AQA___________
___ A Level Sociology Crime and Deviance
_ _______________
With Theory and Method Paper 3
,Topic one: Functionalist, Strain and Subcultural Theories
Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory:
*Durkheim= argues crime is inevitable and Merton’s Strain
needed for a society to function correctly; argues Theory:
“crime is normal.” *Strain theories= people
*Positive functions of crime= are unable to achieve
-Boundary maintenance: punishments are there hence approve goals
to reinforce social solidarity through illegitimate
-Adaptation & change: all change starts with means.
deviance. *Merton highlights two
*Davis= prostitution is a safety valve for men to elements of strain=
not break the family -Structural: societies.
*Evaluation: unequal structure
-Durkheim doesn’t say how much crime is the - Cultural: cultural
right amount needed for society. ' influences.
*Merton highlights that
÷
strain takes place due to
the strain between what
culture allows and what
society allows.
*American Dream: those
Functionalist Theories of
less fortunate have a
Crime and Deviance chance to succeed.
*Merton states that
individuals position in
society effects their
response to strain.
*Conformity, Innovation,
Ritualism, Retreatism,
Rebellion.
*Evaluation:
Subcultural Strain Theories: -Over represents the
*A.K. Cohen= status frustration (mainly working class
lower class) is the response to strain, -Assumes valued
potentially leading to alternative status consensus and shared
hierarchy. goals
*Cloward & Ohlin= Criminal, Conflict,
Retreatist subcultures.
*Evaluation:
-Ignores upper class crime
-Not everyone has the same goals
, Topic two: Interactionism and Labelling Theory
Effects of The Social
Labelling: Construction of
*Lemert= Crime:
-Primary deviance: *Labelling theories
those which have focus on how and
not been labelled why certain acts are
yet. labelled as criminal.
-Secondary *It is the societies
deviance: those < reaction that makes
which have been something deviant.
labelled. *Becker= deviant is
*Master status: someone who has
result of self- Interactionism and
successfully been
fulfilling prophecy. Labelling Theories of
labeled.
*Young= marijuana *Becker= moral
Crime and Deviance
use in Notting Hill- entrepreneurs: lead
felt like outsiders; ‘moral crusades’ to
‘The Hippies.’ change the law.
*Folk Devils: actions *Who gets labelled
and individuals who , depends on their
are ‘over-labelled’ appearance,
*Evaluation: background and
-Ignores the situation
difference responses *Cicourel= police
to labelling. typifications: leads
-Fails to explain why to police
people commit investigating in
crime in the first certain areas.
place. *Dark figure of
-Ignores those who crime: hidden
commit crime but crimes that are not
are not labelled revealed.
___ A Level Sociology Crime and Deviance
_ _______________
With Theory and Method Paper 3
,Topic one: Functionalist, Strain and Subcultural Theories
Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory:
*Durkheim= argues crime is inevitable and Merton’s Strain
needed for a society to function correctly; argues Theory:
“crime is normal.” *Strain theories= people
*Positive functions of crime= are unable to achieve
-Boundary maintenance: punishments are there hence approve goals
to reinforce social solidarity through illegitimate
-Adaptation & change: all change starts with means.
deviance. *Merton highlights two
*Davis= prostitution is a safety valve for men to elements of strain=
not break the family -Structural: societies.
*Evaluation: unequal structure
-Durkheim doesn’t say how much crime is the - Cultural: cultural
right amount needed for society. ' influences.
*Merton highlights that
÷
strain takes place due to
the strain between what
culture allows and what
society allows.
*American Dream: those
Functionalist Theories of
less fortunate have a
Crime and Deviance chance to succeed.
*Merton states that
individuals position in
society effects their
response to strain.
*Conformity, Innovation,
Ritualism, Retreatism,
Rebellion.
*Evaluation:
Subcultural Strain Theories: -Over represents the
*A.K. Cohen= status frustration (mainly working class
lower class) is the response to strain, -Assumes valued
potentially leading to alternative status consensus and shared
hierarchy. goals
*Cloward & Ohlin= Criminal, Conflict,
Retreatist subcultures.
*Evaluation:
-Ignores upper class crime
-Not everyone has the same goals
, Topic two: Interactionism and Labelling Theory
Effects of The Social
Labelling: Construction of
*Lemert= Crime:
-Primary deviance: *Labelling theories
those which have focus on how and
not been labelled why certain acts are
yet. labelled as criminal.
-Secondary *It is the societies
deviance: those < reaction that makes
which have been something deviant.
labelled. *Becker= deviant is
*Master status: someone who has
result of self- Interactionism and
successfully been
fulfilling prophecy. Labelling Theories of
labeled.
*Young= marijuana *Becker= moral
Crime and Deviance
use in Notting Hill- entrepreneurs: lead
felt like outsiders; ‘moral crusades’ to
‘The Hippies.’ change the law.
*Folk Devils: actions *Who gets labelled
and individuals who , depends on their
are ‘over-labelled’ appearance,
*Evaluation: background and
-Ignores the situation
difference responses *Cicourel= police
to labelling. typifications: leads
-Fails to explain why to police
people commit investigating in
crime in the first certain areas.
place. *Dark figure of
-Ignores those who crime: hidden
commit crime but crimes that are not
are not labelled revealed.
