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12 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What two reasons did Durkheim give for why crime is inevitable? |
1.Not everyone is equally socialised 2.Large diversity of lifestyles with varied norms and values from mainstream society |
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What are two reasons crime is positive? What functions do boundary maintenance provide? |
1. Acts as boundary maintenance 2.Allows adaption and change Boundary maintenance provides social solidarity and reinforces shared norms |
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Give two other examples of crime being positive |
Davis- prostitution acts as a safety valve Cohen- Deviance shows that institutions may be failing |
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Evaluate Durkheim's theory or crime |
-Doesn't state how much crime is necessary -Crime promotes fear and isolation rather than solidarity -Looks at functions for society but not the individual |
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Define Strain theory |
Strain theory is when people cannot reach societies goals through legitimate means so find alternative ways |
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Name and describe the 5 groups Merton identified in relation to strain theory |
Conformists-accept goals and means Innovators-accept goals but not means Ritualists-disregard goals but accept means Retreatists-disregard both goals and means Rebellion-change both to encourage change in society |
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Evaluate Merton's Strain Theory |
-Ignores that the ruling class criminalise the poor -Not everyone has shared goals -Deterministic of w/c being criminals |
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What was Cohen's theory in regards to strain |
Status-frustration Focused on W/C boys who are bottom of the hierarchy. They look to other boys who then create a subculture who gain status by inverting mainstream values |
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Evaluate Cohen |
+Explains non-utilitarian crimes -Assumes everyone has shared goals |
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Describe Cloward and Ohlins theory of strain |
3 subcultures Criminal- long standing subculture to provide criminal apprenticeship Conflict- disorganised causes unstable crime so mainly use violence Retreatist- criminal career fails so turn to individualist career (e.g drugs) |
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Evaluate Cloward and Ohlins theory |
-ignore M/C crime -possible crossover of groups -People aren't committed to one subculture |
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Give an example of recent strain theories (Cohen, Merton, Cloward and Ohlin not accepted) |
Messner and Rossenfield- American dream emphasise success in an 'anything goes' mentality Downes and Hansen- countries who spend more on welfare have lower imprisonment rates |