Topic 1 - Functionalist, strain and subcultural Theories

What are the Positive functions of crime? (3)

Durkheim

• Boundary maintenance and social cohesion: It produces a reaction from societies members, uniting in condemnation of the perpetrator. This both reinforces our values against the crime and brings us together (eg Christchurch terrorist attack 2019).

• Adaptation and change: Change often starts with social deviance (eg religious visionary). This allows new ideas to be introduced into society. If there is to much social control, society will be unable to innovate and develop.

  Polsky

• Safety Valve: Some minor crimes and acts of deviancy can actually prevent larger more serious crimes. For example accessing pornography can prevent more serious sexual crimes.

Explain Durkheims theory of Boundary maintenance and Social Cohesion (positive function of Crime)

It produces a reaction from societies members, uniting in condemnation of the perpetrator. This both reinforces our values against the crime and brings us together (eg Christchurch terrorist attack 2019).

Explain Durkheims theory of Adaption and Change (positive Function of Crime)

Change often starts with social deviance (eg religious visionary). This allows new ideas to be introduced into society. If there is to much social control, society will be unable to innovate and develop.

Explain Polskys Safety Valve theory (positive function of crime)

Some minor crimes and acts of deviancy can actually prevent larger more serious crimes. For example accessing pornography can prevent more serious sexual crimes.

Evaluate the Positive functions of Crime

• Durkheim ignores the impact that crime has on the individual victims instead focuses on the impact on society.

• Doesn’t quantify how much crime is beneficial to society.

• Crime doesn’t always lead to solidarity but can cause isolation of both victim and criminal (Yearnshire - check spelling - study of DV, women average 35 assaults before reporting to Police)

Which sociologist theorised Boundary Maintenance and Adaption and Change?

Durkheim

Which sociologist developed the Safety Valve theory?

Polsky

Explain Mertons Strain Theory

People commit crime when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals through legitimate means. This can be caused by both:

• Structural factors: Societies unequal opportunities

• Cultural factors: Strong emphasis on success, weaker emphasis on attaining them via legitimate means

American Dream: Tells people they can get anything through hard-work (meritocratic). This is not the reality for many disadvantaged groups. Strain between the cultural goal of money and success and lack of legitimate means to do so (creating pressure to turn to illegitimate means). Merton called this the Strain to anomie.

What two factors exacerbate Strain Theory?

• Structural factors: Societies unequal opportunities

• Cultural factors: Strong emphasis on success, weaker emphasis on attaining them via legitimate means

Which sociologist theorised Strain Theory?

Merton

Evaluate Strain theory (2)

+Explains why different people respond in different ways (types of Strain)

-Ignores crime committed by those who have achieve societal goals

-Ignores non-Utilitarian crime

Explain Mertons Types of Strain

Merton identifies that people react differently to strain depending on whether they accept or reject these societal goals and methods, for example:

• Innovation: response were individual accepts societal goal of money accumulation, and so resorts to crime

• Rebellion: rejects these societal goals and therefore embarks on changing the society (eg political radicals)

What is the difference between Strain theory and Subcultural Strain theory?

• Strain theory: Problem is strain

• Subcultural Strain theory: Problem is strain + access to delinquent subcultures (with different values from mainstream society that provide alternative opportunity structures for those denied the chance to achieve via legitimate means).

Explain Cloward and Ohlin’s theory of Subcultural Strain theory

• They attempt to explain why different subcultures responses occur.

• The key reason is not only unequal access to legitimate opportunity structures, but also to illegitimate opportunity structures. They identity 3:

• Criminal subcultures: Provide youths with apprenticeship for a career in crime (only in neighbourhoods with longstanding and stable criminal culture)

• Conflict subcultures: Arises in areas in which high population turnover prevents a stable crime network from developing - leading to gang conflict and violence (providing statue by winning turf wars)

• Retreatist subcultures: Just as in the legitimate opportunity structure, people can fail within the illegitimate opportunity structure. These "double failures” often turn to drug use.