Functionalist Theory on Crime Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Functionalist Theory on Crime Deck (34)
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1
Q

What are the 4 characteristics of crime according to Durkheim?

A

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.

2
Q

Why does crime exist according to Durkheim?

A
  1. Not everyone is effectively socialised into shared norms and values - prone to deviate.
  2. 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.
3
Q

What are the functions of crime?

A
Boundary Maintenance
Adaptation and Change
Safety Valve
Warning Device
Social Cohesion
4
Q

What is boundary maintenance? (Durkheim)

A

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.

5
Q

What is adaptation and change? (Durkheim)

A

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.

6
Q

What is safety valve? (Durkheim)

A

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

7
Q

What is a warning device? (Durkheim)

A

Warns that an institution is not functioning properly. High rates of truancy - suggests that there are problems with the education system - needs to change.

8
Q

What is social cohesion? (Durkheim)

A

When horrifc crime have been committed, community draws together, sense of belonging to a commmunity is strengthened, e.g. 9/11, 7/7

9
Q

How does society regulate deviance according to Durkheim?

A

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.

10
Q

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

A

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.

11
Q

Why does crime exist according to Merton?

A

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.

12
Q

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

A
Conformity
Innovation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion
13
Q

What is conformity? (Merton)

A

Majority, achieve American Dream theough legitimate, meritocratic means - school, etc.

14
Q

What is innovation? (Merton)

A

Illegal means to achieve the American Dream, breaking the law, e.g drug dealing, robbery.

15
Q

What is ritualism? (Merton)

A

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

16
Q

What is retreatism? (Merton)

A

Give up on the American Dream, turn to alcohol and drugs.

17
Q

What is rebellion? (Merton)

A

Criminal response - trying to replace the American Dream with another set of values e.g. terrorism.

18
Q

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

A

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.

19
Q

According to A.Cohen who is the most likely to be criminal? + Why?

A

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.

20
Q

What of w/c boys suffer and turn to according to A.Cohen?

A

Suffer status fustration - anger and resentment because aspiration are blocked. To achieve success and status they form subcultures leads to crime and vandalism.

21
Q

What do subculture offer w/c boys? (A.Cohen)

A

Subcultures invert mainstream values. Subcultures offer illegitimate opportunity structures - through which they can achieve the alternative status hierarchy.

22
Q

What is the evalutation of A.Cohen’s theory on deviance?

A

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.

23
Q

What is Cloward and Ohlin’s theory on crime?

A

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.

24
Q

What is the criminal subculture? (Cloward and Ohlin)

A

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.

25
Q

What is the conflict subculture? (Cloward and Ohlin)

A

Develop in high poulation turnover areas, no established criminal subculture, may achieve staus but not American Dream. Subculture forms due to fustration - loosely organised gangs - street fights, violence.

26
Q

What is retreatist behaviour? (Cloward and Ohlin)

A

Any neighbourhood, aspire to be criminals - join subcultures but no knowledge - start taking drugs and alcohol - double failure.

27
Q

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

A

Ignore m/c crime.

Ignore overlaps between the 3 subcultures.

28
Q

What does Miller say about the w/c?

A

W/c had its own subculture independent from mainstream. W/c commit crime - passed on from generations. W/c - get into trouble because they hold a different set of values to the rest of society.

29
Q

What are w/c values? (Miller)

A

Values are called focal concerns - employed in repetitve, boring, dead end jobs.
Smartness (look good, witty), excitement (thrill-seeking), toughness (physical strength), autonomy (not controlled by others), fatalism (what will be, will be.

30
Q

What is the problem with w/c values? (Miller)

A

Nauture of values - lead to crime. W/c have their own set of goals, not American Dream.

31
Q

What does Matza argue about members of subcultures?

A

Members of subcultures are not fully committed to the values of their subcultures.

32
Q

What are the 2 tyes of values according to Matza?

A

There are mainstream values (held by all) and the parallel are subterrean values (deviant shared by all). Only emerge occassionally - after a night out drinking.

33
Q

What does Matza argue about most delinquents?

A

Drift in and out of delinquency.

34
Q

What are techniques of neutralisation? (Matza)

A
  1. Denial of responsibility - ‘it wasn’t me, it was the drugs.’
  2. Denial of victim - ‘asking for it’
  3. Denial of injury - vitcime not really hurt of harmed.
  4. Condemnationof condemners - offers sense of unfariness for being picked on.
  5. Appeal to higher loyalty - claim rule of law had to be ignored - more important issues - ‘standing up for family’