Topic 1- Functionalism Flashcards
Crime definition
Any form of action which results in breaking a written, formal rule in society
Deviance definition
Is a place and time specific and is viewed as wrong
Norm definition
Social rules, expectations or standards
What do feminists regard social control as
Mechanism of patriarchy ideology
Newburn
Crime is a label that is attached to certain forms of behaviour prohibited by the state
Downes and Rock 2007
Suggest that ambiguity is a key feature of rule breaking, as people are often unsure whether something is deviant
Societal deviance
Acts which are seen by most members of society as deviant
Situational deviance
Acts which only defined as deviant in particular context
Functionalists view on crime
Crime is necessary in small amounts for society to function. They also argued that boundaries based upon value consensus are necessary to maintain social order
Durkheim
-Crime was inevitable
-Not everyone could be integrated into the norms and values of society
-Without this form of boundary maintenance, crime rates might increase leading to anomie
What are Durkheim’s 2 positive functions
- Boundary maintenance= unites members of society which then reinforces shared norms
2.Adaptation and change= All change starts with acts of deviance that challenge social norms
Criticism of Durkheim
-It requires a certain amount of deviance to function
-Functional for who?
-Crime doesn’t always promote solidarity
Merton- Strain theory
Crime occurs as a result of tensions or strain arising from people trying but failing to attain goals society has set for them
What does Merton explanation contain
-Structural factors- societies unequal opportunity structure
-Cultural factors
The American Dream
The idea that anyone can get ahead with effort
-Argues that the pressure to deviate is increased by the fact that American culture puts more emphasis on achieving success
Cohen
Largely a lower class phenomenon resulting in many from the lower classes being unable to achieve mainstream success goals
Cohens study
Working class boys
-He observed that they faced anomie in the m/c dominated school system
-Status frustration led to them developing alternative sets of values
Evaluating Cohens theory
Strengths
-Offers an explanation for non-utilitarian deviance
-Helps to explain non-economic delinquency
Limits
-Assumes that w/c boys start off sharing m/c success goals, only to reject these when they fail
Cloward and Ohlin
W/c youths are denied legitimate opportunities to achieve money success and deviance is a response to this
-They argue that the key reason is unequal access to illegitimate opportunity structures
What are Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures
Conflict subcultures- Violent crime
Criminal subcultures- Result in something being gained
Retreatist subcultures- Retreat from society
Evaluation of Cloward and Ohlin
Strengths
-They agree with Merton and Cohen that most crime is w/c
-Highlights the complexity
Limits
-Ignore the crimes of the wealthy
-Ignore the wider power structure
Hirschi
Instead of asking what drives people to commit crimes, he asks the question: why don’t more people commit crime?
-We need to understand what forces to maintain conformity
Evaluation of Hirschi
Strengths
-Recognises the importance of socialisation in maintaining society
Limits
-Assumes that those who commit crime have broken away from bonds
-It doesn’t explain why some have weaker bonds than others
-It doesn’t explain the variety of forms of crime
Evaluation of Merton
Strengths
-Both normal and deviant behaviour can arise from the same mainstream goals
-He explains the patterns shown in official statistics
Limits
-He assumes that people’s motivation for crimes are individual
-Doesn’t explain why some individuals are more likely to commit crime than others
-Doesn’t explain why some people who have achieved the goals of society
