T1-functionalist strain and subcultural theories

Question 1

the sociology of crime and deviance is about …

Answer 1

rules and rule breaking, who makes and eenforces the rules

Question 2

functionalists see deviance as .. (4)

Answer 2

• disruption social stbility
• inevitable
• and benificial
• universal

Question 3

functionalists are interested in … (2)

Answer 3

• cause of deviance eg. blocked opportunities
• deviant subcultures

Question 4

deviant subcultures definition

Answer 4

groups whos valkue are opposed to wider society

Question 5

functionalists belive that society is in …

Answer 5

concenus - shares a common culture

Question 6

culture definition

Answer 6

set of shared norms (rules ), values, beliefs and goals.

Question 7

sharing the same culture produces …

Answer 7

social solidarity - it binds people together, telling them what to strive for and how to conduct themselves.

Question 8

solidarity is achieved with two key mechanisms …(2)

Answer 8

• socialisation –> instils the shared culture into its members. this helps to ensure that individuals internalsie thr same norms and values, and that they feel it right to act in the ways that society requires
• social control –> mechanisms include rewards (or positive sanctions ) for conformity and punishments (negative sanctions) for deviance, this helps to ensure that individuals behave in ways soceity expects

Question 9

two reasosn why crime and deviance is found in all societies - (2) funct

Answer 9

• not everyone is equally effectivly socialised into the shared norms and values, so some individuals will be prone to deviate
• there is a diversity of lifestyles and values in modern society. different groups develop their own subcultures with distinctive norms and values, and what the members of the subcultures regard as normal, mainstream culture may see as deviant.

Question 10

durkhiem - anomie

Answer 10

modern societys tend towards normlessness - te rules governing behavior become weaker and less clear cut.

Question 11

anomie and suicide - durkheim

Answer 11

anomie is the cause of suicide

Question 12

anomie in modern society

Answer 12

modern societies have a complex, specialised divison of labour, which leads to individuals becoming increasingly differnent from one another. this weakens shared culture or collective consciousness and results in higher levels of deviance.

Question 13

postive functions of crime (2)

Answer 13

-boundary maintinance
adaptation and change

Question 14

3. boundary maininance

Answer 14

crime produces a reaction frim society, unighting its members in condemnation of the wrongdoer and reinforcing thier commitment to the shared norms and values.

Question 15

2. adaptation and change

Answer 15

all change starts with an act of deviance. individuls with new ideas, values and ways of living must not be completely stifled by the weight of social control. there musst be some scope for them to challenge and change exsisting norms, values and in the forst instance this will appear as deviance.
eg. religious visionaries

Question 16

2 ways that crime signals the malunctioning of the social system 2) - durkheim

Answer 16

• too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society apart
• too little means that society is repressing and controlling it members too much, stifling individual freedom and preventing change.

Question 17

kingsly davis (1937+ 1961) - positive function of crime

Answer 17

prostetution acts as a safety valve for the rekleaseof mens sexual frustrations without treatning the monogamous nucear family

Question 18

Ned polsky (1967) - postive function of crime

Answer 18

argues that porn safely channels a variety of sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultury, which would pose a much greater threat to the family.

Question 19

Albert cohen - positive function of deviance

Answer 19

• deviance acts as a warning that an institution is not functioning properly

Question 20

kai erikson (1966)

Answer 20

crime/ deviance is inevitable. if deviance performs positive social functions then perhaps society is supposed to promote deviance . he suggests that the true function of agenncies of control is actually to maintain a certain level of crime ratger than rid society of it.