Positive functions of crime:



A Level SociologyCrime and DevianceTopic 1Functionalism, strain and subcultural theories.right34498600What will you study? ?Crime, deviance, social order and social control?The social distribution of crime and deviance by ethnicity, gender and social class, including recent patterns and trends in crime?Globalisation and crime in contemporary society; the media and crime; green crime; human rights and state crimes?Crime control, surveillance, prevention and punishment, victims, and the role of the criminal justice system and other agencies.The exam format: QuestionMarksK&UAO1ApplicationAO2 Analysis and Evaluation AO3Q1 Outline44--Q2 Outline66--Q3 Analyse (Item)10343Q4 Evaluate (Item)301299Q5 Evaluate (Item)20532Q6 Outline and Explain 10866Part 1: The functionalist perspective on crime and deviance: Functionalists see society as based on value consensus. Members of society share a common culture or a set of norms, values and beliefs. This produces social solidarity. To achieve solidarity there are two key functions:Socialisation Social controlBecause functionalists see society based on a value consensus. That is it sees members of society as sharing a common culture of shared norms, values and beliefs about what is right and wrong.As a result, we might expect that functionalists would regard crime as wholly negative as it’s a threat to social order. However while functionalists see too much crime as destabilising for society, they also see crime as inevitable and universal.Durkheim (1893) “crime is normal …an integral part of all healthy societies”There are at least two reasons why crime is found in every society:Not all individuals are socialised effectively so some will be more prone to deviate. There are diversity of lifestyles in complex modern societies, different groups develop subcultures with distinctive norms and values. According to Durkheim in modern society, the rules governing behaviour become weaker and less clear cut.This is because in modern society there is a complex, specialised division of labour which leads to people becoming increasingly different from one another, this means that the ‘shared culture’ or ‘collective conscious’ is weakened, therefore resulting in a tendency towards anomie or ‘normlessness.’ THIS RESULTS IN CRIME!Positive functions of crime:-511084114300It reaffirms BoundariesWhen a person commits a crime it sends out a message to society that there are certain boundaries that you should not cross and that if you do then you will be punished accordingly. In other words crime and punishment reaffirms societies shared rules and reinforces social solidarity.For example, that murderers and rapists will receive long prison sentences.00It reaffirms BoundariesWhen a person commits a crime it sends out a message to society that there are certain boundaries that you should not cross and that if you do then you will be punished accordingly. In other words crime and punishment reaffirms societies shared rules and reinforces social solidarity.For example, that murderers and rapists will receive long prison sentences.1915251279402. Brings about ChangeFor Durkheim all changes within society originate from a deviant act and it is only as a result of this deviance that society is able to move forward and make the necessary adaptive changes. An example of this is the case of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman who were murdered by their caretaker. This act brought about important changes to the CRB system.002. Brings about ChangeFor Durkheim all changes within society originate from a deviant act and it is only as a result of this deviance that society is able to move forward and make the necessary adaptive changes. An example of this is the case of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman who were murdered by their caretaker. This act brought about important changes to the CRB system.Activity AO2 application:Make a list of acts or groups that used to be seen as deviant in the past but are not any longer:This shows how societies can adapt, change and move forward. Others have developed Durkheim’s idea that crime can have positive functions:Polsky (1967) believes that pornography and prostitution can ‘channel’ sexual desire away from other alternatives such as adultery which pose a threat to the family.Cohen (1972) believes that crime may act as a warning that something is not functioning properly for example, high truancy rates would warn us that the education system is not working properly.Erikson (1966) argues the tru role of the police is to sustain a certain level of crime.Functionalists believe that societies also manage and regulate some deviance rather than trying to eliminate it completely. In cases such as demonstrations and festivals it may be a way of allowing young people to express themselves in a relatively controlled environment. AO3 Evaluation: Does crime really have positive functions? Suggest two criticisms of the functionalist view.Bonds of Attachment: HirschiHirshi claims that often crime is prevented when individuals are distracted elsewhere, the less the distraction the more the crime.Activity AO1 Knowledge: Use the internet to research the bonds of attachment, explain each one and provide an example. BondDescription EGAttachment Commitment Involvement BeliefEvaluation of functionalism: Functionalism is useful in showing the ways in which deviance is integral to society.It provides an