Topic 1 - Functionalism/strain/subcultural theories of crime

Question 1

Functionalism

Answer 1

Crime is inevitable - too much crime can be seen as destabilizing to society.

Not everyone is socialized effectively into society’s shared norms and values & more likely to be deviant

Question 2

Functionalism/subcultural

Answer 2

Some subcultures don’t hold the same norms and values as mainstream cultures which can lead to deviant behavior as they don’t see it as deviant, rather just normal

Question 3

Anomie (Durkhiem)

Answer 3

Normlessness - occurs when there is a rapid amount of social change, and when people are unsure of what societies norms and values are.

Question 4

Durkhiem - positive functions

Answer 4

1. Boundary maintenance - Reaffirming the values of the law-abiding majority and discourages law breaking. (maintaining society’s boundaries - eg, Ted Bundy/Jeffrey Dahmer)
2. Adaptation and change - Norms and values change in society through deviant acts. - eg, abortion/divorce/same sex marriage

Question 5

Davis - crime as a safety valve

Answer 5

Prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of men’s sexual frustrations without threatening others

Question 6

Cohen - Deviancy as a warning

Answer 6

Deviancy shows that an institution isn’t working properly - eg, high levels of truancy suggests that the education system isnt working properly and needs to be fixed.

Question 7

Erikson - society promotes deviancy because it is so positive?

Answer 7

Agencies of social control - eg, the police are there to sustain a certain level of crime rather than to get rid of it because it is so positive