1. Functionalism

merton strain theory

individuals are socialised to meet certain shared values (the American dream). they’re also socialised to follow appropriate means to achieve the goal (working hard)

many societies suffer from anomie (normlessness) and have an imbalance between goals set by society and law abiding means of achieving them. people who can’t achieve the American dream reject norms and create new ones

merton strain theory cont

disadvantaged groups (working class blacks etc) are unable to achieve the goals through legitimate means because they experience blocked opportunities in school so they underachieve. there are 5 ways in which people attempt to achieve the goal.

innovators

they accept the goal; reject the means so they find deviant ways to achieve the goal (drugs, stealing, prostitution etc)

conformers

they accept the goal and means of achieving it so they work hard to achieve it.

ritualism

they give up trying to achieve the goal but internalise legitimate means of achieving the goal (working class, low paying jobs). they follow the rules for their own sake but rejecting the goal still classes them as deviant.

retreatism

rejects the goal and means and descends into crime and deviance (alchoholism, drug abuse etc)

rebellion

seeks to replace the goal and the means with new ones that meets the norms and values of their culture/what they want.

strain theory AO3

they don't account for non utilitarian crimes such as violent crimes, vandalism, genocide and torture.

strain theory AO3

marxists. they ignore power of the ruling class (selective law enforcement. merton assumes there’s a value consensus and everyone strives for money success. ignores the possibility that not everyone shares the same goal.

subcultural strain theories AO1

attempts to explain the collective group nature of crime and deviance through the concept of subcultures. they provide alternative deviant opportunity structures for those faced with power imbalances.

subcultural strain theories Cohen status frustration.

focuses on deviance amongst working class boys. w/c youths are socialised into the American dream. they face blocked opportunities because of low position in social class structure because of anomie in the middle class education system. they then experience status frustration because they can’t achieve mainstream goals legitimately so they react deviantly.

Cohen status frustration cont

some w/c youths reject mainstream values because of status frustration and invert them. they’re replaced with deviant and subcultural norms and values a hugh value is placed on negativistic (non money making) crimes such as arson and vandalism. this provides an alternative place of gaining status and striking back at unequal society.

subcultural strain theories cloward and ohlin blocked opportunities.

(can be used as Cohen AO3)

criticises Cohen for failing to recognise the different types of crimes that emerge out of illegitimate oppourtunity structure.

different neighbourhoods provide different illegitimate opportunities for individuals to learn criminal skills and develop criminal careers. 3 different areas -criminal, conflict and retreatist subcultures.

criminal subcultures.

have access to criminal networks, commit utilitarian crimes such as burglary.

conflict subcultures.

lack access ti criminal networks but juviniles live in an area with high population turnover with results in violence.

retreats subcultures.

lack access to criminal/conflict subcultures, typical deviant behaviour only consists of alcohol/drug abuse.

cloward and ohlin overview

good areas =good opportunities with no link to criminal subcultures. bad areas=bad opportunities. family link to crime=normal so they’re used to it

subcultural strain theory AO3

Cohen and Cloward + ohlin eval

Miller- lower classes have their own independent subcultures separate from mainstream with its own values. doesn’t value success so they’re not frustrated by failure. deviance is to achieve their own goals, not mainstream ones.

subcultural strain theory AO3

Cohen and Cloward + ohlin eval

Matza- most delinquents aren’t strongly committed to their subculture.

can’t separate deviant behaviour into two different groups, deviant and non deviant. everyone is a little but deviant just subterranean (such as speeding), not everyone gains the label. (link to interactionism)

Durkheim.

crime is inevitable and a part of healthy societies.

1) crime is necessary to generate social change, all change begins as deviation from social norms and values. if new ideas are suppressed then society will stagnate and not be able to make necessary, adaptive changes.

Durkheim 2. creates social integration.

crime bonds society together against certain crimes and criminals (terrorism)

Durkheim 3. boundary maintenance.

helps clarify the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. (speeding is tolerated, pedophilia is not)

positive view of social order/control.

agencies of socialisation instil norms and values to create value consensus. they create social order and stability. when people are punished for committing a crime, others are taught not to go against norms and values so this strengthens boundaries for preventing further crime.

Durkheim AO3

Left realists. functionalist views neglect the victims when focusing on the positives of crime. ignores the psychological and physical harm and ignores justice that should be served.