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Functionalism & Crime
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- 1Which Sociologists are associated with Functionalism?- Durkheim
- Merton
- Cohen
- Davis
- Cloward and Ohlin - 2What are the fundamentals of Durkheim's theory?Society is a stable system based on a value consensus (shared norms, beliefs and values). This produces social solidarity, and to achieve this there are two key mechanisms:
SOCIALISATION - refers to the role of the family, and wider societal factors to ensure that the next generation internalise the widely accepted social norms and values.
SOCIAL CONTROL - mechanisms include rewarding (for good behaviour) and sanctions (punishment) for deviation from the norms. - 3What are the two ways in which Durkheim describes crime?Universal - in that it is everywhere
Inevitable - cannot be avoided. - 4What does Durkheim argue has occurred in modern societies?- People and groups have become seperate from each other, there is a loss of social cohesion, thus the shared norms and values begin to break down and are not as accessible/apparent (anomie occurs)
- 5What are the two functions of crime, in accordance to Durkheim?- Boundary Maintenance
- Adaptation and Change - 6What does Boundary Maintenance meaning in the context of the functions of crime?- Refers to the idea that when individuals within a society are exposed to crime and its' effects - there is a reaction. This reaction binds people together in their outrage at the crime committed/the wrongdoer and reaffirms the importance of the shared norms and values and their commitment to them.
- 7What is the function of Punishment, in accordance to Durkheim?Like the existence of crime, it reaffirms shared values that are deemed to be important and unites individuals in their response. Reminds people of the boundaries between right and wrong = useful for a society.
- 8What is the function of crime in relation to Adaptation & Change?- Without some form of resistance, or questioning/deviating from the social norms - a society can become stagnant. As the key to Sociology is to always improve one's society, revolutionary criminals are vital in this process. (E.G. Nelson Mandela)
- 9What does Davis suggest about crime?- Crime allows people to release their inner tensions in a way that ultimately will not harm the wider society. (PRESSURE COOKER) e.g. prostitution allows men to work off sexual fantasies/urges in a way that won't undermine the importance of the nuclear family.
- 10What are the criticisms of Durkheim?- Claims that society requires crime to function, but fails to explain how much crime is ample and required.
- Doesn't distinguish between what crimes can come under the umbrella term 'Crime' and how it can negatively affected those involved (e.g. victims) - too much of an emphasis on how it helps the wider society to develop.
- Doesn't explain why crime exists in the first instance. - 11What are the 5 ways that Merton argues individuals adapt to the societal strain caused by anomie?Rebellion
Retreatist
Ritualist
Conformist
Innovation - 12Rebellion - what does it mean?
- 13Retreatist - what does it mean?
- 14Ritualism
- 15Conformist - what does it mean?
- 16Innovation - what does it mean?
- 17Give a summary of Merton's ideas.Combines STRUCTURAL and CULTURAL factors to explain deviance.
- Deviance is the result of the Strain that is felt between the goals that a culture encourages individuals to aim towards, and the lack of opportunities (within society's structures) to achieve them legitimately. E.G. individuals may not have access to the adequate educational and employment sectors that will ultimately assist in them achieving the goals the legitimate way. - 18Criticisms of Merton include (name 4):- Assumes that individuals share a value consensus, and that they are widely accepted.
- Doesn't seek to explain why most people are conformist.
- Doesn't appear to acknowledge the fact that there may be seemingly conformist individuals engaging in deviant activities (E.G. CORPORATE CRIME) - 19Name 2 strengths of Merton's theory- Shows how both normal and deviant behaviours can be adopted to achieve the same goal. E.G. Conformists and Innovators both have the same goal but have different ways of achieving it.
(explains it using off. stats. - W/C Crime = high, because individuals don't have legitimate ways of achieving goals. Most crime = property crime as American society treasures material wealth.) - 20Cohen criticises Merton in 2 ways - what are they?- focuses on the individual rather than acknowledging the existence of deliquent subcultures
- only explains utilitarian crime (e.g. theft) that yes, may be economically motivated, but doesn't explain other violent crimes (non-utilitarian) which don't appear to have an economic motive.. - 21What is the Key Term associated with Cohen?'Status Frustration'
- 22Give a brief summary of 'Status Frustration'Young, w/c boys believe in the wider, mainstream goals but have no legitimate means of achieving them due to negative experiences in the educational sector, deprivation, limited employment opportunities.
- Feel frustrated as a result of this, resolve this frustration by forming a deliquent subculture with others who are rejecting society.
- Opportunity for them to regain their status through inverting the wider societal values E.G. wider society wishes to protect property, boys gain status through vandalising it. (Crime isn't necessarily as a response to a need for economic stability - is as a result of gaining peer status.) - 232 criticisms of Cohen- Assumes W/C boys shared the same values as wider society, and crime is as a response to not being able to achieve them
- Matza (1964) - deliquent subcultures are drifted in and out of; most W/C men do share a commitment to the shared values. - 24What are the three main subcultures in accordance to Cloward and Ohlin (1960)- CRIMINAL
- CONFLICT
- RETREATIST - 25How do they agree with Merton's 'Strain Theory'- Criminal behaviour amongst W/C boys is as a response to the lack of legitimate opportunity to achieve.
- 26How do they differ?- Not everyone reacts to the lack of legitimate opportunities through crimes such as theft, instead they may form a variety of subcultures that seek alternate methods such as drug use and violence.
- 27CRIMINAL SUBCULTURES (Phil Mitchell)Long-Standing history of criminal involvement, older individuals hand on responsibility of utilitarian crimes to younger individuals.
- 28CONFLICT SUBCULTURES- Characterised by violence, mugging and gang warfare.
- Both illegal and legal opportunities are limited and thus they resort to violence to gain status. - 29RETREATIST SUBCULTURES- Double failures. Have failed to successfully integrate into/succeed in both mainstream & deliquent opportunities and so resort to 'dropping out' E.G. prostitutes & drug addicts
- 30In what ways do Cloward and Ohlin develop both Cohen and Merton's theories?- Like Cohen, acknowledge that Status Frustration exists, however they apply it to a variety of subcultures instead of focusing on just one.
- Merton - Apply Merton's individualised theory to a wider societal group, thus recognise and seek to explain patterns on a wider scale. - 31Evaluation of Clo & Oh (3 points)- Ignore crimes of the wealthy, focus too much on the working class crime/over-predict it.
- Draw boundaries too sharp between the subcultures, people may alternate between them.
- Reactive theory - assumes, like Cohen, that the individuals shared the mainstream goals in the first place, and that their inability to achieve them led to crime being committed.
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- Fichas sobre Functionalism & Crime, creado por merryreindeer el 05/06/2014.
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