Topic 4: Sociological Theories of Crime Flashcards
State the main function of family in society
Populate/reproduce people
State the main function of education in society
To prepare people for the workplace
State the main function of the workplace in society
Allows people to produce things/ add to the system of production.
State the main function of healthcare in society
To keep people alive (so that we can carry on working).
State the main function of the criminal justice system in society
To maintain order so that the rest of us can live our lives the way we are supposed to
State the main function of religion in society
Gives people comfort when their life is coming to an end (the idea of afterlife)
Give one positive effect of crime in society
Creates morals within society-if we didn’t have morals, we wouldn’t know right from wrong
Describe functionalism
A sociological theory that believes that society ‘works’, society is made up of different institutions, each with a specific function– generally in society we all get on and work together because we have a value consensus and feel a sense of solidarity to one another
What were Durkheim’s key beliefs about crime?
Crime has an important function in society and crime is inevitable, normal and a necessary aspect of social life.
What are Durkheim’s 3 functions of crime?
Promotes social solidarity, maintains social boundaries and social change
Describe function 1: promotes social solidarity
In some, society can be seen as the victim of the crime because it affects everyone, society comes together in a state of collective sorrow and support each other–reaffirms the morals and values of society
Describe function 2: maintains social boundaries
It essentially helps society establish what is right and wrong– we need people to cross the boundaries and be punished for it so we firmly know how to behave
Describe function 3: social change
Deviance helps societies evolve, we review the way we do things and learn from it
Give an example of a case that Durkheim can be applied to
Manchester bombing at Ariana Grande’s concert in 2017
Define ‘anomie’
A feeling of unease/panic which occurs during periods of rapid social transition, e.g. war, revolution and technological advances
Define ‘value consensus’
When society feels a sense of solidarity to each other and the wider society
Summarise Merton’s Strain Theory
Focuses on the mis-match between the goals that people want to achieve in society and the means society offers to get them, society evolves so quickly that it doesn’t always offer people what they need to make them feel that they belong and as a result not everyone has the means to achieve the ‘socially accepted’ goals of society, therefore causing a strain between the goals and the means that cause criminality
State the five reactions to strain
Conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion
Describe conformity
Accepts both means and goals, accepting the goals of society and accept the legitimate means of doing it, leading to no crime
Describe innovation
Accepts goals, rejects means, accepts the goals of society but doesn’t accept the legitimate ways of doing it, leading to utilitarian crime such as theft
Describe ritualism
Accepts goals, rejects means, common acceptance of a mundane life–accepting that they won’t have a ‘life of luxury’, leading to no crime
Describe retreatism
Rejects goals, rejects means, people who have retreated into their own way of life–they know they will never have the goals, so they behave illegitimately, leading to crimes such as drug abuse, prostitution etc…
Describe rebellion
Rejects goals, rejects means, trying to change the goals and change the means of getting it
Summarise Marxism
Marxists believe that society is in ‘a constant state of conflict’ as society is divided into two social classes: the ruling class and the working class, marxists believe that the ruling class exploit and oppress the working class, thereby causing a divide in society
According to Marxism, what are the 2 causes of crime?
Capitalism itself creates crime, the powerful dictate the definition and enforcement of crime