C&D- Topic 1 Functionalism, strain and subcultural theories

Question 1

Durkheim’s functionalist theory

What does Durkheim’s functionalist theory include?

Answer 1

• 2 mechanisms to achieve social soliarity
• The inevitability of crime- Durkheim
• Positive functions of crime (boundary maintenance and adaption and change and other functions of crime)

Question 2

Durkheim’s functionalist theory

What do functionalisst argue about the 2 mechanisms society has to achieve social solidarity?

Answer 2

• Socialisation instils the sahred culture into its members. This helps ensure that individuals inetrnalise the same norms and values, and that they feel it right to act in the way that society requires.
• Social control mechanisms include positive sanctions for confoemity, and negative sanctions for deviance. These help ensure that individuals behave in the way that society expects

Question 3

Durkheim’s functionalist theory

What does Durkheim argue about the inevitability of crime?

Answer 3

• While functionalists see too much crime as destabilising society, they also see crime as inevitable and universal.
• Every society has some level of crime and deviance.
• Durkheim says that ‘‘crime is normal… an integral part of al healthy societies.’’
• At least two reasons why crime and deviance is found in all societies:
  1. Not everyone is equaly socialised into norms and values, so some people are more prone to deviation diveristy of lifestyles and values.
  2. Different groups develop their own subcuktures with distinct norms and values and therefore are seen as deviant for not conforming to mainstream values.
• Durkheim argued that in modern societies there is a tendency towards anomie or ‘‘normalness’’. Increasingly complex soieties breed increasingly complex individuals. The greater diveristy means greater differences between the individuals. This weakens the shared culture or collective conscience, leading to deviance

Question 4

Durkheim’s functionalist theory

What are the two positive functions of crime?

Answer 4

• Boundary maintenance
• Adaptation and change

Question 5

Durkheim’s functionalist theory

Whatis boundary maintenance?

Answer 5

Maintaining ther boundary between the good, law abiding ‘‘us’’ and the evil, law-breaking ‘‘them’’.
Reinforces moral codes, norms and values

Question 6

Durkheim’s functionalist theory

What is adaptation and change?

Answer 6

All changes in society begin with an act of deviance.Without any devianace, there would be no change– could be a sign of a society that is too tightly controlled.
Ex. votes for women, the end of slavery, legislation of homosexuality

Question 7

Durkheim’s functionalist theory

What are other positive functions of ctime and deviance?

Answer 7

Davis- Prostitution is a safety valve for men’s sexual frustration, does not threaten the monogamous nuclear family.
Polsky- pornography is a safe channel for sexual desires, does not threaten monogamous nuclear family as in the way that adultery would.
Cohen- Deviance is a warning signal that something in society is not operating correctly, a signal to policy makers or political leaders.

Question 8

Durkheim’s functionalist theory

Criticisms of Durkheim

Answer 8

• ‘Some deviance is god, too much is bad’- does not provide a metric for exactly how much deviance is needed, so this limits understanding of how much is the right amount.
• Explains crime’s functions e.g. social solidarity, but not why it exists in the first place.
• Functionalism looks at how crime is functional for society but not how it could affect individuals.
• Crime does not always promote social solidarity, it can promote fear and cause isolation for some individuals.

Question 9

Merton’s strain theory

What does the strain theory argue?

Answer 9

People engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means.
This adapted Durkheim’s idea of anomie (normalness) to explain deviance by combining two elements:
* Structural factors- Societies unequal opportunity structure.
* * Cultural factors- Strong emphasis on success goals, weaker emphaisis on using legitimate means to achieve them

Question 10

Merton’s strain theory

How does deviance= strain theory for Merton?

Answer 10

Deviance for Merton equals a strain theory between:
* The goals that a culture encourages individuals to achieve
* What the structure of society allows individuals to achieve legitimately.