Functionalism + Crime

Question 1

Traditional Functionalism - Durkheim - 3 Functions - Inevitable + Eval

Answer 1

• Improper socialisation into value consensus = subcultures emerge = crime

• Eval
- Marxists –> soc to bourg Ideology
- Feminists –> soc to patriarchy

Question 2

Traditional Functionalism - Evaluation Durkheim

Answer 2

• Marxists/Feminists - overexaggerates consensus
• Right Realists - Vague about improper soc
• Postmodernism - out of date (global crime)

Question 3

Traditional Functionalism - Merton - Strain Theory + Reactions

Answer 3

• Crime occurs coz can’t achieve goals legitimately
• Reactions:
  • Conformity - accept + strive
  • Innovation - accept + illegal
  • Ritualism - don’t want to achieve
  • Retreatism - Reject goals + means
  • Rebellion - replace goals + means

Question 4

Tradtional Functionalism - Evaluating Merton

Answer 4

• Takes crime stats literally
• Marxists - ignore rc power to make laws
• Doesn’t explain why react differently
• Subcultural - too focused on indiv
• Feminists - doesn’t distinguish gender
• Postmodernist - complex now - not 1 consensus

Question 5

Subcultutal Functionalists - Status Frustration - Cohen

Answer 5

• WC boys face anomie = cultural dep
• WC boys can’t achieve status legitimately
• Turn to subcultures –> offer alternative status achievable

Question 6

Subcultural Functionalists - Evaluation Cohens

Answer 6

• Strength –> offers explanation for non-utilitarian (not money)
• Weaknesses –> Assumes WC start of with mc goals
  • Ideology
  • Norms are a metanarrative

Question 7

Subcultural Functionalists - Types of gangs/subcultures - Cloward + Ohlin

Answer 7

• Agrees with Merton (WC lack access to legit means)
• Different neighbourhoods dev diff subcultures
  • Criminal - if area dominated by criminal gangs may join
  • Conflict - Gain status + offload anger by violence
  • Retreatist - Addictions (nothing else available)

Question 8

Subcultural Functionalists - Support Cloward + Ohlin - Chicago School**

Answer 8

• Cultural transmission theory- some dev crime culture that’s transmitted, some don’t
• Differential Assoc Theory - Deviance learnt through interactions with deviant indiv
• Social Disorganisation - causes deviance (migration)

Question 9

Subcultural Functionalists - Evaluation Cloward + Ohlin - Taylor, Walton + Young

Answer 9

• Don’t explain every type of deviant subculture
  • Overlook power + rebellion
  • Ignore political

Question 10

Subcultual Functionalists - Focal Concerns - Millar

Answer 10

• Commit due to lower class subculture
• Focal concerns = socialised eith diff norms
• WC Focal Concerns:
  • Toughness
  • Smartness - outsmart eachother
  • Excitement

Question 11

Subcultural Functionalists - Evaluating Millar

Answer 11

• Blames WC but mc commit same amount of crime (marxists)

Question 12

Subcultural Functionalists - Criticisism - Matza + Drift

Answer 12

• Exaggerate extent wc join subcultures
  • No real commitment
  
  • drift in + out
• isn’t only a wc issue all have diff values

Question 13

Functionalists - Durkheim - 3 Functions- Pos Function + Eval

Answer 13

• Sets boundaries
• Reinforces consensus
• Warns us soc is malfunctioning
• Social Change
• Enforces collective consciousness

• Eval
- Realists –> overlooks neg impacts
- Marxists –> Collective consciousness is Ideological

Question 14

Functionalism - Durkheim - 3 Functions - Balance

Answer 14

• Soc strain = collective consciousness fails + anomie = crime
• Agents of soc control + limit amount of crime
- Too much control = stagnant soc (stuck in time)