how to achieve social order.

Hirschi’s ideas have influenced social policymakers in how attachment can be promoted and deviance reduced.

Promoting activities for young people, encouraging values and morality in education are ways in which policymakers can try and make bonds of attachment and reduce deviance.

Question 55

Evaluation of Hirschi views on crime and deviance:

How would Marxists argue that there is not a value consensus that benefits all members in society?

Answer 55

Hirschi does not really address the issue of why some members of society have secure bonds of attachment and others are more marginalised.

Marxists - there is not a value consensus that benefits all members of society instead, society is characterised by conflict e.g. there is conflict because capitalism allows for the exploitation of the proletariat and the rule of the bourgeoisie.

In which the working class are exploited as they don’t control/keep the value of their labour and because there is a surplus amount of workers it keeps the wages of the w/c low as the bourgeoisie know that if one person doesnt want that job another person will take it.

Question 56

Evaluation of Hirschi views on crime and deviance:

How would Feminists argue that there is not a value consensus that benefits all members in society? (WEAKNESS)

Answer 56

Hirschi does not really address the issue of why some members of society have secure bonds of attachment and others are more marginalised.

Feminists - that there is not a value consensus that benefits all members of society: instead, society is characterised by conflict e.g. through patriarchy.

Women are oppressed by patriarchy and are disadvantaged by many institutions where men dominate e.g. relationships, government and the exploitation of women (sexual assault and domestic violent)

Question 57

The functionalist view of crime:

What is status frustration (use sociologist)

Answer 57

Cohen (1995) - working-class boys often fail at school which results in low status. A response to this is to form subcultures/ gangs with values that are opposite to mainstream values e.g. SOCIETY- status through meritocracy/jobs GANGS - status through crime- bigger the crime the more the status

What is seen as bad in mainstream culture is seen as praiseworthy and good in the subculture and vice -versa e.g. vandalism and fighting invert the values of mainstream society, turning socially deviant acts into ones that are praiseworthy and a way of achieving status within the group in a society where they cant achieve status.

Question 58

Evaluation on Cohen’s view of crime and deviance:

How do Post-modernists criticise Cohen’s view of crime and deviance? (use sociologist) (WEAKNESS)

Answer 58

Lyng and Katz argue that it is more likely the individual is influenced by boredom or is seeking a “buzz”. Because they have been ostracised from society they feel that they have no purpose and therefore commit these acts not out of defiance but out of futility. These actions aren’t though out, they are compulsive.

Question 59

Evaluation of Cohen’s view of crime and deviance:

How would feminists criticise Cohen’s view on crime and deviance? (WEAKNESS)

Answer 59

Feminists - in 1950’s America, you would expect girls to be the ones forming the deviant subcultures as they have limited opportunities and therefore should be more likely to deviate

However research has shown that boys are more likely to commit deviant acts compared to girls so is the problem to do with status or how boys are socialise compared to girls which means that they are more likely to deviate.

Question 60

Evaluation of Cohen’s view of crime and deviance:

How does Cohen’s strain theory research provide an explanation for non-utilitarian crimes? (STRENTGH)

Answer 60

Cohen successfully develops Merton’s strain theory to provide an explanation for non-utilitarian crimes (crimes that are committed not for goals/profits but for expressing rejection of m/c values) .

e.g. Because w/c people are unable to achieve their goals because of their status this leads to frustrating with the system and therefore leads them to commit crimes in order to reject m/c values e.g. meritocracy.

Together , Merton and Cohen offer a functionalist explanation for a wide range of deviant behaviour.

Question 61

The functionalist view of crime:

What are illegitimate opportunities (use sociologist)

Answer 61

Cloward and Ohlin (1960) - argued that there was a “legitimate opportunity structure” (the socially-acceptable means to achieving social goals), but there is also an alternative “illegitimate opportunity structure” (the not socially acceptable way to achieving goals)

This can be achieved through gang membership or some type of subculture.

Question 62

The functionalist view of crime:

How is it not possible to access illegitimate opportunities? (use sociologist)

Answer 62

Cloward and Ohlin (1960) - Just as not all people can access the legitimate opportunity structure and material success, not everyone can access to illegitimate opportunity structures.

Some people live in locations where an existing criminal subculture already exists while others do not.

Furthermore, the types of subcultures available vary. This shows why not all those who find legitimate opportunity structures blocked turn to crime.

Question 63

The functionalist view of crime:

How is it not automatically true that who is unable to work hard and gain qualification goes into crime and deviance (use sociologist)

Answer 63

Cloward and Ohlin (1960) - Just because someone is unable to become wealthy through working hard and gaining qualifications does not mean that they will easily find a criminal path to wealth and success.

