functionalist views of crime Flashcards
what two key things are needed for social solidarity?
socialisation and social control
what does durkheim say about crime for society?
it’s inevitable and universal and the right amount is good for society
why does durkheim say crime is inevitable?
not everyone is socialised equally.
diversity of lifestyles, experiences and values
why does durkheim say modern society leads to crime?
rules governing norms become weaker and less clear-cut, leading to uncertainty. we are more different and so less social solidarity.
what are the 4 functions of crime?
boundary maintenance
warning light
safety valve
adaption and change
what does durkheim mean by boundary maintenance?
crime creates reaction in society, uniting them and reinforcing shared n+vs.
publicity reinforce values and shames and stigmatises offender.
what does durkheim say about adaption and change?
all change starts with act of deviance, new ideas and values mustn’t be stifled by social control. society adapts to new ideas rather than stagnate.
eg suffragettes, gay rights
what is the safety valve and who talks about it?
davis - prostitution acts as release for men’s sexual frustration without threatening family.
minor crimes can prevent more serious ones.
what is the warning light and who talks about it?
cohen - deviance indicates when institution is malfunctioning and shows that change is needed.
strength of functions of crime?
highlights importance of crime and deviance as part of organic analogy and shows positive functions of crime.
weaknesses of functions of crime?
crime clearly isn’t positive for victim.
doesn’t say how much crime is right amount - subjective.
doesn’t explain why some people commit crime and some don’t
ignores how some groups have more influence on law making
ignores labelling
who talks about strain theory?
merton
what is strain theory?
crime is a result of strain between cultural goals and structural factors (structure of society)
what is strain to anomie?
american culture puts more emphasis on achieving goals than doing do legitimately. not everyone has same opportunities to achieve shared goals so this creates strain to anomie.
explain mertons 5 responses to cultural goals?
conformity - accept goals and legit means of achieving.
innovation - accept goals but reject legit ways eg stealing.
ritualism - reject goals but accept legit ways eg low m/c jobs, love rules.
retreatism - reject goals and legit ways of doing them eg addiction.
rebellion - replace both with new means eg hippies/terrorists.
strengths of merton’s theory?
Shows how any behaviour can arise from shared goals.
Offers explanation for utalitarian crimes.
criticisms of merton’s theory?
ignores dark figure of crime
ignores power of ruling class to make and enforce laws in ways to criminslise poor
only accounts for utalitarian crimes - ignores murder.
assumes that all w/c people had shared goals to begin with.
how does hirschi differ from durkheim?
talks about why people DON’T commit crime rather than why they DO.
explain hirschi’s 4 bonds of attachment.
attachment - how would spouse/children react to crime.
commitment - what do we have to lose (job?)
involvement - how involved in community are you?
belief - personal moral code
according to hirschi, who is most likely to commit crime?
those with no family, attachments, work commitments or moral code.
strength of hirschi’s theory?
focuses on what stops people from committing crime.
introduces idea of how to prevent crime and achieve social order, have influenced policymakers.
criticism of hirschi’s theory?
doesn’t address why some members of society have secure bonds and why others don’t.
how does cohen explain crime?
w/c boys face anomie in m/c education system. culturally deprived and lack skills to achieve and suffer status frustration. therefore they create subcultures where status can be earnt through delinquent acts (alternative status hierarchy)
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