CRIM 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Poverty Threshold, White-Collar Crime, American Sociological Review
Document Summary
Anomie theories and subculture theories related to structural functionalism. Popular sociological perspective from late 1930"s into 1960"s. Functionalist approach draws parallel between the social order and organic life. Society seen as series of integrated parts, each working to ensure the continuation of the organism. One of first to view society as functional mechanism, greater than its component parts. Used terms like elements, organs and tissues to describe society. Durkheim said a certain amount of crime was normal found in all societies. Crime and punishment maintained the society"s fundamental values and preserved its moral order. Pre-eminent sociological paradigm during the 1940"s and 1950"s. Adaptation = society had to adapt to its environment to obtain certain resources necessary for its survival. Goal attainment = society had to define/ prioritize its goals, and then strive to achieve them. Integration = society had to regulate/ coordinate the inter-relationships of its subsystems.