Some people live in locations where an existing criminal subculture already exists while others do not.

Furthermore, the types of subcultures available vary. This shows why not all those who find legitimate opportunity structures blocked turn to crime.

Question 64

The functionalist view of crime:

What are criminal subcultures (use sociologist)

Answer 64

Cloward and Ohlin (1960) argued that there were legitimate ways and illegitimate ways in order to achieve wealth and success.

Criminal subcultures - ILLEGITIMATE way in order to achieve wealth and success

Criminal Subcultures - subcultures that socialise young people into criminal activity e.g. theft. These subcultures often develop in w/c areas - already where crime happens

This gives young criminals learning opportunities and a career structure in which the more valuable things that they steal the more ‘qualified’ they become and are able to achieve financial stability.

e.g. a person who steals car parts or phones are able to pay for their education through the money that they make through these stolen products.

Question 65

The functionalist view of crime:

What are conflict subcultures (use sociologist)

Answer 65

Cloward and Ohlin (1960) - argued that there was a “legitimate opportunity structure” (the socially-acceptable means to achieving social goals), but there is also an alternative “illegitimate opportunity structure” (the not socially acceptable way to achieving goals)

Conflict subcultures emerge in socially disorganized areas where there is high population and therefore lack community or social cohesion. This lack of social cohesion creates gangs organised by young people themselves often based on claiming their territory from other gangs in ‘turf wars’ through robbery and gang warfare

Both legal and illegal means of achieving mainstream goals are limited and leads to young people expressing their frustration at the lack of opportunity through street crime and gaining status through following the values of their peer subcultures.

Question 66

The functionalist view of crime:

What is the retreatist subculture? (use sociologist)

Answer 66

Cloward and Ohlin (1960) - argued that there was a “legitimate opportunity structure” and “illegitimate opportunity structure”.

Retreatist subcultures emerge among lower-class youths who fail to succeed both in mainstream society and in crime and gang cultures.

Cloward and Ohlin (2017) retreatists use escapism through drug addiction and alcoholism.

Question 67

Evaluation of Cloward and Ohlin’s views on crime and deviance:

How do Cloward see subcultures as separate when in reality they are interconnected?

Answer 67

Cloward and Ohlin’s see the 3 forms of subcultures as separate when in reality they are interconnected.

e.g. Drug use plays a part in criminal gangs, while “turf wars” in “conflict subcultures” is often linked to organised crime showing that these subcultures are interconnected as shouldn’t be seen as separate.

Question 68

Key word:

What are turf wars

Answer 68

Conflicts that happen on the basis of a place of influence

e.g. two groups might want the same piece of land to have their crime base.

Question 69

Evaluation of Cloward and Ohlin’s views on crime and deviance:

How do Cloward and Ohlin not link crime to gender and social class? WEAKNESS

Answer 69

Cloward and Ohlin write about W/C crime linking it to males however don’t relate it to social class or gender.

They do not question if society is meritocratic, why are W/C youths denied access to legitimate opportunity structures.

They don’t explain why girls, who are also denied access to these structures e.g. the glass ceiling do not react in the same ways that boys do (through subcultures)

Question 70

The functionalist view of crime:

How are boys socialised into certain values that mean that they are more likely to commit deviant acts or crimes (use sociologist)

Answer 70

Miller (1958) - boys were socialised into values that went against societal norms and therefore meant they were more likely than others to engage in deviant/criminal behaviour (focal concerns).

None of these values on their own mean that crime is inevitable. Some W/C boys are socialised with these focal concerns and don’t commit crime however it does mean that they are more likely to.

Some of these acts lead to non utilitarian crime e.g. excitement, toughness, smartness

Some of these acts lead to non utilitarian crime e.g. autonomy, fatalism

Question 71

Key word:

What does non-utilitarian crime mean

Answer 71

Offenses that are committed that don’t have a practical reason e.g. money.

e.g. vandalism

Question 72

Key word:

What does utilitarian crime mean

Answer 72

Offenses that are committed for practical reasons or personal gain

e.g. theft

Question 73

The functionalist view of crime:

How does toughness link to W/C boys being socialised in a way that makes it more likely that they will commit crime? (use sociologist)

Answer 73

Miller (1958) - boys were socialised into values that went against societal norms and therefore meant they were more likely than others to engage in deviant/criminal behaviour (focal concerns).

Toughness means to be focused on being hyper masculine doing activities that cause physical threat in order to appear more tough. People like this also fear being timid as they find it being weak.

This can lead to assault as the group attempts to maintain their reputation.

