Critically assess functionalist theories of crime (45)
This plan also contains details of sub-cultural theory which we have not covered yet. In the exam you should be prepared to discuss both Functionalism and subcultural theory possibly in the same essay as they are both functionalist based. For this essay write your conclusion after Hirshi. Please attempt to make comparisons to other perspectives even though we have not done them yet, get ahead !!!
Intro – Functionalism is a consensus theory and a macro theory – explain key aspects of functionalism in general. The value consensus is key to functionalist understanding of crime and deviance and they focus on shared norms and values and sub-cultures being the cause of crime.Ao2 Functionalists and sub-cultural theories have been criticised for trusting crime statistics and focussing mainly on male working class crime and for ignoring ethnicity and gender.
AO1 Durkheim’s early analysis of crime stated that crime is both functional and inevitable – explain society of saints and positive functions of crime.
AO2 However critics suggests that Durkheim contradicts himself by stating that too much crime is dysfunctional for society, also crime is not functional for individual victims and Left realists suggest the victim should form a more prominent part of the study of crime.
AO2 This suggests..................................................................................................................
AO1 Durkheim’s theory of Anomie – explain concept - related to rapid social change leaves people unsure of prevailing norms. also seen in suicide rates.
Durkheim’s theory was influential because..........................................................................
AO2 This is supported by examples such as Poland and Russia where rapid change has led to increase in crime. Therefore this suggests...............................................................
However it is too vague as does not explain why people commit different crimes of differing severity.
For example why...........................................................
A01 Explain Robert Merton’s strain theory uses Anomie in different way – strain between institutional means and cultural goals and five responses.
AO2 Merton’s theory is better because....................................................
However there is an assumption that everyone shares the same goals in a large society. Marxists would argue it exaggerates working class crime and ignore white collar and corporate crimes committed by individuals who have achieved success. Furthermore sub-cultural theorists such as Walter B
Miller would argue that the cultural goals of some working classes have been turned up side down to become the opposite of mainstream society. However Matza argues that everyone is capable of deviance and working class do not possess culture that different from ordinary people they drift in and out of criminal behaviour.
This suggests......................................
AO1 Travis Hirshi explains why many people do not commit crime using a functionalist concept of ‘bonds of attachment’ – explain these and how they prevent crime.
AO2 However this does not explain why people who have strong bonds still commit crime as in white collar crime. For example......................................

AO1 Sub-cultural theories are similar to and based upon functionalist ideas believing that crime statistics are a true picture and that working class males commit the majority of crime.
Albert Cohen and status frustration – explain
AO2 good because it explain non-utilitarian crime. However it assumes that delinquent males share society’s goals in the first place to be frustrated by not achieving them. Left Realists would argue that relative deprivation and marginalisation is the problem caused by a lack of investment in deprived areas. Marxist would go further and suggest that white collar and corporate crime is more damaging and widespread but it completely ignored by Cohen. This suggests that Functionalism is deeply flawed as it cannot explain all types of crime.
AO1 Other sub-cultural theorist such as Cloward and Ohlin have suggested that shared cultures of the working classes are important in providing illigitimate opportunity structure e.g if organised crime exists young can be socialised into criminal sub-culture.
AO2 This suggests criminal activity is largely related to a culture of deviance. Charles
Murray would support this argument claiming that welfare is responsible for criminal behaviour amongst the underclass due to their deviant values of dependency upon benefits and single parenthood, poor socialisation. However Left Realists would point out that groups that are marginalised are bound to fight back and form resistant sub-cultures. Marxists would also suggest that inequalities lead to working class crime. Although Marxists contradict themselves excusing working class crime whilst also claiming that working class crime is exaggerated over middle and upper class crime. Furthermore sub-cultural theories ignore the role of the media in demonising groups which threaten the bourgeoisie.
Conclusion
Summarise main points and suggest the main flaws in functionalism. It ignores middle and upper class crime, gender and ethnicity.