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Sociology Alevel > Theories on Crime - 4.1 (Functionalism & Strain Theories) > Flashcards

Theories on Crime - 4.1 (Functionalism & Strain Theories) Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Deviance

A

Actions going against norms/values of a society

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2
Q

Crime

A

Behaviour breaking law of a society

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3
Q

Social Control

A

How our behaviour is controlled by society to conform to norms & values e.g. gov, police, media

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4
Q

Social Construction

A

Norms & values are created by society e.g. crime shaped by culture/historical period

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5
Q

General Functionalist view on Crime & Deviance

A

> See society based on VC, disrupted by Crime

> But crime inevitable & natural & sometimes good 4 society.

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6
Q

Functionalism (KS)

A

> Durkheim (Inevitability of Crime, BM & Change)

> Cohen (Warning)

> Erikson (Sanctioned Rule Breaking)

> Davis (Prostitution)

> Polsky (Porn)

> Merton (Strain Theory)

> Hirschi (Control Theory)

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7
Q

2 Reasons for Inveitability of Crime (Durkheim)

A

> Not all socialised w/ same values = diff & thus crime

> Anomie common in modernity

  • Due 2 diversity = creation of subcultures w/ norms vs mainstream, = crime.
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8
Q

Boundary Maintenance (Durkheim)

A

> Reinforces VC & CC

> Societies rejection distinctive from law breaking, understand behaviours wrong & shouldn’t be repeated

> Maintain boundary v good & evil e.g. public reaction to Manchester attacks

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9
Q

Adaptation & Change (Durkheim)

A

> All changes begin deviance, need 4 ppl 2 challenge values

> W/out deviance = no change, if new ideas are rejected, society stagnate

> Unable 2 make necessary changes e.g. votes for F

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10
Q

Cohen (Warning)

A

> Warning signal, something in societies not working properly to policymakers/leaders.

e.g. certain aspect of law needs reform

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11
Q

Erikson (Sanctioned Rule Breaking)

A

> Institutions e.g. police actually let crime occur e.g. festivals & carnivals

> Rules are relaxed w/ blind eye to deviance, so let off steam & don’t do darker crimes

> Eases transition from childhood - adulthood

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12
Q

Davis (Prostitution)

A

Safety valve 4 M’s sexual frustration, not threatening monogamous NF as it’s 1 off.

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13
Q

Polsky (Pornography)

A

Safe channel for sexual desires, not threatening monogamous NF, how adultery would.

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14
Q

General Criticisms of Functionalism

A

> No optimal measure of crime

> Causes fear & isolation individuals e.g. rape & ignorant helps society, not V

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15
Q

Criticisms of Adaptation & Change

A

Don’t always = social change e.g. BLM = attempts 2 nullify issues.

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16
Q

Hirschi’s Theory

A

> Focus ppl not doing crime

> due 2 control by bonds of attachment

> e.g. attachment, belief, commitment, involvement

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17
Q

Attachment - Hirschi

A

> Ppl conform to VC as criminality disrupts vital bonds

e.g. education & family, employment.

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18
Q

Belief - Hirschi

A

Extent of ppl’s belief in values e.g. crime as morally wrong, stops ppl doing it

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19
Q

Commitment - Hirschi

A

Ppl committed to society unlikely to undermine wishes of others.

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20
Q

Involvement - Hirschi

A

Ppl w/ extensive commitments, have no time 2 do crime.

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21
Q

Reason why Hirschi feels Crime still happens

A

> Lack of social bonds but also poor socialisation integration, impacts desire to conform to values.

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22
Q

Criticisms of Hirschi

A

> No explanation for why some don’t integrate into society & how crime is caused?

> Ignores pull factors e.g. peer pressure

23
Q

2 Factors for Engagement in Deviance (Merton)

A

> Structural; societies unequal opportunity structure

> Culutral: emphasis on success & less emphasis on how to achieve it legitimately.

24
Q

Merton & AD as Flawed

A

> Values material success, belief in meritocracy, but SF block chances

> Can’t achieve legit due 2 CF

> = stress & pressure to use llegit means, due to focus on success @ all costs = anomie

25
Q

Merton’s 5 Responses to Strain

A 
> Conformity
> Innovation
> Ritualism
> Retreatism
> Rebellion
26
Q

Conformity - Merton

A

Accept goals & try to achieve them legit e.g. MC

27
Q

Innovation - Merton

A

Accept goals & but try achieve them illegit e.g. theft - WC.

