Topic 1

Functionalism

Functionalism

A sociological perspective that views society as based on value consensus and emphasizes the importance of shared norms, values, beliefs, and goals for social solidarity.

Socialization

The process through which individuals internalize the shared culture of society, including norms and values, to guide their behavior and interactions.

Social control mechanisms

Systems that use rewards for conformity and punishments for deviance to ensure individuals behave in ways expected by society.

Anomie

A state of normlessness in modern societies where the rules governing behavior become weaker due to a complex division of labor, leading to higher levels of deviance.

Boundary maintenance

The function of crime that produces a reaction from society, uniting its members in condemnation of wrongdoers and reinforcing commitment to shared norms and values.

Deviant adaptations

Different responses individuals have to the strain between cultural goals and legitimate means, including conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.

Subcultural strain theories

Theories that see deviance as a product of delinquent subcultures with different values from mainstream society, providing an alternative opportunity structure for those denied legitimate means of achievement.

Status frustration

Inability to achieve status through legitimate means leading to a sense of dissatisfaction and disappointment.

Delinquent subculture

A group of individuals who reject mainstream values and turn to delinquent behaviors to gain status among peers.

Alternative status hierarchy

A system where individuals can achieve status through illegitimate means after failing in the legitimate opportunity structure.

Non-utilitarian deviance

Deviant behaviors that do not have a profit motive, such as vandalism and truancy, explained by Cohen's theory of status frustration and alternative status hierarchy.

Criminal subcultures

Subcultures that provide an apprenticeship for utilitarian crime, with established criminal networks and opportunities for criminal careers.

Conflict subcultures

Subcultures that arise in areas of high population turnover, characterized by social disorganization and loosely organized gangs using violence for status.

Retreatist subcultures

Subcultures where individuals who fail in both legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures turn to illegal drug use as a form of retreat.

Reactive theories

Theories explaining subcultures as reactions to the failure to achieve mainstream goals, criticized for assuming everyone starts with the same goals.

Institutional anomie theory

Focuses on the American Dream's emphasis on money success leading to an anomic cultural environment encouraging crime.

Strain theories

Theories that suggest deviance arises from the inability to achieve societal goals, leading to various forms of deviant behavior.