2CD functionalist view of crime

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What does Durkheim believe?
"crime is normal... an integral part of all healthy societies". Too much crime will cause anomie however to an extent it is functional.
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What are the three functions of crime?
Deviance as relative, Deviance is inevitable, and deviance as functional.
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What does Durkheim mean by deviance as relative?
crime is socially constructed and based on opinion, changing depending on time, place, situation and culture
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What are the 3 reasons why Durkheim argues that crime is inevitable?
1. not everyone is socialised into society's shared norms and values (collective conscience)
2. there are many different subcultures which all have different norms and values
3. society tends towards anomie
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How does deviance reaffirm boundaries?
the condemnation and punishment of the offender reinstates the view to society that their behaviour was unacceptable and shows them the consequences of what will happen if they behave the same way
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How can deviance change values?
Norms and values shouldn't be so strong that they prevent change, we should be able to challenge them so that society can improve and adapt which will initially look like deviance. without change society will stagnate
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How does deviance provide social cohesion?
when a criminal is punished, everyone in society agrees that their behaviour was wrong which creates a sense of social solidarity
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What are Durkheim's 2 societies?
Mechanic and Organic
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What does mechanic and organic mean?
Mechanic- punishment based on retribution- demonstrated society's abhorrence at breaking hared values.
Organic- punishment based on restitution- offender has to make amends for what they have done.
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Criticisms of Durkheim?
doesn't explain why some groups are more deviant than other, ignores that crime isn't functional for the victim, crime can cause isolation rather than unity, ignores how crime doesn't have positive intentions
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What does Merton argue?
Merton argues that crime and deviance can be a product of society's norms and values e.g. American society. he calls this the strain theory
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Whats important about American society according to Merton?
It stresses the importance of success such as money and material possessions. this causes people to feel stressed when they cannot achieve this so they turn to crime to achieve the American dream
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What is the correct way to achieve success?
By using legitimate means such as working hard in education
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according to merton why do people turn to crime?
because they cannot achieve societies goals through legitimate means, and therefore feel that crime is their only option
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how does merton describe goals which are pushed onto us by society that not everyone can achieve?
he calls these goals blocked aspirations as they cannot be achieved by everyone. some people may have less of a chance because of money, social class, educational underacheivement
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What are the 5 reactions to "blocked aspirations" and strain?
Conformist, innovators, ritualism, retreats, rebellion.
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What is conformity?
where people accept societies goals and get them through legitimate means (legally)
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What is innovation?
where society's goals are accepted but achieved illegitimately (illegally).
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what is Ritualism?
where individuals give up on achieving society's goals but carry on following rules and don't turn to crime
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What is retreatism?
where individuals reject society's goals and legitimate means and drop out of society.
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What is rebellion?
where Individuals replace society's existing goals and means with new ones with the aim to bring social change.
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Strengths of Merton's theory?
Shows how both normal and deviant behaviour can arise from mainstream goals and society's pressure, it explains the trends in official statistics e.g why property crime is higher in America, explains why working class have higher rates of crime
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Weaknesses of Merton?
ignores social mobility, ,marxists - ignores how the ruling class create goals and laws, only looks at utilitarian crime, deterministic, not everyone has the same goals, suggests that the working class are more likely to be deviant
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What does Hiraschi focus on?
Doesn't ask why people commit crime instead asks why don't people commit crime. He focuses on what forces old people's behaviour in check. When peoples bond to society weaken, they are more likely to commit crime.
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What new the four bonds Hiraschi discusses?
Attachment, commitment, involvement, belief.
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What is attachment?
peoples opinions of us if we commit crime.
what will they think of us?
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What is commitment?
what we put at risk by committing a crime “what have you got to loose?”.
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What is involvement?
other involvements in our life which take up our time meaning we have a lack of time to commit crime.
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What is belief?
our own personal morals
do we think it is right to follow the law?
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What does Cohen argue are the 2 functions of crime?
1. Deviance is a safety valve- a harmless way for people to let off steam and get rid of their frustrations such as prostitutions.
2. Deviance as a warning device- a signal to society that something may be wrong e.g. protests.
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what are the consequences of too much crime?
In period of great change collective conscious may be weakened. People may then look after their own selfish desires. this is anomie.
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Strengths of the functionalist view
sees crime as a safety valve, shows how deviance can kick start social change, Merton explains how crime may increase when there is excessive individualisation in society.
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Weaknesses of functionalist view
fails to challenge whose value consensus we follow, how can crime be functional when it causes so much misery? Neglects the power in society and how the upperclass make laws.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What are the three functions of crime?

Back

Deviance as relative, Deviance is inevitable, and deviance as functional.

Card 3

Front

What does Durkheim mean by deviance as relative?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are the 3 reasons why Durkheim argues that crime is inevitable?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How does deviance reaffirm boundaries?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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