Functionalism

Question 1

Functionalist views of crime

Answer 1

Individual < society

Deviant behaviour that’s harmful to individuals may still be functional for society, serving a collective purpose

Question 2

What is a value consensus?

Answer 2

Norms and values shared by all of society

Question 3

What is meant by a ‘collective conscience’?

Answer 3

Community’s police themselves and use sanctions to enforce conformity

Question 4

What is anomie?

Answer 4

A bad state of chaos and or normlessness caused by too much crime (it must be avoided)

Question 5

What is social solidarity?

Answer 5

When all members of society feel part of the whole - created by crime and shared outrage.

Question 6

Durkeheim

Answer 6

Crime is inevitable and integral to society

Question 7

Durkheim: SWEAR

Answer 7

Safety valve
Warning sign
Employment
Adapt to change
Reaffirms boundaries

Question 8

3 studies used within SWEAR

Answer 8

Davis
Cohen
Erikson

Question 9

Davis 1961

Answer 9

Deviance is a ‘safety valve’ -prostitution isn’t damaging to society but instead provides a ‘safe’ outlet for sexual tensions in a way that’s less threatening to families.

Question 10

Cohen

Answer 10

Crime acts as a warning device for when an institution is failing

Question 11

Erikson’s wayway puritans

Answer 11

Communities reaffirm boundaries through ‘public degradation ceremonies’

E.g… throwing rotten tomatoes at criminals and public hangings, cancel culture

Question 12

What is Merton’s strain theory?

Answer 12

Crime and deviance happens where culturally defined goals are emphasised more the acceptable means of achieving them.

The American Dream lacked clear guidelines for achievement, which led to deviance

Question 13

Examples of Merton’s strain theory

Answer 13

Lance Armstrong – won Tour de France using performance enhancing drugs

The American Dream lacked clear guidelines for achievement

Question 14

Merton - people react to social strain in 5 ways

Answer 14

Conformity – stick to rules (pay parking fine)
Innovation – bend the rules (crime)
Ritualism – give up trying (not fighting for a promotion)
Retreatism – drop out (leave ur job, stop paying parking tickets)
Rebellion – find different goals (Cult)

Question 15

Taylor’s slot machine analogy

Answer 15

You feel like there’s a clear randomized choice between 5 modes but really some are more common than others - Merton hasn’t considered who puts the machine there or who makes all the profits.