THEORIES OF CRIME - FUNCTIONALISM Flashcards
what 2 names are key for functionalism?
Durkheim and Merton
what type of theory is functionalism?
a macro consensus theory, meaning they see crime as beneficial for society
the four functions of crime according to Durkheim were…
deviance as a safety valve
anomie
boundary maintenance
social solidarity
who said deviance was a safety valve?
Davis
what does deviancy as a safety valve mean?
small crimes allow individuals to ‘let off steam’ rather than committing a worse crime
what is an example of deviance as a safety valve?
men going to see a prostitute to satisfy sexual urges instead of raping someone
what is anomie according to Durkheim?
anomie is the breakdown of value consensus in society
what did Durkheim say prevents anomie?
small amount of crime and deviance prevents anomie as long as it is punished
if too much crime and deviance occurs, what happens?
anomie which threatens society, can be due to change in government, economic upheaval or a disaster
what happens if there is no crime according to Durkheim?
become a ‘society of saints’, but petty actions such as burping become punished
what is boundary maintenance?
crime and deviance allows people to know the boundaries of society
what needs to occurs for boundary maintenance?
punishment of deviance by agencies of social control for example by the police
what is social solidarity?
sense of cohesion felt by society
what does a shared outrage lead to?
public temper where everyone is outraged together e.g. Madeleine McCann’s disappearance
collective conscience is…
people in society share the same set of values, community controls itself using sanctions expressed through shock, horror or outrage
what does Durkheim not explain?
doesn’t actually explain why crime happens
what three things does Durkheim not explain?
why crime happens
why some people commit more crime than others
why people are deviant in different ways
Durkheim doesn’t consider?
the effects of crime on an individual, or issues such as who creates the law and who can dodge it
what is Merton’s strain theory?
clear goals in society and clear means, people who don’t have the means find alternative ways to succeed
what is anomie according to Merton?
gap between goal and means
who usually experiences anomie according to Merton?
the lower class because they haven’t got the means to achieve
what do the lower class turn to in order to achieve their goals according to Merton?
turn to illegitimate means
what does Merton blame for crime?
the capitalist society for materialism
what are the five modes of adaption?
conformist - achieve normally
innovation - think creatively, have goals but not means
ritualism - scale down goals in order to achieve
retreatism - retreat from society e.g drug addicts, rejects
rebellion - reject society’s goals, replace them
out of the five modes of adaption, which two commit crime?
innovators
rebels
how can Merton’s theory be criticised?
goals of financial success is not universal e.g. family or love
can fall into multiple modes of adaption
deviance can be communal e.g. deviant subcultures