28
Q

Ritualism (Merton)

A

Give up on goals & simply plod on trying to achieve knowing they never will. e.g. lower MC

29
Q

Retreatism (Merton)

A

Rejects goals & legit means & drop out of society e.g. alcohol & drug abusers

30
Q

Rebellion

A

Replace existing goals & means w/ new ones w/ aim of social change e.g. protests

31
Q

Merton’s & Trends in Crime

A

> Property Crime is + as US values material wealth alot

> WC CR + can’t succeed legit

32
Q

Merton A03 (KS)

A

> Marxism

33
Q

Marxists A03 Merton (KS)

A

Ignores powers of state who enforce laws in ways criminalizing WC not UC.

34
Q

General Criticisms of Merton

A

> Assumes VC, everyone strives 4 material success, not all share goals, ppl have individual motivations > AD.

> Only focus on Util violence not non-util & only individual not group deviance (C).

35
Q

Subcultural Strain Theories (KS)

A

> Cohen (SF, ASH, Impact on Crime, Modern Application)
Cloward & Ohlin (3 Subcultures)
Messener & Rosenfeld (Institutional Anomie Theory)
Savelsberg (Impact of Communism)
Downes & Hansen

36
Q

Cohen & SF

A

> Due to SF by WC, due to inability to achieve success goals legit

37
Q

Cohen - ASH

A

> WC rejected from MC culture = SF = ASH- invert mainstream values

> Win status from peers w/ delinquency, what society praises ASS condemns

> e.g. respect of property, but boys gain status vandalising it.

38
Q

Cohen & Impact of ASH towards Crime

A

> Non util crime + common e.g. graffiti, asb, joy-riding

> Given status & form of revenge vs society.

39
Q

Cohen - SF & Contemporary Applications

A

> SF explain + NO of excluded kids doing crime, CR + w/

underachievers @ school.

40
Q

Criticisms of Cohen

A

> Assumes WC shared MC values initially, but may shared these & so reacting to failure

> SF don’t always = rebellion e.g. retreatism/ritualism

> Ignores CC

41
Q

C&O & Variation of Crime vs Areas

A

Diff areas give diff illegal chances to learn criminal skills & develop criminal careers.

42
Q

C&O’s 3 Subcultures

A

> Criminal
Conflict
Retreatist

43
Q

Criminal Subcultures

A

Youths get apprenticeship in crime learn from experienced members how to do crimes & slowly work way up, criminal career ladder.

44
Q

Conflict Subcultures

A

Areas of + pop w/ loose ties vs ppl fighting for territory for status from other gangs.

45
Q

Retreatist Subcultures

A

> Ppl who failing in legit & illegal opportunity structures ‘’2x failures’’

> e.g. drug abusers or alcoholics.

46
Q

Criticisms of C&O

A

> Too deterministic & overexaggerates extent of WC crime & opportunities available to youth.

> Ignore crimes of wealthy

47
Q

A03 C&O (KS)

A

> South (Overlap)
Matza (Commitment)
Miller (Subcultures)

48
Q

South Criticisms of C&O

A

3 subcultures overlap, drug trade mix of disorganised crime & professional mafia style.

49
Q

Matza Criticisms of C&O

A

Delinquents not really committed to subcultures, drift in & out of delinquency, often short lived.

50
Q

Miller Criticisms of C&O

A

> WC w/ own subculture values separate to mainstream culture

> Don’t value success in 1st place unfrustrated by failure.

51
Q

Messener & Rosenfeld (Institutional Anomie Theory)

A

> AD creates pressure 4 crime = widespread anomie,

> Anything goes mentality 2 get wealth, so + CR inevitable.

53
Q

Savelsberg - Impact of Fall of Communism on Crime Rates

A

> After fall of communism in 1989, CR + in east EU +

> Due to collective values being replaced by money success goals.

54
Q

Downes & Hansen

A

Countries spending more on welfare had lower imprisonment

Sociology Alevel (33 decks)

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