Question 74

The functionalist view of crime:

How does toughness link to W/C boys being socialised in a way that makes it more likely that they will commit crime? (use sociologist)

Answer 74

Miller (1958) - boys were socialised into values that went against societal norms and therefore meant they were more likely than others to engage in deviant/criminal behaviour (focal concerns).

Smartness is the ability to outwit and deceive others. This can result in crimes such as pickpocketing, and petty theft.

Question 75

The functionalist view of crime:

How does excitement link to W/C boys being socialised in a way that makes it more likely that they will commit crime? (use sociologist)

Answer 75

Miller (1958) - boys were socialised into values that went against societal norms and therefore meant they were more likely than others to engage in deviant/criminal behaviour (focal concerns).

Excitement is the search for emotional stimulus that can be found through as sex, and drug and alcohol. People want to find something that is slightly risky to feel a ‘thrill’

Question 76

The functionalist view of crime:

How does fate link to W/C boys being socialised in a way that makes it more likely that they will commit crime? (use sociologist)

Answer 76

Miller (1958) - boys were socialised into values that went against societal norms and therefore meant they were more likely than others to engage in deviant/criminal behaviour (focal concerns).

Fate is the belief that little can be done to change social status and one’s way of living so they give up. Find people who want to change that idiotic as it is futile to wan to change your status.

Question 77

The functionalist view of crime:

How does trouble link to W/C boys being socialised in a way that means that they are more likely to commit crime? (use sociologist)

Answer 77

Miller (1958) - boys were socialised into values that went against societal norms and therefore meant they were more likely than others to engage in deviant/criminal behaviour (focal concerns).

Trouble is the acceptance that one’s life will involve violence therefore means that it is better to get involved that avoid it. Its in inevitable.

Question 78

Evaluation of Miller’s views on crime and deviance:

How does Miller not link gender to crime? e.g. WEAKNESS

Answer 78

Feminist argue that these focal concerns might be masculine values rather than lower-class ones. It is the way that these boys have been socialised to act hyper-masculine as girls don’t act the same way because they have been socialised to be subservient which means that they are less likely to commit crime e.g. toughness leads to men being dominant and instils patriarchy.

However, many of these “concerns” are also those of working-class girls, and therefore might be features of “lower-class” values or indeed of youth in general e.g. hyper-heterosexuality identity for girls. They act very feminine in order to appeal more to boys. They believe that their fate is already decided so there’s no point in trying to change it

Question 79

The functionalist view of crime:

How does everyone share the same values in society (use sociologist)

Answer 79

Matza (1964) - argues that everyone shares deviant values that lead some people to criminal and deviant behaviour but the majority are able to supress these feelings e.g. hidden values

People aren’t conformists/deviant, however people “drift” between both throughout their life.

If people had a different set of deviant values they would believe their deviant behaviour was appropriate/correct.
However, because people justify their behaviour or question their responsibility in terms of mainstream values it shows that everyone has the same ideas of what is deviant.

Therefore, they must understand and share those values.

Question 80

The functionalist view of crime:

What are the different responses when someone is caught committing a deviant act (neutralisation)

e.g. responsibility (use sociologist)

Answer 80

Matza (1964) - argues that everyone shares deviant values that lead some people to criminal and deviant behaviour but the majority are able to supress these feelings e.g. hidden values

Denial of responsibility - it wasn’t me/ it wasn’t my fault.

People deny responsibility so that people cannot pin the blame on them, even though they know that they were responsible. If they deny responsibility it means that they don’t have to feel bad about committing the crime.

Question 81

The functionalist view of crime:

What are the different responses when someone is caught committing a deviant act (neutralisation)

e.g. injury (use sociologist)

Answer 81

Matza (1964) - argues that everyone shares deviant values that lead some people to criminal and deviant behaviour but the majority are able to supress these feelings e.g. hidden values

Denial of injury - it didn’t hurt/ they have insurance.

People deny that it caused injury to others as it means that they don’t have to feel guilty about committing a crime e.g. if a person has a safety net, a person feels less bad for stealing as they think that it damages anything as others will sort it out. Means that they carry on committing crimes.

Question 82

The functionalist view of crime:

What are the different responses when someone is caught committing a deviant act (neutralisation)

e.g. victim (use sociologist)

Answer 82

Matza (1964) - argues that everyone shares deviant values that lead some people to criminal and deviant behaviour but the majority are able to supress these feelings e.g. hidden values

Denial of the victim - you deserved it/what did you expect.