interesting analysis of the ways in which deviance can have hidden functions for society i.e. that not everything that is bad, is bad for society.Society obviously requires a certain amount of deviance as functionalists say, but they offer no way of knowing how much is the right amount. Functionalists do not consider who crime is functional for. For example, seeing a murderer punished for a crime may be functional in reaffirming boundaries, but it obviously isn’t ‘functional’ for the victim.AO3 Evaluation activity: Complete the grid below. Other perspectives:Marxists Feminists InteractionistsPart 2: Strain theoriesStrain theories argue people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means. For example they become frustrated and turn to crime as a means of getting what they want. AO2 Application: Record examples of socially approved goalsThe first theory was developed by Merton (1938) who used Durkheim’s concept of anomie to explain deviance. He combines two elements:Structural Factors – Society's unequal opportunity structure Cultural Factors – The strong emphasis on success goals and the weaker emphasis on using legitimate means to get them. Merton says deviance is the result of strain between: The goals that culture encourages people to achieve ANDWhat the institutional structure of society allows them to achieveEG: Money and success = power and status-351064269058The American DreamThe American Dream tells Americans that their society is a meritocratic one where anyone who makes the effort can get ahead and that there are opportunities for all. However, the reality is often different, especially for ethnic minority groups and the working classes. As success in America tends to be measured in terms of wealth and material possessions, this can lead to a pressure to resort to illegitimate means to achieve goals – there is a strain to anomie (deviate)Merton points out that little attention is given to how this goal is achieved for example, talent, ambition or effort. This, in turn leads to an unbalanced society where winning is everything and the rules are not very important. Individuals respond in different ways, some of which are criminal. Adaptation to strainDescription Example ConformityInnovationRitualismRetreatismRebellionThe way people adapt to the gap between the goals the American Dream sets can be very different. Activity AO1 Knowledge complete the grid below: Evaluation of Merton:Use the sentence starters to evaluate ‘the contribution’ of Merton’s work to our understanding of crime and deviance. Merton’s contribution to our understanding of crime and deviance is useful because… Merton has made a valuable contribution to our understanding of crime and deviance because…Merton’s contribution to our understanding of crime and deviance is limited because… Merton’s contribution is flawed because… Part 3: Subcultural strain theoriesSubcultural strain theories see deviance as the produce of a delinquent subculture with different values from those of mainstream society. They see subcultures as providing an alternative opportunity structure for those denied the chance to achieve by legitimate means. Status frustration:Cohen (1955) is a subcultural theorist and sees deviance as a product of a delinquent subculture with different values from mainstream society. Cohen criticised Merton’s work on two grounds:It ignores the fact that much deviance is committed in groupsIt focuses on utilitarian crime and ignores crimes which have no economic valueHow useful is strain theory at explaining the following:Shoplifting Prostitution Murder Tax evasion by millionairesCohen believed these non utilitarian crimes could be explained by looking at the values held by particular subcultures.According to Cohen, lower class boys tried to emulate middle class values and aspirations but lacked the means to achieve this success. This led to status frustration – which is a sense of personal failure and inadequacy. The result was that they then rejected the values and behaviour that they could not be successful with and adapted their own.Cohen believes that school was the main place where this all took place. It is the place they first start to realise their status frustration and begin to engage in a variety of anti-social behaviours. (Willis’ Study)The subculture’s function is that it offers boys an alternative status hierarchy in which they can achieve having failed in the legitimate opportunity structure the boys create an ‘illegitimate opportunity structure’ through which they can win status. Activity AO2 application: In a deviant subculture what characteristics are valued by the group? How can status be gained within gangs?Evaluation:Use the sentence starters to evaluate ‘the usefulness’ of Merton’s work to our understanding of crime and deviance.Cohen’s theory is useful because…Cohen’s work can be criticised because…Three Subcultures:Cloward and Ohlin also criticised Merton’s strain theory as he had suggested that many individuals turn to crime when society provides too few opportunities to obtain socially approved goals by legitimate means. They believe Merton had ignored the illegitimate opportunity structure. Cloward and Ohlin believe that different neighbourhoods provide different opportunities to learn criminal skills and develop criminal careers. Deviance stems from the way people respond to a situation of being denied legitimate opportunities to achieve success goals not everyone adapts to this in the