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Crime and Deviance > Functionalism > Flashcards

Flashcards in Functionalism Deck (12)
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1
Q

role of value consensus in preventing crime

A

form of social control through socialisation

2
Q

why is crime inevitable?

A

not all equally socialised and diversity of lifestyles

tendency in modern societies towards anomie (greater diversity leads to a weakening of rules which govern behaviour)

3
Q

Positive functions of crime (give examples)

A

boundary maintenance and adaptation/change
safety valve - Polsky’s prostitution
Cohen - deviance as a warning signal

4
Q

Merton’s theory

A

Structural factors - society’s unequal opportunity structure
Cultural factors - strong emphasis on success goals (weaker emphasis on legitimate means)
strain between goals and means (legitimate ways e.g. hard work for legitimate goals e.g. wealth)
US Dream – pursue legitimately but reality is disadvantaged (worse by success at any means)
Adaptations – conformity, rebellion, ritualism

5
Q

Recent strain theories

A

young pursue other goals than money (institutional anomie theory – school)

6
Q

Cohen

A

• Subcultural strain theory – alternative opportunity structure
• Cohen – status frustration (WC face anomie in MC education) and gain status through deviance
explains non - utilitarian

7
Q

Cloward and Ohlin

A

• Cloward and Ohlin – not all turn to innovation (unequal access to illegitimate opportunity structure)
• 3 types of deviant subculture
1. Criminal - apprenticeship in crime
2. Conflict - loose gangs in areas of high population turnover
3. Retreatist - double failing drug abusers

8
Q

Evaluation

A

crime never promotes solidarity, assumes value consensus, draws lines between types of subcultures too much

9
Q

Beliefs about society

A

society as a system of interrelated and interdependent units held together by a shared value consensus
two societal mechanisms - socialisation and social control

10
Q

Evaluation - Merton

A

explains patterns of crime - WC and property crime highest

fails to explain non - utilitarian crime and group deviance

11
Q

Evaluation - Cohen

A

Assumes WC have same goals (FATEST)

12
Q

Evaluation - Cloward and Ohlin

A

ignores wider power structure