Functionalism and crime

?
Functionalists
believe that crime is inevitable in society.
poor socialisation and inequality result in the absence of norms and values being taught.
they believe that crime is positive for society because it allows boundary maintenance, and allows a scope for adaptati
1 of 8
Durkheim
Crime is inevitable - Poor socialisation results in not everyone being taught the same norms and values.
Crime is positive - 'Boundary maintenance' is the concept that crime is functional in society when there is the right amount. When people are punished
2 of 8
Durkheim 2
Davis agrees with Durkheim in that crime can be positive, but in a different way. He believes prostitution provides positive functions because it allows men to express sexual frustration without threatening the nuclear family.
Adaptation and change - Some
3 of 8
Merton's 'strain theory'
states that crime is caused by the failure to achieve the goals of the American dream through legitimate means. In his theory there are five different responses to the American Dream:

Conformism - accepting the goals and legitimate means to achieve them
4 of 8
Merton's 'strain theory' 2
Innovation - subscribe to the goals of the American dream but use illegitimate means to achieve them.
Ritualism - reject the goals but conform to the means.
Retreatism - reject both the goals of the American dream and subscribe to illegitimate means.
Rebe
5 of 8
Cohen's 'status frustration' theory
focuses on working-class boys in schools who fail to succeed in middle-class environments, and form delinquent subcultures that go against middle-class norms and values.
working-class boys try to succeed within subcultures by trying to rise in the hiera
6 of 8
Cloward and Ohlin
developed Cohen’s status frustration theory by suggesting there are 3 types of subcultures:

Criminal subcultures provide ‘apprenticeships’ for utilitarian crime. They exist in areas with stable criminal cultures, with hierarchies of professional crimina
7 of 8
Cloward and Ohlin 2
Conflict subcultures exist in areas of high population turnover. There is social disorganisation and only loosely organised gangs (e.g. postcode/turf wars).

Retreatist subcultures are formed of people who fail in both legitimate AND illegitimate means an
8 of 8

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Durkheim

Back

Crime is inevitable - Poor socialisation results in not everyone being taught the same norms and values.
Crime is positive - 'Boundary maintenance' is the concept that crime is functional in society when there is the right amount. When people are punished

Card 3

Front

Durkheim 2

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Merton's 'strain theory'

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Merton's 'strain theory' 2

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Sociology resources:

See all Sociology resources »See all Crime and deviance resources »