Crime and Deviance 2

What did Durkheim argue?

Crime is inevitable

Why did Durkheim argue that crime is inevitable?

• Not everyone is equally committed to the collective conscience

• Not everyone follows maintstream NVAs

Why can crime be a good thing?

• Reaffirms societies values

• Generates social change

• Reinforces social solidarity

What is an example of crime to reaffirm societies values?

Lucy Letby

What is an example of crime helping to generate social change?

Women’s rights

What is an example of crime reinforcing social solidarity?

Manchester bombings

What have functionalists identified as further functions of crime?

• It can act as a safety valve

• It has a warning device

What is an example of crime having a warning device?

Higher suicide rates in prison

What does too much crime cause?

Society to tear apart

What does too little crime do?

Over control members

What does expressive punishment do?

Demonstrates societies outrage at a criminal act

What does punishment as a deterrent do?

Prevent others from committing the same act

What is an example of expressive punishment?

Newspaper displaying mugshot

What is an example of punishment as a deterrant?

Community service

Who came up with Strain Theory?

Merton

What is Strain Theory?

Working class can’t achieve their goals through legitimate means

What promotes the strain to anomie?

American dream and inequality

What are the 5 adaptions to strain?

• Conformity

• Innovation

• Ritualism

• Retreatism

• Rebellion

What is conformity?

Coping by continuing to do their best

What is innovation?

Turning to illegal means to achieve goals

What is ritualism?

People have lost sight of material goods but derive satisfaction from meaningless jobs

What is retreatism?

Coping by dropping out of society

What is rebellion?

Using violent methods to achieve what they want

What is an example of conformity?

Working whatever their current job is

What is an example of innovation?

Drug dealing

What is an example of ritualism?

Factory work

What is an example of retreatism?

Addiction

What is an example of rebellion?

Protest

What is a subculture?

Group of people who share the same NVAs

What is delinquency?

Crimes committed by juveniles

What is status frustration?

Not being happy with being denied the opportunity to gain status

What is non-utilitarian crime?

Crimes that aren’t motivated by material reward

What is the alternative status hierarchy?

When in a group, deviant acts are praiseworthy and achieve status

What is the illegitimate opportunity structure?

An illegal mean to achieving goods

What is a criminal subculture?

A group of people that commit crimes with a hierarchy

What is a conflict subculture?

Highly masculinised and territorial behaviour by a group with no network

What is a retreatist subculture?

A group of people that have turned to substances to cope

Who proposed status frustration?

Cohen

What does Cohen criticise in Merton’s theory?

• He sees deviance as an individual response to strain

• He focuses on utilitarian crime

What is an example of working class members being denied status?

Teacher labelling

How may boys respond to status frustration?

Join an anti-school subculture

What behaviours may be rewarded by the alternative status hierarchy?

Substance abuse

What did Miller say about Cohen?

Not all working class share the same goals

Is education the only thing that forms subcultures?

No - media, family, peers, religion

Who came up with the illegitimate opportunity structure idea?

Cloward and Ohlin

Who came up with focal concerns?

Miller

What are the focal concerns?

Exaggerated working class values that they are socialised into

What are the focal concerns?

• Fate

• Excitement

• Autonomy

• Toughness

• Smartness

Explain fate as a focal concern.

They believe that their future is already decided

Explain excitement as a focal concern.

They commit small crimes for adrenaline

Explain autonomy as a focal concern.

They wish to not be reliant on others

Explain toughness as a focal concern.

Trying to look hard to impress who you think respects you

How is smartness a focal concern?

People will use street smarts to gain something

Does Miller believe working class men intend to break the law?

No