Topic 1- Functionalism

Question 1

Crime definition

Answer 1

Any form of action which results in breaking a written, formal rule in society

Question 2

Deviance definition

Answer 2

Is a place and time specific and is viewed as wrong

Question 3

Norm definition

Answer 3

Social rules, expectations or standards

Question 4

What do feminists regard social control as

Answer 4

Mechanism of patriarchy ideology

Question 5

Newburn

Answer 5

Crime is a label that is attached to certain forms of behaviour prohibited by the state

Question 6

Downes and Rock 2007

Answer 6

Suggest that ambiguity is a key feature of rule breaking, as people are often unsure whether something is deviant

Question 7

Societal deviance

Answer 7

Acts which are seen by most members of society as deviant

Question 8

Situational deviance

Answer 8

Acts which only defined as deviant in particular context

Question 9

Functionalists view on crime

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Durkheim

Answer 10

-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

Question 11

What are Durkheim’s 2 positive functions

Answer 11

1. 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

Question 12

Criticism of Durkheim

Answer 12

-It requires a certain amount of deviance to function
-Functional for who?
-Crime doesn’t always promote solidarity

Question 13

Merton- Strain theory

Answer 13

Crime occurs as a result of tensions or strain arising from people trying but failing to attain goals society has set for them

Question 14

What does Merton explanation contain

Answer 14

-Structural factors- societies unequal opportunity structure
-Cultural factors

Question 15

The American Dream

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Cohen

Answer 16

Largely a lower class phenomenon resulting in many from the lower classes being unable to achieve mainstream success goals

Question 17

Cohens study

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Evaluating Cohens theory

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Cloward and Ohlin

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What are Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 subcultures

Answer 20

Conflict subcultures- Violent crime
Criminal subcultures- Result in something being gained
Retreatist subcultures- Retreat from society

Question 21

Evaluation of Cloward and Ohlin

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Hirschi

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Evaluation of Hirschi

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Evaluation of Merton

Answer 24

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