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WJEC Criminology UNIT 2 AC2.3+3.2: Describe/ evaluate sociological theories of criminality
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AC 2.3+3.2: Describe/evaluate sociological theories ofcriminality.
Social structure: structure of society, how it is organised, as being the underlying
cause of crime.
Functionalism- Durkheim:
- Society is a stable structure based on shared norms, values and beliefs about
right and wrong.
- Social solidarity as people belong to the same harmonious unit.
- Crime is inevitable as not everyone within society holds the same values and
beliefs-> adequate socialisation.
- Crime serves a key function in society and can form positive functions:
promotes social change, boundary maintenance.
- Strengthens collective values (some crimes can remind people of what is
acceptable and unacceptable behaviour)
Strengths:
- Was the first one to identify that crime can have positive impacts on a society,
for example unites people against wrong doers and define the boundaries
between right and wrong.
Limitations:
- Durkheim does not explain how much crime is needed in order to allow
society to function properly
- He ignores the fact that whilst crime may perform certain functions in society,
it is not functional for the actual victims and their families.
Strain theory- Merton:
- Crime is caused by unequal structure of society. Society is unable to provide
the legitimate means for all to achieve success.
- ‘Blocked opportunities’ due to poverty, inadequate schools all create a strain
between the goal of money success and lack of legitimate opportunities to
achieve it.
- Firstly, innovation, whereby innovators accept the goal but find criminal
means of achieving it, for example bank robbers.
- Secondly, ritualism, whereby ritualists give up striving for money success, for
example ‘plodding along’ in a dead-end job
- Thirdly, retreatism, whereby retreatists reject the goal and means and ‘drop
out’, for example vagrants and drug addicts.
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