Functionalist Theory on Crime Flashcards
What are the 4 characteristics of crime according to Durkheim?
Inevitable - it will always exist, it can be reduced, but not eliminated.
Universal - it exists in every society.
Relative - what seen as criminal behaviour varies from society to society over time.
Function - a limited amount of crime can benefit because experinece of crime can strengthen bonds.
Why does crime exist according to Durkheim?
- Not everyone is effectively socialised into shared norms and values - prone to deviate.
- There is a diversity of lifestyles and values - different groups have different norms and values, what members see as normal is different. Mainsteam culture may seem deviant.
What are the functions of crime?
Boundary Maintenance Adaptation and Change Safety Valve Warning Device Social Cohesion
What is boundary maintenance? (Durkheim)
Limited amount of crime is necessary - claifies boundaries of what is acceptable and necessary. Degrading ceremones in courtrooms - when a person breaks the law they are taken to court, publicity of this reaffrims the exisiting values.
What is adaptation and change? (Durkheim)
All change starts with an act of deviance. Individuals with new ideas, values and ways of living must be able to challenge existing norms and values - allow society to make necessary adaptive changes.
What is safety valve? (Durkheim)
Prostitution acts as a safety valve to release men’s sexual fustration without threatening the monogamous nuclear family.
What is a warning device? (Durkheim)
Warns that an institution is not functioning properly. High rates of truancy - suggests that there are problems with the education system - needs to change.
What is social cohesion? (Durkheim)
When horrifc crime have been committed, community draws together, sense of belonging to a commmunity is strengthened, e.g. 9/11, 7/7
How does society regulate deviance according to Durkheim?
Societies regulate deviance through carnivals, festivals,etc. Young are given a leeway - offer a way to coping with the strains of transition from childhood to adulthood.
What is the evaluation of Durkheim’s theory on crime?
Doesn’t say how much deviance is enough.
Crime does not always promote solidarity - people become more isolated, women stay indoors as they fear attacks.
Looks at the function of crime but ignores how it might affect different groups or individuals in society.
Why does crime exist according to Merton?
Crime exists - pressure to achieve the American Dream. Not all have the legitimate means to achieve it - results in strain - between ambition and ability to achieve it. People are forced to turn to illegitmste means to achieve there goals.
What are the ways that people react to the pressure to achieve the American Dream? (Merton)
Conformity Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion
What is conformity? (Merton)
Majority, achieve American Dream theough legitimate, meritocratic means - school, etc.
What is innovation? (Merton)
Illegal means to achieve the American Dream, breaking the law, e.g drug dealing, robbery.
What is ritualism? (Merton)
Deviant, but not crimnal, giving up on trying to achieve the American Dream.
What is retreatism? (Merton)
Give up on the American Dream, turn to alcohol and drugs.
What is rebellion? (Merton)
Criminal response - trying to replace the American Dream with another set of values e.g. terrorism.
What is the evaluation of Merton’s theory on crime?
Deterministic - w/c face most strain, not all of them turn to crime.
Fails to explain group criminality.
Assume m/c won’t commit crime - fail to explain white collar crimes.
According to A.Cohen who is the most likely to be criminal? + Why?
Delinquent behaviour is most likely to develop among w/c boys - do bad at school. They know they can’t achieve success through education as w/c vlaues are different to m/c values promoted in schools.
What of w/c boys suffer and turn to according to A.Cohen?
Suffer status fustration - anger and resentment because aspiration are blocked. To achieve success and status they form subcultures leads to crime and vandalism.
What do subculture offer w/c boys? (A.Cohen)
Subcultures invert mainstream values. Subcultures offer illegitimate opportunity structures - through which they can achieve the alternative status hierarchy.
What is the evalutation of A.Cohen’s theory on deviance?
Ignores girl gangs, m/c crime, white collar crime.
Assumes all subcultures are the same.
Assumes w/c boys start of with m/c success goals, then reject them when they fail, possible they did not share these values.
What is Cloward and Ohlin’s theory on crime?
Different subcultures offer different illegitimate opportunity structures to achieve the American Dream. Whether they have access to the illegitimate opportunity structures depend on the neighbourhood they live in.
What is the criminal subculture? (Cloward and Ohlin)
High population, stable w/c areas, with developed criminal culture where status is gained through crime committed for financial gain. Have trust with each other, socialise younger ones.
