Functionalist Strain and Subcultural Theories Flashcards
(39 cards)
Durkheim argues that crime is inevitable because of two reasons:
Not everyone is effectively socialized into society’s norms and values. Individuals are exposed to different influences and circumstances, so it can not be expected that everyone accepts society’s norms, values and expectations.
It is also inevitable because within society there is a diversity of lifestyles and values. Different subcultures in society have their own norms and values, and what is considered as ‘deviant’ differs between these subcultures.
ANOMIE – ‘NORMLESSNESS’
According to Durkheim, society is moving towards ‘anomie’ – normlessness.
The rules governing behaviour are becoming weaker and less clear cut.
Individuals are becoming increasingly diverse and different from one another
This weakened shared culture is leading to higher levels of deviance.
changes in Durkheims time
Durkheim was writing at a time of considerable change when Western societies were moving from a pre-industrial state of existence towards industrial expansion (industrial revolution).
The rapid rise of industrialisation and the demand for a complex, specialised division of labour means that individuals are increasingly different from one another.
This led to the rise of an individualistic lifestyle and society becoming fragmented. The weakened collective conscience and social cohesion results in anomie (normlessness, i.e. ‘lawlessness’), making it harder for its members to comply with the same rules as in pre-industrial societies
This has led to higher levels of crime and deviance.
DURKHEIM’S TWO POSITIVE FUNCTIONS
of crime
Boundary Maintenance
Adaptation and Change
Boundary Maintenance
People need to be reminded of the boundaries between right and wrong
The media report on stories of crime and deviance, which produces a public reaction or outrage from society, uniting its members in condemnation of the criminal and the acts.
This is known as social cohesion – which occurs in time of crisis (e.g 9/11).
Crime reinforces the societies shared norms and values, uniting people in their commitment to them.
Durkheim explains the function of punishment – it is not necessarily for the wrongdoer to suffer, but to reaffirm society’s shared values on what is right and wrong.
Adaptation and Change
Durkheim states that all change starts with an act of deviance.
There must be some scope for people to be able to change society’s norms and values.
By people committing these deviant acts, it allows society to change and progress.
For example, same-sex relationships used to be classed as deviant. But now, norms and values have changed, and progress has been made in society e.g allowing of same sex marriage.
Davis (1937) – Deviance can act as a ‘safety valve’, releasing stresses in society. Functionalist
For example, he argued prostitution performs a positive function, allowing men to release their sexual frustrations without threatening the monogamous nuclear family, men will not form emotional attachments to sex workers in the way they might if they had an affair.
E.g. mass violent protest demonstrations might be seen as an outlet for expressions of discontent, avoiding wider and more serious challenges to social order
Cohen – Crime and Deviance acts as a ‘warning device’ for society that something is not working correctly, and change needs to happen. Functionalist
For example, high levels of truancy indicate problems in the education system, high rates of sucide indicate a mental health crisis etc.
Feminist response to davis
Conflict theories such as Feminism would be hugely critical of this notion – as it fails to recognise the high levels of exploitation and patriarchal control that exist in society and particularly within the sex trade.
DOES SOCIETY ACTUALLY PROMOTE CRIME?
Erikson (1966)
Since deviance performs positive functions, society purposefully promotes it in order to keep a ‘healthy’ balance of crime.
He suggests agents of social control such as the police actually aim to maintain a certain level of crime rather than to rid it completely.
Society will sometimes try to maintain it through protests, demonstrations, festivals and ‘freshers week’.
THE MANCHESTER ATTACK
Functionalist response
The Manchester terror attack was a horrific act of terrorism, however Functionalists would argue that despite it’s consequences, it did bring positive effects too.
After the terror attack, the whole country came together, united in condemning terrorism and that sort of behaviour.
Shared rituals such as vigils, even the ‘one love’ concert by Manchester united society, enforcing a sense of social solidarity – we are all one society, believing in the same thing!
This is an example of ‘boundary maintenance’.
9/11
functionalist response
9/11 is another example of a horrific attack that brought the whole world together, not just the US, or even just New York.
