Functionalists and Subcultural

Question 1

Durkheim

Answer 1

• Crime performs both negative and positive functions.

- Crime is inevitable in all societies and small amounts indicates a healthy functioning society.

Question 2

Boundary maintenance (Durkheim)

Answer 2

• Deviant behaviour reinforces the value consensus of society.
• Society unites to condemn the wrong and create collective moral agreements.
• Eg. Public reactions to terrorism (London bombings)

Question 3

Enabled social change (Durkheim)

Answer 3

• Deviant behavior demonstrates a changing attitude of the population.
• As behaviours become the ‘norm’ for more people, society accepts the change.
• Eg. Civil rights movements began with protests

Question 4

Acts as a safety device (Durkheim)

Answer 4

• Eg. 2011 riots let off steam between members of society. - If there were no riots it may suggest that the political system oppresses people.
• Eg. Prostitution and pornography reduce tension.

Question 5

Acts as a warning device (Durkheim)

Answer 5

• Warns society that there’s an issue that needs to be addressed.
• Links with organic analogy

Question 6

Evaluations of Durkheim

Answer 6

• Difficult to measure the ‘optimal amount’

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Question 7

Merton

Answer 7

• C&D were a product of a dysfunctional society and was caused by strain and anomie.
• People had different reactions to the American dream

Question 8

Deviant adaptations to strain and anomie

Answer 8

• Conformity (Accept cultural goals and accept institutional means)
• Innovation (Accept cultural goals but reject institutional means)
• Ritualism (Reject cultural goals but accept institutional means)
• Retreatism (Reject cultural goals and reject institutional means)
• Rebellion (Replace cultural goals and replace institutional means)

Question 9

Evaluations of Merton

Answer 9

• Recognised the role of structural inequality and highlighted lack of opportunity
• Ethnocentric and outdated- Strain is dependent on wanting to achieve goals of 21st century.
• Only offers explanation for utilitarian crimes but doesn’t explain crimes of passion.
• Most font turn to crime

Question 10

Hirschi- Control theory

Answer 10

• Social control and social order are maintained through socialisation
• Looks at why the majority don’t commit crime rather than why the minority do
• Strong social bonds control individuals from committing crime.

Question 11

Social bonds

Answer 11

• Attachment (goals and methods to achieve like education and employment)
• Belief (Commitment to norms and values of society)
• Commitment (interactions people have with family)
• Involvement (Kept busy by leisure and activities so no time for crime)

Question 12

Evaluations of Hirschi

Answer 12

• Recognises the importance of socialisation
• Assumes people who commit C&D have broken away from bonds.
• It’s possible to be deviant and have tight social bonds

Question 13

Cohen

Answer 13

• Subcultural theories
• WC youth experience status frustration so they create a delinquent subculture. Eg. stealing replaces hard work.
• Often motivated by status rather than financial crime.

Question 14

Cloward and Ohlin

Answer 14

• There’s a diversity of responses among working class youths.
• Criminal subcultures
• Conflict subcultures
• Retreatist subcultures (rejected by both society and subculture)

Question 15

Evaluations of Cohen

Answer 15

• Explains working class delinquency as a group response rather than focused on individuals
• Assumes WC youths accept mainstream values.
• Miller argues males have always had their own subcultures due to masculinity regardless of mainstream culture.

Question 16

Evaluations of Cloward and Ohlin

Answer 16

• Gives insights into why working class delinquency may take different forms in different circumstances.
• Criticised for exaggerating the differences between the three types of subculture, as there is often overlap between them.