same way, for example the subculture that Cohen describes is one of violence and vandalism, and others may be to do with economic crime. Not everyone has access to legitimate means of achieving success goals. Equally not everyone has access to illegitimate means of achieving success goals.They identified three different types of subculture:AO1 Knowledge: Use the information from your teacher to complete the grid.Criminal Conflict Retreatist Critique of Cloward and Ohlin:Like Merton and Cohen they see crime as a working class phenomenon. They draw boundaries too sharply between the subcultures, South argues they are not that distinct. For example, the drugs trade is a mixture of disorganised and professional crime. Cloward and Ohlin – along with Merton and Cohen are criticised for assuming that that everyone starts off sharing the same success goals. Some may never see themselves as failures in the first place. Messner and Rosenfeld: Institutional Anomie TheoryMessner and Rosenfeld bring strain theory up to date by focusing on the Amercian dream. They argue that obsession with individual wealth and success has brought about an anomic environment which encourages us to adopt an anything goes attitude in the pursuit of wealth. They conclude that in societies based on free market capitalism and lacking in adequate welfare like the US high crime rates are inevitable. Quick Check Questions:Why does Durkheim regard crime as inevitable? Identify two ways in which crime and deviance may have positive functions for society. Explain the difference between goals and means. Explain the difference between ritualism and retreatismWhat is meant by non-utilitarian crime? What is ‘status frustration?’In Cloward and Ohlin’s view why are there different types of subculture? Identify two features of American society that Messner and Rosenfeld claim produce high rates. Topic Summary:For _____________________, society is based on ____________ ______________, which deviance threatens, but it also performs _____________ ____________such as reinforcing solidarity and adapting to change. _______________ ______________argue that deviance occurs when people cannot achieve society’s goals by legitimate means. ______________ argues that this produces a strain to anomie that may result in innovation, retreatism, ritualism, rebellion or innovation. __________________ ______________ see much of deviance as a collective rather than an individual response. ________________argues that subcultural deviance results from ___________ __________________and takes a non-utilitarian form. Cloward and Ohlin see three different deviant subcultures arising from differences in access to ___________ _____________structures. Functionalists Merton AK Cohen status frustrationvalue consensus Strain theories Subcultural theories positive functions illegitimate opportunityGlossary of key concepts:SocialisationAnomieSocial Control Boundary Maintenance Adaptation and ChangeStrain Theory Structural FactorsCultural FactorsThe American DreamStatus FrustrationAlternative Status Hierarchy Exam Questions: Outline three functions that crime and deviance may perform. [6 marks June 2017]1.2. 3.Item AEvery society sets goals for its members. However, not every member has an equal chance of achieving these mainstream goals by legitimate means. For example, some young people may underachieve at school. Similarly, living in a deprived or unstable neighbourhood can be a barrier to the achievement of mainstream goals. Deviant subcultures respond to the difficulties of achieving mainstream goals in different ways. Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which deviant subcultures may respond to the difficulties of achieving mainstream goals. [10 marks June 2017]P1 P2 Item BMany people see deviance as being dysfunctional and negative for society because it represents the potential for social breakdown. However, some Sociologists suggest deviance might actually be functional for society and act as a warning, for example, imprisonment, fines and so on are not simply there to punish offenders, and they convey other messages as well. Society’s values are not fixed and new ideas sometimes challenge existing values. Applying material from Item B and your own knowledge analyse two functions of deviance.(10 marks)P1P2 Plan the essay:Item CStrain Theories focus on the ways in which people may resort to crime or deviance when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means. For example, Merton argues that American culture emphasises achieving success, but an unequal structure limits some individuals’ opportunity to do so legitimately. This may include frustration in the individuals concerned. Some Strain theories see the response to this situation as a group reaction, in which individuals create or join deviant subcultures. Applying material from item C and your own knowledge, evaluate the contribution of Strain theories to our understanding of crime and deviance. [30 marks]Some Marxist sociologists argue that crime and deviance are caused by the capitalist structure of society. The law reflects ruling class ideology, protecting the bourgeoisie interests and maintaining social order in society. Capitalism creates an environment where crime is inevitable according to Marxists.Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of Marxist approaches in explaining crime and deviance (30) ................
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