Functionalism

Question 1

What are the 4 functions of crime in society according to Functionalism?

Answer 1

Boundary Maintenance
Adaption and Change
Safety Valve
Warning Light

Question 2

Aims of Boundary Maintenance?

Answer 2

Crime creates a reaction from society uniting to condemn the wrongdoer-Punishment reaffirms society’s shared rules and reinforces social solidarity. Discourages others from rule breaking.

Question 3

Why is some deviance necessary for society?

Answer 3

Society needs to adapt with new ideas and change rather than stagnate.

Question 4

What does Davis argue about crime and sexual frustrations?

Answer 4

Crime can release men’s sexual frustrations without threatening the monogamous nuclear family, preventing more serious disruptions.

Question 5

How does Polsky view pornography in relation to crime?

Answer 5

Polsky argues that pornography safely ‘channels’ a variety of sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultery.

Question 6

What was a positive outcome of the 2011 UK Riots?

Answer 6

People came together to clean up the streets after the riots.

Question 7

What is Natasha’s Law?

Answer 7

A law protecting allergy sufferers that requires food businesses to include full ingredients labelling on pre-packaged food.

Question 8

What is Clare’s Law?

Answer 8

The Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme that allows people to find out if their partner has an abusive or violent past.

Question 9

What impact did the Suffragettes have on society?

Answer 9

The Suffragettes movement led to gradual reforms such as The Equal Pay Act.

Question 10

What is a criticism of the Functionalist view on crime and deviance?

Answer 10

It recognizes how crime and deviance may be functional for society but ignores how it may affect individuals.

Question 11

What does Durkheim fail to provide regarding deviance?

Answer 11

Durkheim offers no way of knowing how much deviance is the right amount for society to function successfully.

Question 12

How would Radical Feminism criticize the positive function of prostitution?

Answer 12

Radical Feminism would argue that it exploits women and perpetuates gender inequality.

Question 13

Example of Boundary Maintenance?

Answer 13

Courtrooms- dramatise wrongdoer and publicly shame and stigmatise offender

-James Venables

-2011 Riots: came together to clean streets after riots

Question 14

No deviance =

Answer 14

No social change

Question 15

MLK

Answer 15

Arrested over 30 times to promote and force change peacefully in white only areas.

Question 16

Why is ‘Safety Valve’ a function of crime?

Answer 16

Davis argues crime can release men’s sexual frustrations without threatening monogamous nuclear family- prevents more serious disruptions

Question 17

Why is a ‘Warning Light’ a function of crime?

Answer 17

Cohen argues that deviance indicates when an institution is malfunctioning.

• Informs society a change needs to be made

Question 18

Example of a Warning Light?

Answer 18

TRUANCY-
high rates of truancy indicates there’s a problem with the education system, so the issue can be rectified e.g. fines for absences.

Question 19

What is a criticism of the Warning Light?

Answer 19

Marxists argue they assume norms and laws reflect wishes of the population but ignore the possibility that a powerful group is imposing its values on the rest of society

Question 20

What do strain theories argue about deviant behavior?

Answer 20

People engage in deviant behavior when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means.

Question 21

Who developed the first strain theory?

Answer 21

Robert Merton

Question 22

What concept did Merton adapt to explain deviance?

Answer 22

Durkheim’s concept of anomie

Question 23

What are the two main elements of strain theory?

Answer 23

• Structural factors
• Cultural factors

Question 24

What is the cultural goal identified by Merton?

Answer 24

To achieve wealth and status.

Question 25

Fill in the blank: The ideology of the American Dream says that American society is _______.

Answer 25

meritocratic

Question 26

What is a criticism of strain theory regarding the types of crime it focuses on?

Answer 26

It focuses on utilitarian crime and fails to explain crimes such as vandalism and violence.

Question 27

What does strain theory ignore in terms of crime?

Answer 27

* 'Crimes of the suites' * State crimes such as genocide or torture * Collective deviance

Question 28

True or False: Strain theory accounts for the power of the ruling class to criminalize the poor but not the rich.

Answer 28

False

Question 29

What are the structural factors in strain theory?

Answer 29

Society's unequal opportunity structure.

Question 30

What does the American Dream suggest about achieving success?

Answer 30

That anyone who makes the effort can get ahead through legitimate means.

Question 31

What is a limitation of strain theory regarding disadvantaged individuals?

Answer 31

Disadvantaged people may not be able to achieve the American Dream legitimately.

Question 32

What causes a 'strain to anomie'?

Answer 32

Restrictions by social structures causing frustration.

Question 33

What does American culture emphasize more than legitimate means?

Answer 33

Achieving cultural goals ## Footnote This reflects a societal tendency to prioritize success over the methods used to achieve it.

Question 34

What is the first adaptation to strain as per Merton?

Answer 34

Conformity ## Footnote Individuals accept the goal (American Dream) and strive to achieve it by legitimate means.

Question 35

What does 'innovation' mean in the context of Merton's adaptations to strain?

Answer 35

Accepting the goal but using illegitimate means to achieve it ## Footnote This is typical of those who lack legitimate opportunities.

Question 36

What happens in the adaptation of 'ritualism'?

Answer 36

Giving up on the goal but following the legitimate means ## Footnote Individuals internalize the rules but do not strive for the goal.

Question 37

Define 'retreatism' as an adaptation to strain.

Answer 37

Rejecting both the goals and the means and becoming dropouts ## Footnote This adaptation indicates a complete withdrawal from societal expectations.

Question 38

What is 'rebellion' in Merton's adaptations to strain?

Answer 38

Rejecting existing societal goals and means, replacing them with new ones ## Footnote Individuals desire to create a new kind of society.

Question 39

What does the Strain theory focus on? AO3

Answer 39

Utilitarian crimes, and fails to explain crimes of vandalism and violence.

Question 40

Ao3 for strain theory?

Answer 40

Labelling Theory- police focuses on WC areas more than MC areas and as a result police are much more likely to find WC committing crimes.

Question 41

How does the American culture force people to deviate further?

Answer 41

‘Winning the game is more important than playing by the rules’ mindset.

Question 42

How does Cohen criticize Merton's strain theory?

Answer 42

Cohen criticizes Merton for ignoring group deviance of delinquent subcultures and non-utilitarian crime. ## Footnote Merton's theory primarily focuses on individual responses to strain.

Question 43

What explanation does Cohen provide for non-utilitarian deviance?

Answer 43

WC boys face anomie in the MC education system.

Question 44

What does Cohen assume about WC boys in relation to MC goals in education system?

Answer 44

WC boys start off sharing MC goals but reject them when they fail.

Question 45

When does status frustration occur according to Cohen?

Answer 45

When WC boys are at the bottom of the Official Status Hierarchy and cannot achieve success.

Question 46

How do WC boys resolve status frustration?

Answer 46

They resolve status frustration by rejecting mainstream MC values and turning to others in the same situation thus forming subcultures.

Question 47

What is the role of a delinquent subculture according to Cohen?

Answer 47

Offers an illegitimate opportunity structure for boys who have failed to achieve legitimately. So, provides a sense of belonging and alternative methods for gaining status.

Question 48

What alternative status hierarchy is provided by the delinquent group?

Answer 48

Members can gain status through delinquent acts, inverting mainstream values allows them to achieve recognition.

Question 49

How does the delinquent subculture invert mainstream values?

Answer 49

The group inverts mainstream values by doing the opposite- gaining status from acts like vandalism, which society typically disrespects.

Question 50

True or False: Cohen's theory ignores female delinquency.

Answer 50

True. ## Footnote Cohen's analysis primarily focuses on male delinquency, neglecting the experiences of females.