Crime - functionalist theories of crime

Question 1

whats crime

Answer 1

activities or behaviours that break the laws set by the criminal justice system of a society e.g embezzlement

Question 2

whats deviance

Answer 2

acts that go against norms and values and are seen as anti-social e.g playing loud music on a bus

Question 3

what are the types of social construction in crime

Answer 3

contextual
cultural
historical
generational

Question 4

what do functionalists believe about crime

Answer 4

society cant exist without it and is necessary because of inadequate socialisation and inequality

Question 5

whats durkheims view on crime

Answer 5

crime is inevitable, normal and positive as in complex modern society, not everyone has the same norms and values

Question 6

whats durkheims view on positive crime - boundary maintenance

Answer 6

crime produces a reaction that strengthens the existing norms and values, often by punishing the perportrator. brings social solidarity e.g vigils

Question 7

whats durkheims view on positive crime - adaptation and change

Answer 7

when a law is out of line with the feelings of the majority, legal reform must happen - legitamises social change by reflecting the views of society e.g suffragetes, stonewall

Question 8

how much crime should society have according to durkheim

Answer 8

too much and society is torn apart, but too little and society wont progress

Question 9

whats davis view on positive crime

Answer 9

prostitution provides a positive function as it allows men to release sexual frustration without threatening nuclear family - acts as a safety valve

Question 10

whats polsky view on positive crime

Answer 10

pornography acts as a safety valve - prevents domestic violence

Question 11

what is cohens view on positive crime

Answer 11

a warning sign that an institution isnt functioning right e.g truancy from school and london riots

Question 12

whats mertons strain theory

Answer 12

argued people are deviant when theyre unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means, becoming frustrated and gaining them through criminal means (w/c)

Question 13

whats the american dream

Answer 13

the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society

Question 14

how does the american dream lead to crime according to merton

Answer 14

places more emphasis on goals rather than legitimate means of how to gain them

Question 15

what is mertons two factors of crime and deviance

Answer 15

structural factors - society has unequal opportunity structure based on class
cultural - strong emphasis on success goals and weaker on legitimate ways of achieveing them

Question 16

whats mertons first adaptation to strain - conformity

Answer 16

accepts goals and the means - most of americans: people who want to achieve the goals of society and have opportunity to do so

Question 17

whats mertons second adaptation to strain - innovation

Answer 17

accepts goals but reject means - people who want to achieve the goals but turn to illegitimate means e.g career criminals, drug dealers

Question 18

whats mertons third adaptation to strain - ritualism

Answer 18

reject goals but accepts means - people who give up on achieving goals but believe its their own fault as they had the means to do so, carry on in dead-end jobs

Question 19

whats mertons fourth adaptation to strain - retreatism

Answer 19

reject both goals and means - e.g homeless people

Question 20

whats mertons fifth adaptation to strain - rebellion

Answer 20

form their own goals and means to accept society e.g gangs, terrorists

Question 21

whats a marxist evaluation of merton

Answer 21

criminalises the poor and ignores that the rich commit crimes

Question 22

what are other evaluations for merton

Answer 22

only explains utilitarian crime (monetary gain) and not violent crimes
focuses on individuals and ignores the role groups play in crime

Question 23

subcultural strain theory - what does a.k cohen say about merton (2 criticisms)

Answer 23

agreed with merton that crime is mainly a w/c occurance, but criticises him in 2 ways - fails to account for group crime & fails to explain violent crimes (only explains utilitarian crime)

Question 24

what is a.k cohens status frustration theory

Answer 24

focused on w/c boys in school who fail to succeed in m/c environments - cohen says this failure makes them likely to join delinquent subcultures

Question 25

whats alternative status hierchy - a.k cohen

Answer 25

Cohen believes that these delinquent subcultures offer an illegitimate opportunity structure for working class boys who couldn’t get it in the mainstream legitimate way. These subcultures give ways to achieve status by delinquent behaviour

Question 26

subcultural strain theory - what do cloward and ohlin say about merton

Answer 26

agree that people have unequal access to legitimate opportunity structure but they say some have unequal access to illegitimate opportunity structure too

Question 27

cloward and ohlin 3 subcultures - criminal subcultures

Answer 27

these provide ‘apprenteships’ for utilitarian crime, existing in areas with stable criminal cultures and involve criminal hierarchies e.g drug dealers have a boss, underboss, associates etc

Question 28

cloward and ohlin 3 subcultures - conflict subcultures

Answer 28

gang organised by young people, based on claiming territory e.g turf wars, gangs. allows young mens frustration with blocked opportunities, finds alternative status

Question 29

cloward and ohlin 3 subcultures - retreatist

Answer 29

formed of people who fail in both legitimate and illegitimate means, may turn to illegal drugs and alcohol, known as ‘double failures’ e.g junkies

Question 30

what are evaluations of cloward and ohlins subcultures

Answer 30

ignores crimes done by the wealthy, instead all w/c
however it provides explainations for different types of crimes/subcultures and those who engage in violent crimes