crime and deviance: functionalists

what is the functionalists attitude towards crime and deviance

crime is inveitable and universal

who is the main theorist for functionalist crime

durkenheim

what are durkenheims four functions of crime

boundry maintainance

adaptation and change

safety valve

warning light

what are the critisms of durkenheim

ignores how crime can affect victims

what is mertons strain theory

people engage in deviant behaviour when they can’t achieved socially approved goals by legitimate means

what is the american dream

emphasises ‘money success’ through legitimate means ie education & hard work

how does the american dream relate to the strain theory

poverty and discrimination block legitimate means causing a strain where they turn to illegitimate means

limitations of strain theory

too deterministic, not all working class people deviate

ignores the power of the ruling class to make and enforce the laws

do cloward and ohlin agree with merton

yes, W/C youths are denied legitimate opportunities to achieve

what are cloward and ohlins three subcultures

criminal subculture

conflict subculture

retreatist subculture

what is a criminal subculture

: organised gangs where young people gain status and money by learning crime within an established criminal network.

what is conflict subculture

violent gangs in deprived areas where status is earned through fighting because legal and criminal opportunities are limited

what is retreatist subculture

‘double failures’ who turn to drugs, alcohol, and petty crime as an escape after failing in both legal and criminal paths.

critisms of cloward and ohlin

ignore the crimes of the wealthy

over-predict the amount of W/C crime