Functionalist theories on crime and subculture theories Flashcards
What do functionalist think crime is due to?
That we all have a value consensus, of material success however not everyone have the same means of getting there .
how is crime functional for society?
allows youths to release stress
creates limitations of behaviour
criminals are an example of an not to behave
encourages social change
provides the middle class with jobs like police, social workers etc
Why is crime inevitable in society?
Something will always be considered deviant
functionalists believe that a deviance begins with society as a whole
everyone in society is not as equally committed to collective sentiments
crime is higher in advance industrial countries
What did Durkheim suggest?
A ‘society of saints’ in such a society there would be no murder or robbery but there would still be deviance as the slightest slip would be regarded as a serious offense and would response with disapproval
how does crime strengthen social cohesion?
by publicly condemning those who have broken significant rules , we are aware of the norms and values e.g. crimes on children we then united against condemned ,strengthening social cohesion
what does Durkheim say about about punishment?
states the function of punishment is not to remove crime, but to heal the wounds done to ‘collective sentiments’
what is meant by the term anomie?
when too much social change occurs , people loose sight of norms and values , referred to a state of normness . The rules of society have broken down and people loos sight of how to behave e.g. London riots
what is a critique of Merton?
Not all people who experience social change turn to crime
Cannot explain why social change occurs in the first place( too simplistic)
why does strain theory apply to western society s?
people in western cultures, put too much emphasis on values of competition success and wealth not all groups can achieve this.
What is a critique of Merton?
Doesn’t account for groups who do not share society s value consensus , this is prominent in the uk as we are a diverse culture with conflicting goals
what is Mertons strain theory?
memebers of society are not placed in the same social position and they do not all have the same opportunity of achieving these shared values
who is most likely to commit crime according to strain theory?
People at the bottom of the ladder find it hardest to succeed therefore they are the ones more likely to seek alternatives routes to succeed.
what does Hirschi say about crime?
we have attachments to society that stop us from committing crime e.g our family have raised us , put time, effort and money into giving us a future , committing crime might let them down or disappoint them
What are the other things in society that stop us from committing crime?
Commitment : being arrested or convicted of a crime can cause us to lose in society . The groups with the most commitment are likely to abide by the law e.g. mothers
Involvement: Groups who lack the means of crime will have the least involvement e.g. girls have less chance of getting involved / curfews / being kept at home
Belief: Others in society are important , we tend to believe that causing others distress is wrong
what are the 5 types of response to anomie ?
conformist, innovator, ritualist , retreatist , rebel
what are the meanings of each response?
Conformist , has the right values and means of achieving them
Innovator- has the same goals just lack the means of achieving goals
Ritualist - have a lack in goals but still share the means
Retreatist- have no goals and no means to achieve them e.g. drug users
Rebel - Dont have the same goals and means as society , but tend to have their own
according to merton which social class commits most crime?
working class
what is the cause of crime according to cohen?
status frustration- realise that working class cannot achieve through middle class terms
How does Cloward and Ohlin critique merton?
Agree that w/c youths are denied opportunities and deviance is stemed from this, but not everyone adopts to it by turning to innovator (different subcultures respond in different ways)
what might subcultures form instead?
criminal subcultures
Provides youths with career in crime arises from only from local crime culture e.g. family members are already involved
conflict subcultures -sense of purpose
Retreatist - seek drags for comfort
what are the three subcultures youths get involved in?
criminal, conflict and retreatist
what does miller say about crime?
that working class boys have focal concerns major interests and involvements that are likely to lead to delinquency
what are the focal concerns?
smartness- a person should look good and be witty
trouble - dont go looking for it but,,, ‘
excitement: important to search out thrills
toughness- being physically strong is important and being able to demonstrate this
autonomy- not to be pushed around by others
fate- cant avoid their fate
what is a critique of miller?
little evidence to show these are specifically working class values
what does matza say about crime?
agrees people have the same norms and values , then reject them during certain situations
what are subterranean values?
hidden impulses, that only tend to emerge in certain situations
what is a technique of neutralization?
techniques used to justify crime
what are examples of techniques of neutralization?
denial of responsibility denial of injury denial of victims condemnation of the condemners appeal to higher loyalties
what is drift?
people do not turn to crime permanently , but tend to drift in and out of deviancy
what supports drift theory?
evidence from football lads who drft in and out of crime but still maintain everyday e.g. jobs and family
what are critiques of matza?
doesnt explain females
highly organized gangs not accounted for - these people do not drift in and out of delinquency
