Functionalist views on Crime

Question 1

Who says crime is inevitable, and what does he/she mean by that?

Answer 1

(i) Durkheim
(ii) Not everyone is socialised equally so someone is bound to deviate.
Distinct subcultures are with own norms and values exist, mainstream culture may regard these as abnormal and perhaps deviant.

Question 2

What are the functions of crime? (Note functions means Functionalism)

Answer 2

1) Boundary maintenance - reminding people of right and wrong behaviours, e.g. showing horrendous cases of child abuse reminds us that it’s wrong. Particularly sensationalised stories help to maintain such.
2) Enabling social change - allowing new ideas to develop, progressing and not stagnating.
3) Safety Valve - Davis (1937) states that prostitution releases men’s sexual frustrations and thus prevents more serious crime.
4) Acts as a warning device for society - highlights that it’s institutions are not working well enough if there is too much crime; underlying social problems.

Question 3

Relating to functionalism, what does Erikson (1966) say about crime?

Answer 3

If it performs positive functions for society, then this suggest society is actually organised to promote deviance.

Question 4

Criticise Durkheim’s theory of crime

Answer 4

• States that a certain amount of crime is required for society, but how much is the right amount?
• States that it strengthens solidarity; but this doesn’t mean society creates crime in advance with intention of strengthening solidarity. Crime exist for other reasons?
• Very macro way of looking at crime, not micro level; i.e. individuals and groups, e.g. murder isn’t functional for victim.
• Doesn’t always promote solidarity, may lead to isolation through fear; people even might side with the ‘perpetrators’.

Question 5

Who created the Strain Theory?

Answer 5

Merton

Question 6

According to Strain Theory, why does one become deviant?

Answer 6

There is a strain between;

(i) the GOALS that encourages individuals to achieve.
(ii) institutions that provide the legitimate MEANS.

Question 7

What illusion is believed by many in the US? Explain it

Answer 7

‘The American Dream’
- hard-working, meritocratic society.
- more effort will equate to more success, more wealth
However, there are inequalities in society that get in the way of meritocracy.
= creates frustration –> pressure to deviate.
- In a society where winning is placed above all, some may turn to crime/.

Question 8

What are the 5 adaptations to strain? Explain them.

Answer 8

1) ‘Conformity’ = achieves goals and means legitimately; most people.
2) ‘Innovation’ = accept goals, but find new illegitimate means to obtain this, e.g. theft, selling drugs.
3) ‘Ritualism’ = giving up on trying to achieve goals but still believe in the legitimate means, ‘dead end jobs’.
4) ‘Retreatism’ = reject both the goals and legitimate means –> become dropouts, e.g. drunkards.
5) ‘Rebellion’ = reject existing ideas of goals by replacing them with new ones to bring about revolutionary change, e.g. terrorists.

Question 9

Criticise Merton’s Strain Theory.

Answer 9

• Takes official statistics at face value which over-represents working-class crime.
• Too deterministic; w/c experience most crime yet don’t deviate.
• Marxists = ignores the power of r/c and how they make laws to benefit the rich, not poor.
• Assumes there is a value consensus for the goal of money.
• Only accounts for utilitarian crime, not crimes of violence.
• Looks at individual responses, but ignores how it affects social groups, e.g. deviant subcultures.
• Doesn’t recognise outward appearing conformers may be innovators engaged in illegal activity, e.g. white collar.

Question 10

What is utilatarian crime?

Answer 10

Crime for monetary gain, e.g. fraud.