Functionalist theory

Question 1

Durkheim

Answer 1

‘Crime is normal… An integral part of healthy societies’

Inevitable = there must be a scale as to what is acceptable e.g. in a perfect world small scale actions like sneezing would be deviant 
Universal = crime can be reduced but it’s impossible to abolish, it exists in every society 
Relative = a criminal will vary from culture to culture (crime is a social construction)
Functional = serves a purpose for society

Question 2

Define Anomie

Answer 2

alienation from societies and norms/values (state of normlessness)

Question 3

Define Collective consciousness

Answer 3

the shared beliefs and values - value consensus

Question 4

Define Social order

Answer 4

distinctive social arrangements – maintain organisation/structure of society

Question 5

Ways crime and deviance can be used?

Answer 5

acts warn of problems that exist in the social system
helping society to progress
providing employment
acting as a safety valve
creating social cohesion
reaffirming boundaries of what’s acceptable

Question 6

Weaknesses of Durkheim’s theory

Answer 6

X ignores the concept of power
X does not offer a real explanation as to why certain people are more likely to commit deviant acts than others
X Ignores gender differences - malestream
X Ignores ethnic differences - ethnocentric

Question 7

Strengths of Durkheim’s theory

Answer 7

+ Breakthrough - small number of ‘sick’ induvial, rather they are an integral of society
+ Durkheim’s writing has been inspirational to other writers. E.g. Erikson has looked at the positive aspects of crime, whole Merton has considered the negative aspects

Question 8

Merton – strain theory

Answer 8

• argued many times of crime exists because society shares the same American dream (to be rich, successful and fulfilled)
• strain exists between goal and ambitions/their ability to achieve
• disadvantaged groups are denied opportunities (poverty, inadequate schools and discrimination)

Question 9

Kai Erikson – Wayward Puritans

Answer 9

• Argues society is organised to promote deviance making crime inevitable
• agencies of social control produce rather than prevent crime, further developed by the labelling theory of deviance (witchcraft)
  Deviant behavior – maintain control

Question 10

Wayward Puritans

Answer 10

deviant behavior is often a valuable resource in society - allowing for the maintenance of coherent social order

He concluded that the crime waves and public hangings acted as an attempt to unite the community against a common enemy (witches), strengthening authority

Question 11

Strengths of Merton’s strain theory

Answer 11

+ early attempt to explain crime and deviance in term of culture and structure of society
+ alternative to biological and psychological theories -offered an explanation for working class crime
+ Explains statistics - WC is higher for wealth
+ Hannon and Defonzo’s - (more money is less strain) higher welfare provisions (benefit system) lead to less crime

Question 12

Weaknesses of Merton’s strain theory

Answer 12

✕ Why do some people and not others adopt deviant adaptations

✕ Merton’s theory focuses on induvial rather than groups?

✕ Non-utilitarian crime is not explained, what about vandalism?

✕ What about WWC committed by those who already have the American dream?

Question 13

Hirschi - ”Why do some people commit crime”

Answer 13

• Society is held together by bonds based on social cohesion
• Criminal activity occurs when the induvial bond to society is weakened

Question 14

What are Hirschi’s bonds (CABI)?

Answer 14

• Commitment – the personal investments each of us make in our lives
• Attachment – the extent to which we care about other people’s opinions
• Belief – refers to a person’s conviction that they should obey the rules of society
• Involvement – describes a person’s level of legitimate activity or business