functionalist theory

durkheim: positive functions of crime

• can create social change

• protest (Nelson Mandel protested apartheid and became SA president)

• HOWEVER: how much is the right amount?

durkheim: maintaining social solidarity

• collective condemnation of the offender (9/11 memorial)

• boundary maintenance (Guy Fawkes - public)

• HOWEVER, effect of crime on individuals

durkheim: crime is inevitable

• people hold different norms or variations of norms

• CAGE: young vs old

kingsley davis

• safety valve

• smaller deviances prevent bigger crimes

• prostitution for the release of men’s sexual frustration

• prevents sexual assault, family breakdown

criticisms of durkheim

• how much is the right amount?

• social isolation - stay indoors, fear of attack

robert merton: strain theory

• strain between structural factors (means) and cultural factors (goals)

robert merton: american dream

• meritocratic society

• reality: many disadvantaged and denied opportunities to achieve legitimately

• pressure to resort to illegitimate means

robert merton: responses to strain

• conformists: accept culturally approved gaols and strive to achieve them legitimately

• innovators: accept goal of money success, use new illegitimate means (fraud, drug dealing)

albert cohen: status frustration

• cultural deprivation

• status deprivation

• alternative status hierarchy

cultural deprivation

• face anomie in m/c dominated school

• inability to succeed leaves them at the bottom of status hierachy

status frustration

• face problem adjusting to the low status they are given by mainstream society

alternative status hierarchy

• create new delinquency subculture that inverts the values of mainstream society

status frustration evaluation

• offers an explanation for non-utilitarian deviance among w/c

• assumes that w/c boys start off sharing m/c success goals, only to reject them when they fail

cloward and ohlin: subcultures

• conflict

• criminal

• glocal

conflict subcultures

• territory

• e.g. football hooligans

• e.g. NG triangle

blocked opportunities, high population turnover

criminal subcultures

• hierarchy, structured

• less population turnover

• e.g. the krays (60s - 70s)

glocal

• global links: smuggling (goods, drugs, people)

• local actions: selling local subcultures on the streets