Functionalist perspectives on C +D

General view, Strain theory and subcultural

What is the key Functionalist View on c + d?

Crime and deviance is necessary as it is a part of organic analogy therefore it helps with preventing crime and finding issues in institutions and society

Boundary Maintenance and its AO3

acts as a deterrent as reminds us of societal expectations. Reinforces social solidarity as seen in public hangings where people cheer and with searching for missing people (Shannon Matthews = people united in anger)

Looking out at society sacrifices individual (victims and family - micro v macro = interpretivist). Socialisation can be different - not everyone has the same morals - and not everyone is as passionate => simplistic and deterministic approach.

Acts as a warning and its AO3

it shows an institutions that it is not being effective and action is needed - Cohen uses truancy to show that a school system needs to be changed. London riots and Grenfell tower warned institutions on issues.

Truancy cannot be a direct application to crime (low level deviance). It also ignores the 72 deaths that happened as a result - issue should’t have happened in the first place. It is waiting for mass destruction to change and ignores power in society (people did tell govt about tower but no one listened)

Adaption and Change and its AO3

all change starts with an act of crime or deviance. It suggests that deviance is needed for the development of society. Suffragettes, Civil Rights

History can trump social attitudes = US gun laws and abortion = laws have actually reversed against societal attitudes. Simplistic and ignores power.

Crime as a safety valve and its AO3

machinery needs a valve to stop it going wrong or blowing up. It releases pressure and allows things to cool down. Davis says that prostitution acts as a valve to release sexual frustrations to protect nuclear family. Polsky says that pornography prevents adultery.

Focuses on men and ignores women => outdated and could have opposite effects (breaks the family down)

What is Strain Theory?

Merton says that things like the American Dream (financial stability, power, status) has socialised people into wanting it and that it sells to them that society is meritocratic and the way to get it is through legitimate means => conformity.

64% said most people can get ahead if they are willing to work hard. Still feel strongly about it.

The reality is that there is the capitalist hierarchy that is based on inequality. Conflict then emerges between what people have been told and what is actually available → STRAIN.

Merton - 5 things

Conformity = accept goals by legitimate means → JOB/EDUCATION

Innovation = achieving legitimate goals by illegitimate means → DRUG DEALING

Ritualistic = abandons goal but sticks to rules → NEVER TRYING FOR A PROMOTION

Retreatism = abandons goals and legitimate means → BECOMING A DRUG ADDICT

Rebellion = challenges approved goals and approved means → TERRORISM

AO3 Strain Theory - KEY ONES (more in my folder)

Strengths:

• offers a WHY to crime not just a HOW => helps tackle and improve through policies

  => Practical Value that can inform societal change

Limitations:

• Assumes everyone is socialised into AD => overgeneralises society

• assumes all who cannot get AD commits crime => deterministic

• Only explains crime of disadvantages => doesn’t explain white collar/corporate crime

• doesn’t explain non-utilitarian crime => less useful that a subcultural theory for example.

What is Subcultural theory?

Cohen looks at c + d in a group context but also sees it as w/c. Due to blocked opportunities w/c feel unable to achieve mainstream success through legitimate means so develop status frustration in a middle class environment. Face anomie so form subcultures to find purpose/success. They reject values that mainstream society value and inherit values they condemn. Turned them upside down. EG: vandalism, assault, riots

Subcultural AO3

Strengths:

• group response => recognise crime as more complex and existing in multiple forms

• Non utilitarian and utilitarian crimes => more useful

  Limitations:

• assumes w/c delinquents accept mainstream values => deterministic

• Miller and Matza have contradictory views on subcultures and these show that a one size that fits all doesn’t work because they all disagree with each other

• Feminists = crimes against women aren’t considered and don’t look into any differences between men and women who commit crime.

• Marxists = ignores white collar and corporate crimes and need to look at the whole class structure.

What is subcultural strain theory?

Cloward and Ohlin agree that crime results from blocked opportunities - also unequal access to illegitimate means = location and neighbourhood often determines the type of response/subculture

3 subcultures with key idea:

Criminal Subcultures → arise in neighbourhoods with longstanding and stable criminal network and culture. There is an established hierarchy of professional adult crime which allows young people to develop role models and get given certain roles as well (career ladder)

Conflict Subcultures → arise in high pop turnover and there is social disorganisation which prevents stable network. Loosely organised gangs who focus on getting out frustrations on blocked opp and gain source of status by winning territory and violence

Retreatist Subcultures → ‘Double Failures’ = not all who aspire to be professional criminals / gang leaders succeed in such either.

Subcultural Strain Theory AO3:

(+) acknowledge there is often more than 1 response to a situation

(-) Overemphasise that crime is always a w/c problem => limited

(-) 3 responses are limiting - not enough free will considered

(-) 3 responses aren’t that different - characteristics overlap => could belong to more than one => deterministic

(-) Only focuses on reactions to blocked opportunities (reactive)

(-) No practical solutions - doesn’t help with improving society

Institutional Anomie Theory:

Messner and Rosenfeld (2001) = obsession with money success leads towards more pressure for crime (‘anything goes’ mentality towards achieving wealth). Societies based in capitalism and lack of welfare provision result in higher crime rates.

Downes and Hansen = survey they conducted found that societies who spent more of welfare had lower rates of imprisonment.

Savelsberg = In EE there is a rapid rise in crime after fall of communism in 1989 => collective values replaced by capitalist money focused mentalities.

High Population Turnover

Park and Brugess = deviance product of social disorganisation - rapid population turnover and migration create instability and disrupt family and community - unable to exercise authority resulting in deviance.