functionalists persepective of crimes Flashcards
what is crime
something that breaks the law. set out by the criminal justice system of a society
social constuction of crime and deviance
- contextual l
- cultural
- historical
- generational
contextual
behaviours are acceptable in certain situations.
- e.g - wearing a bikini on a beach is okay however, wearing a bikini in a classroom is unacceptable
cultural
varies through differant culture. for example, okay hand sign in brazil it is a vulga signal
- so what is considered rude and deviant varied throughout differant cuktures
historical
criminal and deviant behaviour change over time what once was acceptable can now be classed as deviant or illgal
Victorian era - same sex marriages divorce, sex before marrige
-
generational
some behaviours are acceptable for certain age groups, and some acctivis are illgal/devint forolder ge foups
- foe example, age restriction on drinking alchool. also seen as deviant if a 80 year d women went clubbing.
applying materisl from theitem, analyse two ways that crime and deviance is considered a social construction.
social consturction - an idea that has been created an accepted in society
point - another way that crime and deviance, can be seen as a social construction is through generational variance.
explain - this means, some behaviours are classed as deviant and illegal for certain age groups.
example - One example of this is age restricttion on driking. ue to children being vunerable theese age restrictions are placed upon certain activities.
link - there fore this shows that crime snd deviance is a social construction due to generation differences.
functionalist explanation on crime.
emile durkheim - was the first person to study crime. he felt an understanding in crime and deviance was essential to understand how society functions.
- durkheim saw crime as a particular problem of modernity - society built on free will
- Durkheim developed the term anomie - to explain why some people become dysfunctional and turn to crime,
what is anomie
- cause people to look after themselves not for the community.
societies past norms and values disappear - which leads to cause people to feel a lack of belonging
how might modernity cause crime
in pre-industrial society, crime was rarer due to powerful institution which enforced social control - powerful bodies like police, religion nuclear family
- people brought into value consensus of the community more than they do into modern society
functionalists also belive what about seculrisation
there is now a lesser sense of community due to secularisation people are more likely to experience anomieand therefor commit crimes.
Durkheim suggested tat crime can not be avoided - inevitable - and a certain amount is needed for society to function.
in society where there is little crime, they can get stagnant - they do not adopt to change to to meet evloving needs.
- However, if there is to much crime it is a sign anomie - confusion on acceptable behaviour.
durkehims argued crime cannot be escaped because not every member can be equally commited to the value consensus due to bing socialised differantly
- “society of saints”
would still encounter deviance - general standard of behaviour would be high so the slightest slip up would be seen as a major offence.
durkheim 3 positive functions of crime
- boundary maintance
- social cohesion
- adapion and change
boundary maintance
crime and deviance acts to remind people of what is and not acceptable in society
- throufh naming and shaming peole - it deters from them commiting crimes. - durkheim refers to this as boundary maintance
riot for the sothport girls - disapproval of those who are deviant and criminal
this then leads to strenghthen of collective value - social solidarity
those who looted where alos named and shame by the press alongside with other charges.
- namig and shaming people remind society this is not normal behaviour.
social cohesion
durkheim saw deviance as creating social cohesion.
by naming and shaming those who commit crim, it can bring society togheter to grief out they do not condem the criminals bheviour.
- bombing in 2017 - ariana grande concert. public united to griev for those who where killed. ut also to show they do not condem the extremists behaviours.
adaption and change
durkheim saw crime and deviance as promotin change in society.
deviant behaviour can be an indication that a social change is required.
- or there is problem within society - suffragetes used militant tactics for their cause.
other postive functionalsits functions of crime
safety value - Davis adds to Durkheim’s idea by stating minor criminal activities can act ask safety values
meaninf less deviant behaviours will happen.
- meaning individuals may commit theese low level crimes to release urges rather than commiting higher level crimes to release their urges.
-
polsky.
illustrated by looking at pornography. this stops crimes like rape from accuring. it is a safe way of releasing sexual fustration.
warning signs
- clinard and cohen also added to durkheim theory and they stated that a increase in crime in society suggests there is a dysfunction in society - e.g increase in pregnancy means thre needs to be change n the edcuation system.
evaluation on functionlits view omn crime
- as a macro approach
functionalists ignores the impact crime has on the victim
evaluation on functionlits view omn crime
durkheim mentioned crime is benefitial
- however how much is to much
evaluation on functionlits view on crime
isolation
- crime doesnt always cause social solidarity.
- it can in fact cause ostracization and isolaton for the victim and criminal.
mertons strain theory
strain theory was first developed by robert merton in 1940s. - explains therising crime rates experiened in the usa
- developing from durkheim of anomie
- functionalist merton explains why people commit crime through through creating the strain theory
what 2 elemets does mertonanomie combimine
- ask miss if this is the strain theory
structural theory - society’s unequal opportunity structure
cultrual factors - strong emphasis on success goals and the weaker emphasis using illegitimate means to achieve them
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Merton and the American dream
- Merton argued, the cultural system of USA was build on the AMERICAN DREAM. which is a sat of meritocratic principles. - work hard and get rewarded rather than family being rich.
- Merton pointed out the American dream was not true. people were not attained by all. the structual orgaanisation of usa ment the means to get on were not fairly distributed and it was difficult if not impossible for some to complete financial sucess.
what was the american dream
- the Ameican dream assured public that equal oppurtunity was available to all regardless of class, gender, ethnicity and class
- encourages indivduals to pusue a goal of succss which was measured in terms of wealth and materia posession
- people were expected to pusue this goal through legitimate means, such as education and hard work.
- dominant culture - if you are ambitious talented and hard working thwn income and wealth should be your reward.
