Unit 2 AC 2.3, AC 3.2

Question 1

Define function.

Answer 1

What something does – functionalists argue that crime has a positive function.

Question 2

Define structural theory.

Answer 2

An explanation that focuses on the way in which society is organized.

Question 3

Define socialisation

Answer 3

Process of learning norms and values

Question 4

Define anomie

Answer 4

‘Normlessness’ Society has multiple sets of norms and values that are often conflicting.

Question 5

Define strain

Answer 5

Conflict between the pressure to conform to society’s norms but still achieve its main goals of monetary success

Question 6

Define utilitarian crime

Answer 6

Crimes committed for financial gain

Question 7

What is the key idea in Durkheim’s functionalist theory?

Answer 7

Crime unites society’s members against wrongdoers, reinforcing the boundary between right and wrong

Question 8

What is boundary maintenance?

Answer 8

Crime unites society’s members against wrongdoers, reinforcing the boundary between right and wrong

Question 9

State one strength of functionalist theory.

Answer 9

First to recognize that crime can have positive functions for society

Question 10

State two limitations of functionalist theory.

Answer 10

Does not suggest what the right amount of crime is for society to function properly, crime is not functional for all - e.g., victims

Question 11

What is the key idea in Merton’s Strain Theory?

Answer 11

Crime is the result of unequal access to society’s goal of wealth

Question 12

What are the four deviant adaptations to strain?

Answer 12

Innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion

Question 12

What does Merton mean by blocked opportunities?

Answer 12

Not all have an equal chance to achieve wealth - this creates strain for working-class people who cannot access wealth legitimately

Question 13

What is innovation?

Answer 13

Accept the goal but find illegal ways to achieve it - utilitarian crimes

Question 14

What is ritualism?

Answer 14

Give up striving for success. Plod along in a dead-end job

Question 15

What is retreatism?

Answer 15

Reject the goal and means to achieve it. Drop-outs e.g., drunks, vagrants

Question 16

What is rebellion?

Answer 16

Reject the goal and means, replacing them with new ones to change society - political radicals and alternative cultures e.g., hippies

Question 17

State two strengths of Merton’s strain theory.

Answer 17

Shows how normal and deviant behavior arise from the same goals, explains why working-class crime rates are higher

Question 18

State two limitations of Merton’s strain theory.

Answer 18

Ignores crimes of the wealthy, only sees deviance as an individual response, focuses on utilitarian crime only

Question 19

Define non-utilitarian crime

Answer 19

Crimes committed without financial gain

Question 20

Define legitimate opportunity structures

Answer 20

A way to work your way up in society while staying within the confines of the law

Question 21

What is the key idea in Cohen’s theory?

Answer 21

Crime is a group response to unequal access to society’s goal of wealth

Question 21

Define illegitimate opportunity structures

Answer 21

A way to work your way up in society within a criminal or deviant network

Question 22

What does Cohen mean by status frustration?

Answer 22

Working-class boys end up at the bottom of the school’s official status hierarchy and feel frustrated and worthless

Question 23

How does Cohen explain subcultures?

Answer 23

Subcultures offer a solution by providing an alternate status hierarchy in which society’s values are inverted - they gain status by being deviant

Question 24

What is the key idea in Cloward and Ohlin’s explanation of subcultures?

Answer 24

Different neighborhoods give rise to different types of deviant subcultures.

Question 25

How do Cloward and Ohlin explain criminal subcultures?

Answer 25

Criminal subcultures arise in areas where there is a longstanding professional criminal network. They select youths for an ‘apprenticeship’ in utilitarian crime and a future criminal career.

Question 26

How do Cloward and Ohlin explain conflict subcultures?

Answer 26

Conflict subcultures arise where the only criminal opportunities are within street gangs. Violence is a release for frustration and a source of status earned by winning territory from rival gangs.

Question 27

How do Cloward and Ohlin explain retreatist subcultures?

Answer 27

Retreatist subcultures are made up of dropouts who have failed in both the legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures. They often involve drug use.

Question 28

State two strengths of subcultural theories.

Answer 28

They show how subcultures perform a function for their members. 2. They show how different types of neighborhoods give rise to different illegitimate opportunities and subcultures.

Question 29

State two limitations of subcultural theories.

Answer 29

They ignore crimes of the wealthy and over-predict working-class crime. 2. They assume everyone starts with mainstream goals and turns to a subculture when they fail to achieve. Actual subcultures are not as clear-cut as Cloward and Ohlin claim.

Question 30

Define label

Answer 30

A name, meaning, or definition attached to a person or act.

Question 31

Define primary deviance

Answer 31

Acts that have not been publicly labeled – usually trivial and uncaught. Offenders don’t see themselves as criminal.

Question 32

Define secondary deviance

Answer 32

Results from labeling – people treat the offender solely in terms of their label, and this label becomes their master status.

Question 32

Define the self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer 32

When an offender is labeled, society’s reaction pushes them into further deviance. They have lived up to their label.

Question 33

Define moral entrepreneur

Answer 33

Someone of high status who publicly calls for a crackdown on crime.

Question 34

Define folk devils

Answer 34

A group or individual who is labeled negatively by society.

Question 35

Define typifications

Answer 35

Ideas (usually held by the police) about what a typical criminal is like.

Question 36

Define determinism

Answer 36

The idea that our behavior is caused by an external force outside of our control – we have no free will.

Question 37

What is interactionism?

Answer 37

Interactionism sees our interactions with each other as based on meanings or labels. Crime and criminals are social constructions.

Question 38

What is labelling theory?

Answer 38

Labelling theory states that no act is deviant or criminal in itself – it only becomes so when others label it as such.

Question 39

What is differential enforcement?

Answer 39

Social control agencies use typifications to label some groups as criminal more than others.

Question 40

How does labelling link to the self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 40

When an offender is labeled, society’s reaction pushes them into further deviance. They have lived up to their label.

Question 41

What is the deviance amplification spiral?

Answer 41

An attempt to control deviance through a crackdown leads to it increasing rather than decreasing. This leads to greater attempts to control and even more deviance.

Question 42

What interactionist concept does the Mods and Rockers study explain?

Answer 42

The Mods and Rockers study explains the deviance amplification spiral.

Question 43

How does the Mods and Rockers study explain negative labeling?

Answer 43

The Mods and Rockers were negatively labeled as folk devils, which intensified the public’s reaction and labeling of them.

Question 44

State two strengths of interactionism and labeling theory.

Question 45

State two limitations of interactionism and labeling theory.

Question 45

Define structural theory

Question 46

Define capitalism

Question 47

Define bourgeoisie

Question 48

Define proletariat

Question 48

Define institution

Question 48

Define consumerism

Question 49

Define corporate crime

Question 50

Define ideology

Question 51

Define criminogenic capitalism

Question 52

Define white collar crime

Question 53

Define selective enforcement

Question 54

What are the three key ideas behind Marxist theory?

Question 55

How do Marxists use inequality to explain crime?

Question 56

What are the two classes according to Marxists?

Question 57

How do the institutions lead to crime according to Marxists?

Question 58

What is exploitation according to Marxists?

Question 59

What is alienation and frustration?

Question 60

What is greed and the profit motive?

Question 61

What is selective law enforcement?

Question 62

How does Carson’s research support selective law enforcement?

Question 63

State two strengths of Marxist theory?