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

Question 8

Cloward and Ohlin

Answer 8

3 subcultures
1. Criminal subcultures
OR
2. Conflict subcultures
THEN
3. Retreatist subcultures

Question 9

Merton

Answer 9

Strain theory
People engage in deviant behavior as a result of not being able to achieve their culturally approved goals through legitimate means

Question 10

Deviant adaptations to strain

Answer 10

1. Conformity
2. Innovation
3. Ritualism
4. Retreatism
5. Rebellion

Question 11

Cohen

Answer 11

Status frustration:
W/c boys face anomie in M/C system
Can’t succeed through legitimate means
Status frustration
Reject mainstream values/ turns to others in same situation
Invert society’s values
Things condemed by society are valued by subculture
Boys gain status through illegitimate means