Topic 1- Functionalist, strain and subcultural theories

Question 1

What is Durkheim’s functionalist theory?

Answer 1

Sees society as based on value consensus. In order to achieve this, society has two key mechanisms. Socialisation + Social control.

Question 2

Define Socialisation.

Answer 2

Instils shared culture into its members. This helps to ensure that individuals internalises the same norms and values.

Question 3

Define Social Control.

Answer 3

Rewarding for conformity and punishments for deviance, ensures individuals behave in the way that society expects.

Question 4

How does functionalists view crime?

Answer 4

View crime as inevitable and universal. Too much or too little crime will destabilise society.

Question 5

Why is crime and deviance found in society?

Answer 5

1) People are socialised differently, making people more prone to deviate
2)There is a diversity of life styles and values, groups develop subcultures which may see mainstream cultures as deviant.

Question 6

What does Durkheim believe about modern societies + crime?

Answer 6

Societies are normless (Anomie). Authorities have become weaker because of people differentiating. This weakens the Collective Conscience and causes deviance.

Question 7

What is Anomie?

Answer 7

Anomie reflects an individuals moral confusion and lack of direction.

Question 8

What does Durkheim believe Anomie does?

Answer 8

Causes an increase in deviation and suicide.

Question 9

What are two important positive functions of crime

Answer 9

1- Boundary maintenance
2- Adaptation and change

Question 10

How is boundary maintenance a positive function of crime?

Answer 10

Unites members in condemnation of wrongdoer, reinforces laws.
Durkheim - explains the function of punishment which is to reaffirm social solidarity and discourage others from doing wrong.

Question 11

What does Stanley Cohen say (1972)?

Answer 11

Role of the media when covering crime and deviance creates ‘Folk devils’ and creates a ‘dramatisation of evil’

Question 12

How is adaptation and change a positive function of crime?

Answer 12

All change starts with deviance, people with new ideas usually are deviant which changes norms and values over time. Ex. The suffragettes were deviant but norms changed to allow women to vote.

Question 13

What does Durkheim believe happens when crime gets too high in a society?

Answer 13

Too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society apart.

Question 14

What does Durkheim believe happens when crime gets too little in society?

Answer 14

Too little crime means that society is repressing and controlling its members too much, stopping individual freedom and preventing change.

Question 15

What does Davis (1937:1967) say about the function of crime?

Answer 15

Prostitution acts to safely release men’s sexual frustrations without threatening the monogamous nuclear family.

Question 16

What does Polski (1967) say about the function of crime?

Answer 16

Pornography safely channels a variety of sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultery which would pose a threat to the family.

Question 17

What does Cohen say about the function of deviance?

Answer 17

It’s a warning that an institution is not working properly, ex. high rates of truancy tells us theres something wrong with the education system.

Question 18

What does the functionalist Erikson (1966) say about the function of crime?

Answer 18

Perhaps society is actually organised so as to promote deviance. Suggests that social control produces crime rather than stopping it using labelling theory.

Question 19

Give 4 criticisms of the functionalist view.

Answer 19

1- Durkheim doesn’t specify the correct amount of crime and deviance is good for society
2- Functionalists suggest society creates crime in advance with intention of strengthening solidarity.
3- Functionalists look at how crime affects society as a whole not individual groups
4- Crime doesn’t always produce solidarity and can isolate people instead

Question 20

What are strain theories?

Answer 20

Argue that people exchange in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means

Question 21

Who developed the first strain theory?

Answer 21

Robert. K. Merton (1938)

Question 22

What is Merton’s strain theory?

Answer 22

Uses Durkheim’s concept of anomie to explain deviance, combines two elements, Structural factors and Cultural factors. He believes that deviance is a strain between society’s encouraged goals and what society allows them to achieve.

Question 23

What are Structural factors?

Answer 23

Society’s unequal opportunity structure

Question 24

What are Cultural factors?

Answer 24

The strong emphasis on success goals and the weaker emphasis on using legitimate means to achieve them.

Question 25

Give an example of Merton’s strain theory in action

Answer 25

The goal (e.g american dream) and lack of opportunity creates a pressure to adopt illegitimate means. Norms are not strong enough to prevent this.

Question 26

What are the 5 adaptations to strain

Answer 26

1: Conformity- Accept goals + achieve legitimately
2: Innovation- Accept goals + achieve illegitimately
3: Ritualism- Reject goals + use legitimate means in life
4: Retreatism- Reject goals + use illegitimate means in life
5: Rebellion- Reject goals + replace with new means to bring change.

Question 27

Give examples of people who use the different adaptations.

Answer 27

1: Conformity- M/C individuals who have the means to succeed
2: Innovation- Lower class
3: Ritualism- M/C office workers
4: Retreatism- Vagrants and drug addicts
5: Rebellion- Hippies

Question 28

How does Merton explain his strain theory using crime statistics?

Answer 28

-Most crime is property crime, American society values material. wealth
-W/C crime rates are higher because they have least opportunity to obtain wealth legitimately.

Question 29

How is Merton’s strain theory criticised?

Answer 29

-Not all W/C deviates
-Marxists say it ignores power of ruling class
-Assumes there is a value consensus, ignores possibility that not all may share the goal

Question 30

How does Cohen (1955) criticise Merton’s strain theory?

Answer 30

Merton sees deviance as an individual response, ignoring groups that commit deviance
Focuses on utilitarian crime for financial gain, ignores crime such as assault and vandalism, which have no economic gain.

Question 31

What does Cohen focus on?

Answer 31

Focuses on deviance among working class boys, says they face Anomie in M/C dominated education system