To this day, services and vigils are held for the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks. creating social cohesion
EVALUATIONS OF DURKHEIM
Functionalism is useful because it allows us to see how crime is essential for society to function and explains why there is crime at all times in every society.
Durkheim states that society requires a certain amount of crime and deviance for society to function, but does not state how much is the right balance.
Functionalists discuss crime in terms of their positive functions e.g strengthening solidarity. But people do not commit crime in order to do this, it is not their motive – so why DO they do it?
Realists (we’ll come back to them) argue Functionalism looks at crime and its functions for society as a whole, but does not look individually at crime and its effects on individuals. It has real consequences for the victims and affects some groups in society far more than others e.g. particular ethnic groups, poorer people - can we really say it’s beneficial to them?
Crime does not always lead to solidarity, and can sometimes have the opposite effect – e.g people staying inside the house because they are too scared to go outside.
MERTON’S STRAIN THEORY
Merton’s Strain theory argues that crime and deviance is caused by structural inequality (unequal opportunity, mainly due to social class), which leads to some deviating from society’s rules
THE AMERICAN DREAM
mertons strain theory
The ‘American Dream’ is a cultural goal of money, success and happiness.
Americans are expected to pursue this goal by legitimate means: self discipline, study, educational qualifications, and hard work in a career.
The ideology of the ‘American Dream’ tells Americans that their society is a meritocratic* one where anyone who makes the effort can get ahead – there are opportunities for all
There are two factors that lead to crime and deviance: (strain theory)
Structural factors
(unequal opportunities)
Society’s unequal opportunity structure, particularly for working class people
Cultural factors
Too much emphasis on goal of success (material wealth and lifestyle) and too little emphasis on using legitimate means to achieve them in society
mertons strain theory explained
When there is structural inequality in society, the lack of opportunity to achieve cultural goals places greater strain (pressure and tension) on working class individuals to achieve them.
This leads to the breakdown of accepted norms and values (anomie), which leads to crime and deviance, as people resort to illegitimate, deviant ways to achieve these shared societal goals.
Society also places less emphasis on sticking to norms than it does on the value of success. Winning the game becomes more important than playing by the rules
CASE STUDY: LANCE ARMSTRONG
mertons strain theory
Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France a record seven times, but admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs in 2013
People turn to crime and deviance when they don’t have the opportunities to achieve success in legitimate ways.
5 adaptations of strain
conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR STRAIN THEORY
Downes & Hansen (2006)
did a survey of crime rates and welfare spending in 18 countries. They found that societies who spent more on welfare had lower rates of imprisonment.
This shows that societies who support and protect the poor have less crime.
EVALUATIONS OF MERTON’S STRAIN THEORY
STRENGTHS
This theory explains how both ‘normal’ and deviant behaviour can occur from shared mainstream goals.
This theory is supported by crime statistics – the majority of crime is property related crime, and working class commit the most crime.
EVALUATIONS OF MERTON’S STRAIN THEORY
WEAKNESSES
It takes crime statistics at face value (as true). We know they may not be valid
Marxists argue that it ignores the power of the ruling class in ‘deciding’ the laws which incriminate the poor. Richer people may gain success through immoral acts but these may not have been defined as crimes e.g. business owners paying low wages in poor countries
It assumes there is a value consensus – that everyone strives for ‘money success’.
It only accounts for crime for utilitarian (monetary) gain, and not for non-utilitarian crimes such as violence.
It only explains crime and deviance at an individual level, and not group crime.
SUBCULTURAL STRAIN THEORY
Cohen studied working class boys and subcultural crime.
He argues in a middle class dominated world, working class boys experience status frustration.
A sense of frustration arising in individuals or groups who feel they are denied status in society.
For working class boys, they experience anomie in the middle-class dominated school system. They are told they should strive for success, but are unable to succeed in education and so they experience strain.
This leaves them at the bottom of the ‘status hierarchy’.
This status frustration leads them to reject society’s norms and values and turn to other similar young boys, creating a delinquent sub-culture.
However, Cohen criticises Merton for two reasons:
Merton only focuses on individual crime – what about group crimes?
Merton only focuses on utilitarian (money) crime, and does not explain non-utilitarian (non-money) crimes.
