Functionalism and Crime

Question 1

Basic ideas of functionalists on crime?

Answer 1

• Believe crime is inevitable in society
• Poor socialisation and inequality result in the absence of norms and values being taught.
• Believe crime is positive for society and allows boundary maintenance and scope for adaptation and change.

Question 2

What does Durkheim say?

Answer 2

• Crime is inevitable
• Crime is positive
• Adaptation and change

Question 3

What does Davis say?

Answer 3

• Like Durkheim believes crime is positive but in a different way.
• Believes prostitution provides positive functions because it allows men to express sexual frustration without threatening the nuclear family.

Question 4

What does Merton say?

Answer 4

Merton’s ‘strain theory’ states crime is caused by failure to achieve the goals of the American dream through legitimate means.
His theory provides 5 different responses to the American dream.

Question 5

What are Merton’s 5 responses to the american dream?

Answer 5

1. Conformism - accepting the goals and legitimate means to achieve them.
2. Innovation - subscribe to the goals of the American dream but use illegitimate means to achieve them
3. Ritualism - reject the goals but conform to the means
4. Retreatism - reject both the goals of the American dream and subscribe to the illegitimate means.
5. Rebellion - replace the goals and means with their own.

Question 6

What does Cohen say?

Answer 6

Cohen’s ‘status frustration’ theory focuses on working class boys in schools who fail to succeed in middle class environments.
- form subcultures that go against middle classes norms and values.
- working class boys try to succeed within subcultures by trying to rise the hierarchy which they have more chance succeeding in.

Question 7

What does Cloward and Ohlin say?

Answer 7

Develop Cohen’s status frustration.
Suggest there are 3 types of subcultures…
- criminal subcultures
- conflict subcultures
- retreatist subcultures

Question 8

What are criminal subcultures?

Answer 8

Apprenticeships for utilitarian crime.
They exist in ares with stable criminal cultures, with hierarchies of professional criminals (e.g. drug dealers)

Question 9

What are conflict subcultures?

Answer 9

Exist in areas of high population turnover.
There is a social disorganisation and only loosely organised gangs (e.g. postcode/turf wars)

Question 10

What are retreatist subcultures?

Answer 10

Formed of people who fail both legitimate AND illegitimate means and may turn to illegal drug use (e.g. junkies)