Crime and Deviance
Assignment Title: Functionalism claims to account for the functions and causes of crime and deviance within contemporary British society, yet it fails to account for white collar crime. Evaluate this statement.
Every society is guided by laws and regulations, therefore, breaking of the law is known as crime or deviance. Crime and deviance will be defined with examples and how what is crime and deviance depend on culture and society will be analysed. Thus, a criminal act in one place is a norm in another place. Crime and Deviance changes as the society evolve, there were some activities that were classified as crime or deviance historically in England but are no longer crime and vice versa some activities that were not crime historically but are now crime will be explained. Functionalists, Emile Durkheim gave his views on crime that it is inherent a society and a society without crime is unhealthy and explained how crime is functional but failed to explain the causes of crime. Robert Merton in contrast to Durkheim explained the causes of crime and described the source of ‘strain to anomie’ as a difference between the America’s common goal of ‘money success’ and lack of resources for every member to achieve the common goal which led to four types of deviance. However, he has his limitations as well as strengths. In covering Merton’s limitations Albert Cohen’s subcultural theory was introduced, his theory only focuses on how educational failure played a major part in working class crime as gang delinquency. Cloward and Ohlin criticised Cohen that he did not cover all of Merton’s limitations; hence, Cloward and Ohlin explained the three different types of deviance. The strengths and limitations of the four theories will be highlighted. Marxists criticism of functionalist theory and the similarities and differences between both theories will be highlighted. Marxist theory is based on conflict contrary to functionalism that is based on consensus. Marxist explained that
Every society is guided by laws and regulations, therefore, breaking of the law is known as crime or deviance. Crime and deviance will be defined with examples and how what is crime and deviance depend on culture and society will be analysed. Thus, a criminal act in one place is a norm in another place. Crime and Deviance changes as the society evolve, there were some activities that were classified as crime or deviance historically in England but are no longer crime and vice versa some activities that were not crime historically but are now crime will be explained. Functionalists, Emile Durkheim gave his views on crime that it is inherent a society and a society without crime is unhealthy and explained how crime is functional but failed to explain the causes of crime. Robert Merton in contrast to Durkheim explained the causes of crime and described the source of ‘strain to anomie’ as a difference between the America’s common goal of ‘money success’ and lack of resources for every member to achieve the common goal which led to four types of deviance. However, he has his limitations as well as strengths. In covering Merton’s limitations Albert Cohen’s subcultural theory was introduced, his theory only focuses on how educational failure played a major part in working class crime as gang delinquency. Cloward and Ohlin criticised Cohen that he did not cover all of Merton’s limitations; hence, Cloward and Ohlin explained the three different types of deviance. The strengths and limitations of the four theories will be highlighted. Marxists criticism of functionalist theory and the similarities and differences between both theories will be highlighted. Marxist theory is based on conflict contrary to functionalism that is based on consensus. Marxist explained that
Bibliography: Carrabine, Eamonn. Et al. (2009) Criminology: A Sociology Introduction, London: Routledge Haralambos, M Marsh I. Et al. (1997) Making Sense of Society: An Introduction to Sociology. London: Longman Stephen, Paul Taylor, P. et al, (1998) Sociology in Focus, Causeway Press Ltd.