Crime and deviances : Functionalists

What does Durkheim mean when he says crime is normal in society?

Crime is found in all societies becouse not everyone is equally socialised into shard norms and values . In complex societies , diverse lifestyles lead to subculture with different norms , which mainstream cultrue may label as devient

Crime is inevidable due to incomplete socialisation and cultrual diversity

What is Durkheims concept of anomie and how does it relate to crime?

Anomie is a state of normlessness that ccurs during rapit chane or crisis

It happens when individials feel disconnected from societys collective norms and values

This can lead to deviant behaviour

Explains how social instability increases crim

How does crime help maintain boundaries according to Durkheim ?

Crime produces a reaction from society that reaffirms shared norms and values

Punishment reinforces social solidarity , often through courtrooms, media coverage or public events

Crime strengthesns collective concience

What is collective conscience?

Shared norms and values of society which guide behaviour and create social solidarity

How can deviance lead to social change according to Durkheim?

Introduces new ideas and challenges outdated norms

Historical examples e.g civil rites activists Eosa Parks and MLK whos illegal actions lead to legal reforms

Crime can be a drive of progress

How do Polsky and Davis explain crime as a safety valve?

Davis argued that prostitution (devient act) releases mens sexual frustrations without threatning the nuclear family

Polsky said dornography channels (watching is devient) sexual desires away from more harmful acts like adultery or assult

Devience protects core institutions

What is licensed deviancy and why is it functional ?

Some deviance is tolorated or regulated to prevent worse behaviour

Events like carnavals, sports violence or freshers week allow rule breaking in controlled setting

Society manages to reduce harm

What are key criticisms of functionalist views on crime?

No way to mesure the “right” amount of crime

Crime isnt functional for victims

Crime cna isolate pople (e.g women avoiding public spaces)

Theory is hard to falsify - crime is seen as both good and bad

(functionalistm may oversimplify crimes impact

How does Mertons strain thoery explain crime and devience?

Crime results from poor fit between societys goals (e.g wealth , success) and the lefitimate means to achive them

Disadvantaged groups face blacked opportunities, leading to frustration and pressure to deviate

Explains why crime is more common among the working class

What does Merton mean by the “American dream” and its link to crime?

American dream promotes meritocracy and success for all, but in reality , many are denied opportunities, this creates streing

Especially as culture emphasises winning at any cost

(Cultural pressure fuels devience)

What are Mertons five strain responses to blocked opportunities?

Conformity - Accept goals and means (e.g to become middle class)

Innovation - Accept goals , use illegitimate means (e.g theft )

Ritualism - Reject goals , follow rules anyway (e.g get a bad job )

Retreatism - REject both goals and means (e.g drop out , addict)

Rebellion - replace goals and means with new ones (e.g radical hippies)

What are key criticisms of Mertons strain theory?

Assumes values consensus (not everyone wants wealth)

OVerestimates working class crime

Underestimates middle class corprate crime

Cannot explain non utilitarian crime e.g violence , sexual assult

How does Cohens status frustration theory explain working class crime?

Lower class boys fail to meet middle class expectations, leading to feeling of inadequacy

Tehy form subcultures that invert mainstream values , gaining status through antisocial behaviour

Explains non utilitarian crime and group devience

What did Paul Willis find in relation to status frustration?

Fodun “lads” rejected school and gained status through misbehaviour. Gang crime was attractive becouse it earned respect from peers

Supports Cohens theory with real world evidence

What are the three subcultures identified by Cloward and Ohlin?

Criminal subcultures - Stable areas with adult crime networks e.g mafia

Conflict subcultures - Disorganised areas with gangs and turf wars

Retreatist subcultures - “Double failures” who turn to drugs or alcohol

What are the three most important strain adaptations?

Rebellion - people reject societys goals and means and replace them with new ones e,g counter cultures, political movements (shows strain can lead to socieal change not only crime)

Retreatism - Explains “droupouts” who reject both goals and means covers alchohols and addicts

Innovationn - Explains working class utilitarian crime e.g theft , drug dealing . People accept the goal of money success but use illegitimate means

What are criticisms of subcultral theory?

Ignores white collar and corporate crime

Overlooks power structures e.g law enforcment targeting gangs

Criminal acts can overlap subcultures

Theory oversimplifys deviant behaviour

How do Clowerd and Ohlin explain the difference between criminal and conflict subcultures?

Criminal subcultures form in stable areas with organised adult crime nettworks, giving youths an apprenteship into utilitarian crime mafia style

Conflict subcultures form in diorganised areas with high turnover

No stable criminal network exists so youths gain status through violence , turf wars and gang conflict

What is retreatist subcultures?

Made for “double falures”

They fail in legitimet roots (education ) and illefitimate routs (criminal or gang networks)

They retreat into drugs , alchol and homelesness . They spend time with people whove done the same