Sociological Theories

Question 1

What do structural theories belive

Answer 1

that society is made up of different social agencies, for example, the media m, the family, education and the justice system

Question 2

What do Functionalism believe causes crime

Answer 2

the feeling of Anomie - when an individual doesn’t confrom to the norms and standards of society and/or feels excluded or marginalised from the social collective

Question 3

Durkheim believes that crime is…?

Answer 3

1. Inevitable - its found in all societies
2. relative - it varies between societies and over time
3. Functional - it has a purpose in the society

Question 4

what are the functions of crime

Answer 4

1. reaffirming the boundaries - when a person breaks the law and is taken to court, the action in court and the media publicy reaffirms the existing values of the society
2. Changing values - deviance can draw attention to the change in norms and values
3. Social Cohesion - when a horrific crime happens, it can draw the community together in a shared outrage creating a sense of belonging
   Safety Valve - small crimes provide a harmless way for someone to express their discontent within a community
   Warning Light - high levels of deviance indicate that an institution isn’t functioning properly

Question 5

Strengths of Durkheim

Answer 5

● he was the first to recognise that crime can have positive functions for societies
● the theory is good at explaining inequalities in a society
● the extent of crime shows what needs to be changed in the society

Question 6

Weaknesses of Durkheim

Answer 6

● he doesn’t clearly state what the right about of crime/deviance is in the society for it to function well
● crime isn’t functional for the victims
● it doesn’t explain why some individuals turn to criminal behaviour while others in the same situation don’t

Question 7

Mertons strain theory

Answer 7

there is a strain between society’s aspirations and the means by which they can be achieved, he explains how crime and deviance can be a product of societies norms and values

Question 8

what does Merton mean by blocked aspirations

Answer 8

the society places a great importance on money and material possession (the American dream) but not everyone has the opportunity to achieve them

Question 9

what are modes of adaptation

Answer 9

ways of dealing with blocked aspirations
1. conformity
2. innovation
3. ritulaism
4. retreatism
5. rebellion

Question 10

Modes of Adapation - conformity

Answer 10

accepting both the goals and the legitimate means of achieving them

Question 11

Modes of Adapation - innovation

Answer 11

Accepting the goal but finding illegal ways to achieve it

Question 12

Modes of Adapation - ritualism

Answer 12

giving up striving for success

Question 13

Modes of Adapation - Retreatism

Answer 13

reject the goal and the means of achieving them

Question 14

Modes of Adapation - Rebellion

Answer 14

Rejecting the existing goal and replace them with a new one with the aim of changing the society

Question 15

Strengths of Mertons Theory

Answer 15

● shows how both normal and deviant behaviour can arise from the same goals
● explains why the lower class commit more crimes - they are more likely to have blocked aspirations

Question 16

Weaknesses of the Strain Theory

Answer 16

● ignores crimes of the wealthy
● sees crime as an individual response to achieve goals and ignores crimes committed by the deviant subcultures who commit crime in groups

Question 17

Capitalism

Answer 17

an economic system in which trade industry and the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit