Crime

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Functionalist

Crime can only be explained by looking at the way societies are organised, their social structures and that crime is caused by society rather than by the circumstances of an individual. Structuralist theory of crime.

Durkheim

In pre industrial societies crime was so low because family and religion were powerful agencies of socialisation and social control. Ensured a combination of consensus and community which had a powerful influence over personal behaviour. Crime rates were also higher in cities as the complexity of modern life undermined the authority of religion and family.

Crime also functions for the benefits of society

provoke a positive social change (suffragette mouvement)

minor crimes act as a safety valve preventing serious crimes

punishment of criminals reminds people of the acceptable social boundaries of behaviour

Evalutation

never explains why certain social groups commit crimes

neglects the fact that some crimes are dysfunctional

marxists say he underestimates the level of conflict and inequality in modern society

Merton

The cause of crime lies in the relationship between the culture and the social structure of society. Resources and opportunities are not fairly distributed in capitalist societies. Those at the bottom of society may experience a strain between their goals and the legitimate institutional means as the chance of accessing these is blocked by those with social and economic advantages. This can cause anomie which individuals could respond:

CONFORMITY- most of the population cope by doing their best and make the most of what society offers them

INNOVATION- commitment to cultural goals may remain strong but some reject the conventional means of gaining wealth and turn to illegal means

RITUALISM- a small number of people reject both the goals and the means by dropping out of society

RETREATISM-a small number of people reject both the goals and the means by dropping out of society

REBELLION- people may rebel and seek to replace shared goals and institutional means with more radical alternatives and may use violence to achieve this

merton concludes that criminals are not different from law abiding citizens, they have the same goals to achieve material success.

Criticism

Merton does not explain why some individuals commit crime, yet others conform retreat or rebel

the theory explains crime that economic gain but doesn't explain many forms of violent and sexual crimes

fails to explain crimes committed by young people in gangs, which don't seem motivated by material gain

Fails to ask who benefits from the capitalist system and especially the laws that underpin

Sumner claims that Merton has uncovered the main cause of crime in modern societies- the alienation caused by disillusionment with the impossible goals set by capitalism.

Subcultural theory

focuses on explaining why young working class people commit crimes, known as juvenile delinquency which is malicious in nature and not linked to material or financial goals

Cohen

delinquency is caused by a strain between cultural goals and the means of achieving them. Young people want status and respect and to feel valued. Middle class children receive this from their parents, teachers and peers as they achieve educational success. Denied status in school, placed in bottom sets, few or no qualifications, low paid jobs or unemployment result in a sense of low self-esteem. They feel alienated and angry at the low status that school and society allocate them leading to STATUS FRUSTRATION. respond by developing gangs/subcultures with others who reverse the norms and values of the dominant culture and award each other on delinquent behaviour.

Evaluation

ignores female delinquency

most working class boys conform at school despite educational failure

Paul willis' study

Walter Miller

working class delinquents are acting out and exaggerating mainstream values of the working-class subculture. Working class youth subculture has developed a series of FOCAL CONCERNS which give meaning to their lives outside of work. Blames working class delinquency on the deviant nature of working class culture.

sense of masculinity

desire for excitement

anti-authority

CRITICISMS

most working class people experience status frustration but don't become delinquents

only a minority of youth become delinquents

Some young people drift in and out of delinquency, grow out of it once reached adulthood

Right realists

See crime as undermining social cohesion and destroying social communities. They assume that people are naturally inclined towards criminal behaviour if it can further their interests or little chance of being caught.

Underclass theory

Charles Murray believes there is a distinct lower class subculture below the working class the UNDERCLASS. They subscribe to deviant and criminal values rather than mainstream values and transmit this deficient culture to their children via socialisation. MARSLAND believes the welfare state is to blame it creates a welfare dependency where people prefer to live of benefits than work. Murray sees the underclass as lacking in moral values such as commitment to marriage and family life. A large percentage of underclass children are brought up by single mothers who are often inadequate and irresponsible parents. Young males lack a father figure, turn to delinquent role models, become hostile towards the police and authority.

Criticisms

MOONEY- little if any real evidence that there is a relationship between single parenthood and criminal behaviour. Single parents are more likely to be the victims of crime rather than cause it.

Rational choice theory

Control theories