theories of crime and deviance Flashcards
what are the functionalists ideas on crime and deviance?
- everything in society has a function
-everyone is socialised into “value consensus” and the idea we share norms and values
what does durkheim say about the benefits of crime to society? ( the 4 positive functions)
boundary maintaince, enable social change, safety valve and warning device
how does crime strengthen collective values(boundary maintenance)
- when horrific crime happen, the media reports it in a way that allows people to stand together against the criminals
- reinforces the boundaries between right and wrong
how does crime enable social change?
-some deviance is needed to allow change and to move forward and progress
-e.g homosexuality and abortion
-e.g pankhurst suffragettes movement
e.g nelson mandela conspiracy to overthrow state
how does crime act as a ‘ safety valve ‘?
and davis argument on prostitution
- deviance may allow people to release stress in a way that avoids more serious violence
e.g vandalism
Davis said prostitution was functional for society(men can take out their frustrations)
it allows for people to seek a sexual variety without compromising and messing up other marriage
-will be some people who can’t find a partner
how can crime act as a warning device?
include london riots
-indication that society isn’t working well
-e.g increase in crime such as theft explains that there’s issues that needs resolving
- london riots e.g theft suggested poverty
-riots seen as society coming together collectively and expressing anger towards police for blackman shot dead due to racism
what are the negative aspects of crime and deviance according to durkheim?
-anomie= great periods of great social change or stress and collective conscience becomes unclear
challenged without new values and norms becoming established
so uncertainty over what behaviour is acceptable
-egoism- collective conscience becomes too weak to restrain selfish desires of individuals
if individuals aren’t successfully socialised to accept collective values end up putting own interests before those of society and committing crimes
what is mertons strain theory?
-it’s what happens when society places huge amount of emphasis on roles such as wealth and success but deny people the opportunity to achieve these legitimately= leading to strain
(society makes you feel you should get rich but its hard)
what is the american dream?
-based the idea that success and happiness can’t be fulfilled by having material possessions such as good house and car
-ideology of the dream is that america is meritocratic society and everyone can achieve this easily
(not everyone can)
-strain between cultural goal of money and success lack legitimate(legal) opportunities to achieve
-loads of pressure to resort to crime
-merton calls this strain
what is adaptations to strain?
-merton argues that an individuals position in social structure(status) affects the way they respond to strain
-5 diff types of adaption depend on whether individual accepts, rejects or replaces approved cultural goals and legitimate means to achieve them
how can we evaluate merton?
-takes some crime statistics at face value which show crime as a working class phenomenom
-not all poor people commit crime- theory is deterministic
-MARXISt= ignore the power of the ruling class- criticise the poor
-only accounts crime that gains but what ab rape, vandalism, violence?
why does durkheim think crime will stay in every society?
-certain behaviours will attract repression
-‘conscience collective ‘ sought to determine whats criminal
-saints would still hold a degree of disgust to some behaviours
-simply comes down to opinion
why are crimes committed according to D?
-individual circumstances, historical exp and genes
why should controls placed upon society not be too strong?
-society feels repressed
-society cant be changed
-needs to evolve and develop
why is law breaking good according to D?
-brings future morality e.g damage and riots in civil rights movement
-prepare for change
-beacon of light is always there
