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EnglandSociologyQuick questions
Debates in contemporary society (Component 3, Section B)
Quick questions on Functionalist and subcultural theories of crime - OCR A-Level Sociology Crime and deviance
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is durkheim?Show answer
Durkheim identifies positive functions of crime: boundary maintenance (punishing offenders reaffirms the shared values of the law-abiding) and adaptation and change (today's deviance can become tomorrow's accepted morality). Too much crime, however, signals anomie.
What is merton?Show answer
Merton's strain theory argues that society sets culturally approved goals (in the USA, material success) but distributes the legitimate means to achieve them unequally. The resulting strain produces five adaptations: conformity, innovation (using illegitimate means, that is, crime), ritualism, retreatism (dropping out) and rebellion. Strain theory explains utilitarian working-class crime (crime for material gain) but is weaker on non-utilitarian and group crime.
What are subcultural theories?Show answer
Subcultural theorists explain the group nature of much crime:
What is q1?Show answer
Outline two functions of crime identified by Durkheim. [4 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Outline and explain two of Merton's responses to strain. [10 marks]
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