1What is the defintion of crime?
Any act that breaks the law.
2What the definition of deviance?
A behaviour that deviated from social norms.
3What are social norms?
The unwritten rules of a society (eg. being polite)
4How do Functionalists believe social order is maintained over time?
They believe that society is based on value consensus, which comes from socialistaion. Social order is maintained as people conform to the rules over time
5How do Marxists believe social order is maintained?
They believe that society is based on conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proleteriat, due to their differing interests. Order is maintained as the bourgeosie contain the power to force order and laws.
6What is formal social control?
Based on written rules and laws
7Who are the agents of formal social control?
The Houses of Parliament, prison system, probation service
8What is informal social control?
Based on unwritten rules and processes
9Who are the agents of informal social control?
Family, friends, colleagues etc
10What is the Functionalist view on crime and deviance? (Merton’s Strain Theory)
Merton (1938) argued that anomie (breakdown of norms) develops as a result of people expriencing strain between the goals they’ve been socialised to aim for and their means of achieving them. Once developed, higher rates of crime and deliquency is more likely.
11What is a criticism of Merton?
1. Juvenile deliquency like vandalism isn’t motivated by money
2. Not clear why some with anomie break laws, whilst others don’t
3. Some sociologists argue that society is based on conflict between powerful and subordinate groups, rather than on consensus
4. Marxists argue that Merton fails to consider power relations in society, or who makes laws and benefits with them