functionalism

Question 1

strength of Durkheim:
(1)

Answer 1

first to recognise crime has positive functions in society such as reinforcing boundaries between right and wrong by uniting people against the wrongdoer

Question 2

weakness of Durkheim:
(2)

Answer 2

he claims society needs a certain amount of deviance but offers no way of knowing how much

while crime might be functional for some, it is not functional for victims

Question 3

strength of Merton’s strain theory:
(1)

Answer 3

shows how both normal and deviant behaviour arise from the same goals (conformists and innovators both pursue ‘money success’ but by different means)

Question 4

weaknesses of Merton’s strain theory:
(2)

Answer 4

Merton ignores crimes of wealthy and over-predicts the amount of w/c crime

Merton focuses on utilitarian crime (involves money) e.g theft and ignores crime with no economic motive e.g vandalism

Question 5

strengths of Cohen’s subcultural theory:
(2)

Answer 5

show how subcultures perform a function of their members by offering solutions to the problems of being unable to achieve mainstream goals legitimately

Cloward and Ohlin- different types of neighbourhoods give rise to different illegitimate opportunities and different subcultures (criminal, conflict and retreatist)

Question 6

weaknesses of Cohen’s subcultural theory:
(2)

Answer 6

ignore crimes of wealthy and over-predict amount of w/c crime

assume everyone starts with mainstream goals and turn to subcultures when they fail-some may not have them goals and are attracted to crime for different reasons