topic 1- Functionalist, strain and subcultural theories

Durkheim

anomie/normlessness that crime in society is beneficial

Durkheim function of crime

boundary maintenance, adaption and change

Davies

safety valve

Cohen

argues that crime may act as a warning that an institution isn’t working properly which indicates that their needs to be a reform 

Erikson

societies promote crime at a certain level as deviance plays a role in reinforcing norms and values

Merton strain theory

people act in deviant behaviour as they’re unable to achieve goals by the legitimate way so they get frustrated and turn to crime

Cohen status frustration

individuals frustrated at their position in their society and the inability to move up so they get annoyed and commit crime

Cloward and Ohlin

different neighbourhoods provide different illegitimate opportunities leading to three deviant subcultures: criminal subcultures, conflict subcultures, retreatist subcultures

Messner and Rosefeld

argue that Americans Dream theory puts pressure towards crime where money and success dominate everything