Functionalist theory of crime✅ Flashcards
describe Durkheim’s view on crime and deviance
- certain amount of crime is necessary and functional within society
- required for society to evolve
- however too much weakens value consensus and society is entering a time of anomie
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SWAB
what are the different functions of crime according to Durkheim
- safety valve
- warning device
- adaptation and change
- boundary maintenance
describe Safety Valve as a function of crime according to Durkheim
- some behaviour prevents further harm from occurring
- EG: Davis says prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of men’s sexual frustration ∴ reducing sexual crimes
describe Warning Device as a function of crime according to Duekhiem
- Cohen says some deviant acts can indicate when an institution isn’t functioning properly
- this highlights the problem so it can be fixed so society can run smoothly
- EG: school attendance
describe Adaption and Change as a function of crime according to Durkheim
- all change starts with deviance
- while challenging existent norms is deemed deviant at the time, it allows for people’s views to be heard and for society to evolve
- without this, society would stagnate and not make necessary changes
- eg: suffragettes
describe Boundary Maintenance as a function of crime according to Durkheim
- reinforces boundaries of acceptable behaviour
–> Strengthens value consensus - community comes together from horrific crimes
- public opinion on crime can result in law change
what are some overall A03 points of Durkheim’s view on crime
- useful explanation ✅
- Marxists criticize ❌
describe an A03 point of Durkheim’s view on crime regarding usefulness
- useful explanation
- offers social explanations for the causes of crime as opposed to crime being psychologically and biologically determined
- the implication for society is that crime levels can be controlled by social engineering
describe an A03 point of Durkheim’s view on crime regarding Marxist criticism
- fails to consider social differences
- doesn’t explain relationship between crime and power
EG: police are more likely to focus on w/c crimes than crime done by powerful m/c ppl (white collar)
describe Merton’s strain theory on crime and deviance
- believed a consensus existed about what people’s lives should be (American dream) and how to achieve this legitimately
- however there is unequal access to goals
- strain is response to this inequality which causes crime
- conformity; innovation; ritualism; retreatism; rebellion
what are the 5 responses to strain according to Merton
- conformity
- innovation
- ritualism
- retreatism
- rebellion
describe Conformity as a response to strain according to Merton
- accepts goals through legitimate means
- wealth is achieved through hard work
- law-abiding citizens
describe Innovation as a response to strain according to Merton
- accept goals of society but dont have legit means of achieving them
- lean towards criminal behaviour
eg: burglary - mainly w/c
describe Ritualism as a response to strain according to Merton
- accept goals and means of achieving them
- have lost sight of ‘end goals’ but continue to try
- happy with what they have and do not aspire to greater wealth
describe Retreatism as a response to strain according to Merton
- reject goals of success and money through legitimacy
- often react through dropping out of society
- eg drug addicts, tramps
describe Rebellion as a response to strain according to Merton
- reject goals and mean of sucess
- would like to replace them with radical alternatives to bring out social change
- eg: political activists
what are some overall A03 points of Merton’s strain theory
- explains crime statistic patterns✅
(HWV crime stats are unreliable) - only explains utilitarian crime ❌
describe an A03 point of Merton’s Strain Theory regarding explaining crime statistic patterns
- most crime is property crime cause America values wealth so highly
- lower class crime rates are higher as they have fewer opportunities to obtain wealth legtiemately
HOWEVER–> statistics on crime are often unreliable, especially as not all crime gets reported (‘hidden figure’)
describe an A03 point of Merton’s Strain Theory regarding only explaining utilitarian crimes
- doesnt explain non-utitilitarian crimes eg: murder
- it assumes a value consensus - that everyone strives for monetary success
- explains how deviance results from individual adaptation to strain but ignores the role of group deviance
Marxists argue it ognores the powers of the ruling classes to enforce laws which criminalise the poor but not the rich
describe Hirschi’s bonds of attachment theory
- focused on why people don’t commit crime
- focused on what holds people in check rather than what propels criminal activity
- crime occurs when people’s attachment to society is weakened (anomie)
- attachment; commitment; involvement; belief
what are the four crucial bonds which bind us together according to Hirschi’s Bond of Attachment Theory
- attachment
- commitment
- involvement
- belief
describe Attachment as a crucial bond according to Hirschi
- how much we care about what others think
- eg: spouses; children
describe Commitment as a crucial bond according to Hirschi
- how much we have to lose
- eg: good job
describe Involvement as a crucial bond according to Hirschi
- how immersed we are in society
- what takes upon our time eg: hobbies, volunteering…
- do we have time to commit crime
describe Belief as a crucial bond according to Hirschi
- the extent to which we belief obeying the law is right
- how strong our personal moral code is
describe the Cambridge Study of Delinquent Development as supporting evidence for Hirschi
- 411 London males followed up from age 8-32 (longitudinal)
- important childhood predictors of delinquency were :
-antisocial behaviour
-family criminality
-poverty - marriage, employment and moving out of London fostered resistance
- early prevention studies are needed to target poverty and poor parenting
according to Hirschi, those who are most likely to commit crimes are those who:
- don’t have family attachments
- don’t have work employment
- don’t get involved with school
- don’t have clear moral code
what are some overall A03 points of Hirschi’s Bonds of Attachment theory
- useful explanation ✅
- capitalism creates reserve army of labour through unemployment❌
describe an A03 point of Hirschi’s Bonds of Attachment theory regarding usefullness
- introduces ideas on how to prevent crime and achieve social order
- Hirschi’s ideas have influenced policymakers –> they are interested in how attachment can be promoted, and deviance reduced
describe an A03 point of Hirschi’s Bonds of Attachment theory regarding Capitalism
- capitalism deliberately produces marginalised individuals to create a reserve army of labour
- this helps the bourgeoisie keep the proletariat in their position
- HOWEVER –> outdated view; not all unemployed people want to work
what are some overall A03 points of the Functionalist theories of crime
- look at structural impact ✅
- feminists criticise ❌
describe an A03 point of Functionalist theories of crime regarding looking at structure
- each theory looks at how structural issues such as integration and cultural goals impact the individual
describe an A03 point of Functionalist theories of crime regarding feminist criticism
- functionalists ignore gender differences
- most refer to ‘lower class boys’ but show no attention to presence of girls
- most classic functionalists don’t blame girls, just ignore them
