Functionalists views on crime and deviance

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Define crime?
Activities that break the laws set by the justice system.
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Define deviance?
Acts that go against norms and values that are considered anti-social.
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Why is crime seen as a social construction?
-Cultural variations -Contextual variations -Generational variations -Historical variations
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What is the 1st of the psychological explanations for crime?
-Material deprivation by Bowlby (lack of attachment causes irreversible damage which can cause criminal behaviour to gain attention (affection less psychopathy))
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What is the 2nd of the psychological explanations for crime?
-Personality traits (being impulsive is linked to criminal behaviour because people act without thinking)
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What is the 3rd of the psychological explanations for crime?
Mental abnormality (not all people can control their behaviour, for example schizophrenia)
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What are the biological explanations for crime?
-Physical characteristics by Lambroso (You could tell a criminal by their features because they were less evolved). -Genetics (Human warrior gene (less active=more neurotransmitters=more impulsive behaviour))
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What does Durkheim believe about crime?
It is inevitable, natural and universal.
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What does too much crime create?
A weaken value consensus and anomie (where people are unsure of the social norms and values so act in their own self interest rather then that of society)
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What does too little crime create?
Stagnation
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What are the positive functions of crime?
-Boundary maintenance -Adaptation & change -Social cohesion -Safety Valve -Warning device
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What is boundary maintenance?
without crime values would waste away so it is necessary to be a reminded for boundaries.
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What is adaptation & change?
Deviancy allows new ideas to develop and therefore society can progress and change.
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What is social cohesion?
After an episode of crime/deviancy occurs, it brings society together to ensure everything is functional again.
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What is safety valve?
By Davis, it prevents serious crimes/serious disruptions to aspects of society by allowing smaller crimes to occur.
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What is warning device?
By Clinard/A. Cohen, it states that crime/deviancy is a warning to society that something is not functioning correctly, so gives an opportunity for social control to change.
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What are the problems with Durkeim's theory?
-Doesn't quantify how much crime is enough -Latent functions of crime -Macro approach -can lead to isolation
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What causes strain in society?
When people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means.
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What is Merton's strain theory compared to?
The American Dream
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What are the adaptations to strain?
-Conformity -Innovation -Ritualism -Retreatism -Rebellion
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What is conformity?
You accept goals & values of society and work to achieve them.
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What is innovation?
You accept goals of society but not the means, so you create your own path.
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What is ritualism?
You reject the goals of society but still follow means to achieve them.
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What is retreatism?
Where you reject both the goals & means of society and retreat.
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What is rebellion?
You reject the goals & means of society and create your own goals & means.
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What are the problems with Merton's strain theory?
-takes crime @ face value (over-represent working class crime) -deterministic -assumes goals and value consensus -ignores group delinquency -only talks about utilitarian crimes for monetary gain and not crimes of violence/vandalism.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Define deviance?

Back

Acts that go against norms and values that are considered anti-social.

Card 3

Front

Why is crime seen as a social construction?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the 1st of the psychological explanations for crime?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the 2nd of the psychological explanations for crime?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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