Functionalist view of Crime Flashcards
Definition of Value Consensus
Shared norms, values, beliefs and goals. A common culture is shared among members of society.
Explain 2 reasons why crime is inevitable across all societies and who argues this
Functionalist Durkheim
- Not everyone equally socialised into society’s norms and values so some are prone to deviate
- Diversity of lifestyles and cultures will ultimately cause conflict of interest. What subcultures view as norms, mainstream societies view that as deviant acts.
Define anomie
Durkheim - anomie: normlessness. Rules governing norms becoming less clear.
2 Functions of Crime? (Durkheim)
Boundary Maintenance- members of society are united to condemn deviant behaviour re-enforcing social solidarity and consensus.
Adaptation and Change- Changes to existing social norms will be seen as acts of deviance but their values may give rise to new cultures. Society not able to adapt without someone implemeting new ideas and at first, because it is an anomolie, they will be punished.
Functions of Crime (Cohen)
Acts as a warning that institute is not functioning properly and policy-makers must make changes.
Functions of Crime (Davis)
Prostitution although deviant is a coping mechanism for men that are sexually frustrated. Acting as a safety valve to ease tensions so as to not ruin monogamous nuclear family (ie divorce).
Criticisms
Durkheim argues society needs deviance to maintain structure but does not state how much structure.
Strengthening social solidarity is not the reason crime exists. No intention to unite society when crime is committed.
Crime can isolate people ie women stay at home more because of fear of rapists.
What is Merton’s Strain Theory
attempt to explain utilitarian crime and why individuals commit crime.
People commit crime as a way
to achieve illegitimately when they cannot achieve legitimately in mainstream society. This can cause frustration.
Factors that affect strain theory
Structural Factors- society’s structure provides unequal opportunity to achieve
Cultural Factors- strong emphasis on achieving goals with low emphasis on how to achieve goals
American Dream (Cultural Factor)
Pressure to achieve a goal by legitimate means.
However..
Myth of meritocracy where disadvantaged groups do not get same opportunities leading to status frustration = pressure to deviate resulting in acts of crime to ease frustration and to achieve the American dream.
4 different ways to deviate
- Innovation- individuals accept mainstream goals but create new ways to achieve them. ie shoplifting. Typically W/C
- Ritualism- Given up on trying to achieve mainstream goals but follow rules. ie job centre clerk
- Retreatism- individuals reject mainstream goals and and lehitimate means = drop outs ie drug addicts, tramps
- Rebellion - Individuals who want change so create new subculture with new goals and means of legitimate opportunities. ie hippies
Evaluation of Merton
Does not suggest solutions to crime
Assumes everyone strives for mainstream goals from beginning but not always reality
Data findings come from official statistics where W/C people over-represented and invalid.
Subcultural Strain Theories
Cohen - status frustration
Cloward and Ohlin - 3 types of subcultures
Status Frustration (Cohen)
Explains non-utilitarian crime and group crime.
W/C boys unable to achieve status by legitimate ways (through education) leading to status frustration. They then reject mainstream values and form delinquent subcultures with like-minded boys. Complete rejection of mainstream values whereby truancy and vandalism is applauded and status is gained
Criticisms
MATZA - Not all boys who commit deviant acts are deviants, drift in and out of delinquency
Assumes boys accepted mainsream values firs before rejecting them, not always the case