People deny that the crime committed affected the victim because it means that they don’t have to feel guilty about hurting an innocent person. They can believe that they were in the right as the other person should have been expecting it meaning that they can carry on committing crime with that mindset.

Question 83

The functionalist view of crime:

What are the different responses when someone is caught committing a deviant act (neutralisation)

e.g. condemnation (use sociologist)

Answer 83

Matza (1964) - argues that everyone shares deviant values that lead some people to criminal and deviant behaviour but the majority are able to supress these feelings e.g. hidden values

condemnation of the condemners - you’re just as bad/ you’re only blaming me because …

People condemn others who have committed crime while they also do the same as it means that they can feel better about themselves. By condemning others it means that they can feel better about what they are doing because others are doing worse crimes

Question 84

The functionalist view of crime:

What are the different responses when someone is caught committing a deviant act (neutralisation)

e.g. loyalties (use sociologist)

Answer 84

Matza (1964) - argues that everyone shares deviant values that lead some people to criminal and deviant behaviour but the majority are able to supress these feelings e.g. hidden values

Appeal to high loyalties - I had to help my family/friends. I did it for my country/race/religion.

People appeal to higher loyalties as it enables them to have a higher sense of morality. The only reason why they committed that crime was to provide. They’re not really a bad person.

Question 85

Evaluation of Matza’s view on crime and deviance:

How do these techniques of neutralisation seem like excuses? (WEAKNESS)

Answer 85

These “techniques of neutralisation” look like excuses. People can use them to avoid punishment, rather than to “drift” back into mainstream values.

A criminal can be aware of what most consider unacceptable without sharing that belief.

Question 86

Key word:

What are techniques of neutralisation?

Answer 86

Methods in which criminals who commit illegitimate acts temporarily neutralize certain values within themselves which would normally prohibit them from carrying out crimes

Question 87

Evaluation of Matza’s view on crime and deviance:

How can techniques of neutralisation be seen as deviant values? (WEAKNESS)

Answer 87

Techniques of neutralisation may be deviant values.

The belief that victims are partly responsible for being victims or that higher loyalties justify crimes can be examples of the deviant norms and values of a criminal subculture.

Question 88

Evaluation of Matza’s view on crime and deviance:

How is Matza correct linking that just because someone is deviant when young doesn’t mean when they get older they will continue to be? (STRENGTH)

Answer 88

Matza - many people may be delinquents when they are young and then go on to lead respectable lives as adults e.g. bank managers.

This shows that it is not that they have been socialised into a different set of norms and values. Them being are able to conform to mainstream values shows that they were as socialised into the value consensus that means that they don’t practice deviant behaviour in their youth.

Question 89

Evaluation of functionalist explanations of crime:

How do Marxists criticise the functionalist perspective of crime? (WEAKNESS)

Answer 89

Marxists argue that functionalists fail to consider where the rules or the laws come from. Although Durkheim argues for small changes over time. They see the law as a reflection of this change of the value consensus and those who disagree are deviant.

However, laws don’t reflect the collective conscience of a society, but are created by the state in order to benefit the bourgeoisie e.g. health and safety bills are made to make sure that the w/c don’t hurt themselves so that they can work more and make the M/C more profit.

These laws reflect the interests of a bourgeoisie which are minority of people compared to the W/C.

Question 90

Evaluation of functionalist explanations of crime:

How do Feminists criticise the functionalist perspective of crime? (WEAKNESS) (use sociologist)

Answer 90

Feminists argue functionalist theories of crime and deviance ignore gender. There is a gender blindness in the theories in which the W/C boys are mentioned many time but never W/C girls.

Murray - Men’s criminality is the fault of women. Matrifocal, single-parent families do not provide boys with positive male role models and thus contribute to the creation of an underclass.

Question 91

Evaluation of functionalist explanations of crime:

How do Post-modernists criticise the functionalist perspective of crime? (WEAKNESS) (use sociologist)

Answer 91

Post-modernists argue that crime is pointless and not functional. Crime happens because of boredom, excitement, rather than because of shared subcultural values or in order to facilitate social change.

Lyng - the idea that people like taking risks, including involvement in criminal behaviour.

Question 92

Evaluation on the functionalist view of crime:

How do functionalists see crime as linking it boredom/excitement? (use sociologist)

Answer 92

Not everyone is attracted to a life of crime; many people few if any risks. Those who do might be socialised into doing so by belonging to a deviant subculture. Risk-taking might be a “focal concern”.

If people commit crime out of boredom, this links to how deviance provides a safety valve in society so that people can realise tension Kingsley (1976).

Minor crime can release some of the tensions in society that, if not relieved, could lead to more unrest. People commit bigger crimes.