Crime and deviance- functionalist theories Flashcards
Where did Merton argue that criminal behaviour came from
The organisations and culture which an individual lives within
What did Merton argue that society set all its members
Social/cultural goals
Institutionalised means
What are social/cultural goals
Things you want to, and
things society tells you that you should be able to,
achieve including owning a home, a car, etc.
What are institutionalised means
The socially approved
methods of achieving these goals, including
education/qualifications, money, status, and power.
What is social strain
A situation where there is a large gap between goals and means.
According to Merton, when does crime occur
When there aren’t enough legitimate opportunities for people to achieve the normal success goals of a society.
What are illegitimate means
Means which are not accepted/approved by
society, such as crime.
According to Criminal Justice Statistics: In 2017,
over a quarter (__%) of prisoners were serving
time for theft.
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How does the theft stat help explain social strain
People may not have the
institutionalised means, such as a well-paid form of
employment, to achieve the cultural goals, such as material
items, so commit crime to achieve them.
What are Merton’s 5 modes of adaptation
Conformist
Innovation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion
What conformists reject/accept
Accept goals and means
What do innovationists reject/accept
Accept goals, reject means
What do ritualists reject/accept
Reject goals but accept means
What do retreatists reject/accept
Reject goals and means
What do rebellions accept/reject
Create their own goals and means
