Functionalist View Of Crime

Main View

  • Functionalists believe that crime is inevitable in society; poor socialisation and inequality result in the absence of norms and values being taught. In addition, functionalists believe crime is positive for society because it allows boundary maintenance and allows a scope for adaptation and change.

Merton

  • Merton adapted Durkheim’s theory of anomie to explain deviance by combining two elements:

    • Structural factors- Society’s unequal opportunity structure.

    • Cultural factors- The strong emphasis on success goals such as the american dream and the weaker emphasis on using legitimate means to achieve them.

  • AO2- THE WALL STREET CRASH, NEW YORK IN THE LATE 1920’S. THE MISMATCH BETWEEN ASPIRATION AND REALITY WAS CENTRAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MERTON’S STRAIN THEORY IN DEPRESSION ERA AMERICA.

  • The American Dream- A dream which American’s are expected to pursue by legitimate means: self discipline, study, educational qualifications etc.

  • This ideology tells Americans that their society is meritocratic and based on the effort that is made, where there are opportunities for all.

  • Merton’s strain theory states that crime is cause by the failure to achieve the goals of the American Dream. His theory includes 5 responses to the american dream.

    1. Conformism- accepting the goals and legitimate means to achieve them. TYPICAL AMERICANS.

    2. Innovation- subscribe to the goals of the American Dream but use illegitimate means to achieve this. THOSE ON THE LOWER END OF THE CLASS STRUCTURE.

    3. Ritualism- Reject the goals due to giving up but continue to conform to the legitimat means. TYPICALLY LOWER-MIDDLE CLASS OFFICE WORKERS IN DEAD-END ROUTINE JOBS.

    4. Retreatism- reject both the goals of the American dream and initially become drop outs. DESCRIBED AS OUTCASTS, VAGRANTS ETC.

    5. Rebellion- replace the goals and means with their own. Reject societies goals, but replace them with new ones in a desire to bring about revolutionary change and create a new kind of society. Rebels include political radicals and counter cultures such as HIPPIES.

Cohen

  • Cohen’s status frustration theory focuses on working class boys in schools who fail to succeed in middle-class environments, and in turn form delinquent subcultures that go against middle-class norms and values.

  • Working-class boys try to succeed try to succeed within subcultures by trying to rise in the hierarchy, which they have more chance of succeeding in.

  • Thus explaining why people commit non utilitarian crimes.

  • Cohen’s frustration theory is a criticism of Merton who claims boys commit utilitarian crimes for material gain. He argues that working class boys face anomie in the middle-class dominated school system.

Cloward &Ohlin

  • Develop Cohen’s status frustration theory by suggesting there are 3 different types of subcultures.

    • Criminal Subcultures which provide “apprenticeship” for utilitarian crimes. They exist in areas with stable criminal cultures, with hierarchies of professional criminals (drug dealers).

    • Conflict subcultures exist in areas of high population turnover, he claims these areas lack organisation and consist of loosely organised gangs (postcode wars)

    • Retreating subcultures are formed of people who fail in both legitimate and illegitimate means and may turn to illegal drug use (‘junkies’)

Durkheim

  • Crime is inevitable- poor socialisation results in not everyone being taught the same norms and values.

  • The inevitability of crime stems from the inequality that exists in society.

  • He claims that crime can be positive- ‘Boundary Maintenance’ is the concept that crime is functional in society when there is the right amount.