functionalist theory of crime

Question 1

according to durkheim what are the four characteristics of crime?

Answer 1

-inevitability
-universal
-relative
-functional

Question 2

how is crime seen as inevitable?

durkheim

Answer 2

it will always exist, it can never be eliminated only reduced

Question 3

how is crime seeen as universal?

Answer 3

crime happens everywhere universally.

Question 4

how is crime seen as relative?

Answer 4

what is seen as criminal behaviour varies between society and time

Question 5

how is crime seen as functional?

Answer 5

limited amount can strengthen bonds within society

Question 6

why does crime exist according to durkheim?

list two

Answer 6

-not everyone is properly socialised
-what one may see as normal mainstream society may see as deviant- diversity in norms and values

Question 7

according to durkheim what are the functions of crime?

list 5

Answer 7

1. boundary maintenance
2. adaptation and change
3. safety valve
4. warning device
5. social cohesion

Question 8

what is boundary and maintenance?

durkheim

Answer 8

crime clarifies the boundary of what is okay. publicity of court cases reaffirms what is not okay

limited crime is necessary

Question 9

what is adaptation and change?

Answer 9

all change happens with a deviant act. they must be willing to challenge the social norms, allows society to adapt

eg. women wearing trousers in the 1850’s

Question 10

why is crime a safety valve?

Answer 10

Prostitution acts as a safety valve to release men’s sexual fustration without threatening the monogamous nuclear family.

Question 11

how does crime act as a warning device?

with example

Answer 11

Warns that an institution is not functioning properly

eg. high levels of truancy shows flaw in education systenm

Question 12

what is social cohesion?

Answer 12

when a horrific crime has been commmited society bonds together giving sense of belonging

eg, sarah everard, 7/7

Question 13

How does society regulate deviance according to Durkheim?

Answer 13

Societies regulate deviance through carnivals, festivals,etc. the young are given a lee way to cope with transition to adulthood

Question 14

What is the evaluation of Durkheim’s theory on crime?

Answer 14

doesnt say how muh crime is needed.
crime doesnt always promote solidarity eg women becoming isolated
ignores how it may affet individuals in society

Question 15

Why does crime exist according to Merton?

Answer 15

pressure to achieve the American Dream. Not all have the legitimate means to achieve it - results in strain

Question 16

According to Merton what is the strain theory?

Answer 16

there is a strain between achieving ones goals and the legitimate meansof achieving it

Question 17

What are the ways that people react to the pressure to achieve the American Dream? (Merton)

list 5 ways

Answer 17

1.conformity
2.innovation
3.retreatism
4.ritualism
5.rebellion

Question 18

what is conformity?

merton

Answer 18

achieving dreams with legitimate means

Question 19

what is innovation?

merton

Answer 19

Illegal means to achieve the American Dream, breaking the law

Question 20

what is ritualism?

Answer 20

Deviant, but not crimnal, giving up on trying to achieve the American Dream.

Question 21

what is retreatism?

Answer 21

give up on dream and turn to drugs and alcohol

Question 22

what is rebellion?

Answer 22

a criminal response- making new set of values eg terrorism

Question 23

evaluate mertons strain theory

3 ways

Answer 23

1. too deterministic
2. fails to explain group criminality
3. ignores m/c crime

Question 24

according to cohen who is most likely going to be a criminal?

Answer 24

w/c boys

Question 25

why are w/c boys most likely to be criminals?

Answer 25

They know they can’t achieve success through education as w/c vlaues are different to values promoted in schools.

Question 26

according to cohen what do w/c boys suffer from? | to do with statut

Answer 26

status fustration

Question 27

what do w/c turn to when experiencing status fustration?

Answer 27

To achieve success and status they form subcultures leads to crime and vandalism

Question 28

What do subculture offer w/c boys? | cohen

Answer 28

offer illegitimate opportunity structures - through which they can achieve the alternative status hierarchy.

Question 29

evaulate cohens theory on deviance | list 3

Answer 29

1.Ignores girl gangs, m/c crime, white collar crime. 2.Assumes all subcultures are the same. 3.assumes everyone has shared values, w/c may have never wanted to succeed.

Question 30

What is Cloward and Ohlin’s theory on crime?

Answer 30

Diff subcultures offer diff illegitimate opportunity structures to achieve American Dream. access to illegitimate opportunity structures depend on where they live

Question 31

What is the criminal subculture? | cloward and ohlin

Answer 31

develop in stable w/c areas, with developed criminal culture where status is gained through crime committed for financial gain.

Question 32

What is the conflict subculture? (Cloward and Ohlin)

Answer 32

Develop in high poulation turnover areas, no established criminal subculture.

Question 33

why do conflict subcultures form?

Answer 33

due fustration eg loosley organised crime

Question 34

What is retreatist behaviour? | cloward and ohlin

Answer 34

someone who retreats from mainstream society and their values

Question 35

what is a double failure?

Answer 35

failed to succeed in both mainstream society and in the crime and gang cultures above.

Question 36

What is the evalutation of Cloward and Ohlin’s theory on crime?

Answer 36

ignores m/c crime

Question 37

according to miller why does the w/c commit crime?

Answer 37

crime is passed on from generations and hold different values from the rest of society.

Question 38

what does miller call values?

Answer 38

focal concerns

Question 39

what are the focal concerns? | miller

Answer 39

autonomy, toughness, excitement and fatalism

Question 40

according to miller what is the problem with w/c focal concerns?

Answer 40

the nature of the values lead to crime as they different

Question 41

What does Matza argue about members of subcultures?

Answer 41

are not fully committed to the values of their subcultures.

Question 42

What are the 2 tyes of values according to Matza?

Answer 42

1. mainstream values (held by all) 2. subterrean values (deviant shared by all) | eg emmerge occasionally after a night drinking

Question 43

What does Matza argue about most delinquents?

Answer 43

they drift in and out of delinquency

Question 44

What are techniques of neutralisation? | matza- list 5

Answer 44

1.Denial of responsibility - ‘it wasn’t me, it was the drugs.’ 2.Denial of victim - ‘asking for it’ 3.Denial of injury - vitcim not really hurt 4.Condemnation of condemners - offers sense of unfariness for being picked on. 5.Appeal to higher loyalty - claim rule of law had to be ignored