Criminology Unit 2-Sociological Theories (Functionalist and Subcultural Theories)

Functionalism and Subcultural Theories

What is Functionalism?

Society is a stable structure based on integration and social solidarity coming from a shared set of norms, values, and beliefs which regard what is right and wrong. Most people conform to these values but deviancy is expected making crime inevitable.

Who is the main guy with functionalism?

Durkheim

What are the functions of crime (according to Durkheim)?

-Establishing boundary maintenance

-Enabling social change

-Acing as a safety value

-Acting as a warning light

What did Durkheim say about Functionalism?

-Crime is inevitable because not everyone is adequately socialised.

-The amount of different social groups which share different values causes the strength of shared values to be weakened (anomie or normlessness)

Describe Boundary Maintenance.

The act of crime unites society against the criminal, strengthening the values of that society.

Describe Social Change.

Without people to challenge the norms and values of society, society is unable to progress with new ideas.

What is an example of Social Change?

Nelson Mandela served 27 years in prison for conspiring to overthrow the state and fight against apartheid (racial segregation). He played a part in ending apartheid in South Africa.

Describe Warning Lights

Deviance indicates that their is a flaw with the system. (High re-offending rates suggest that rehabilitation schemes don’t work)

What is Strain Theory?

The root of crime lies in the unequal structure of society. Society has goals which people should establish through legitimate means. Not everyone is given an equal opportunity to succeed due to blocked opportunities (most faced by the working class due to poverty or inadequate education).

What are the 5 responses to Strain Theory

-Conformity

-Innovation

-Ritualism

-Retreatism

-Rebellion

What is Conformity?

People who accept goals through legitimate means.

What is Innovation?

People who accept goals but reject legitimate means.

What is Ritualism?

People who reject goals but not legitimate means

What is Retreatism?

People who reject both goals and legitimate means.

What is Rebellion?

People who reject goals and legitimate means and replace them with new goals and means.

Who came up with Strain Theory?

Robert Merton

What is Status Frustration?

Deviance comes from a group response to not being able to achieve success through legitimate means.

Who came up with Status Frustration?

Albert Cohen.

What crimes did Cohen focus on?

Crimes without financial gain.

Where does Status Frustration start from and why?

Status Frustration often starts at school.

Lower class boys often ended up in lower sets and were labelled as thick. As a response to this, they join a peer group where hierarchy is based on respect received through delinquent action.

What are the 3 types of deviant subculture?

-Criminal

-Conflict

-Retritists

Who came up with the types of deviant subculture?

Cloward and Ohlin

Describe Criminal

Criminal appears in areas with long standing professional criminal networks. They select suitable youths for a future criminal career.

Describe Conflict

Conflict appears in areas where the only criminal opportunities are gang related. Inter gang violence acts as both a release and a way of gaining status.

Describe Retritists

Retritists consist of dropouts who have failed with legitimate and illegitimate opportunities. They have a heavy focus on drug use.