Sociology 2266A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Juvenile Delinquency, White-Collar Crime, Anomie
26 Oct 2016
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Consensus perspective: aka functionalism this perspective assumes that societies have a tendency to maintain themselves in a state of relative equilibrium through mutually adjustive and supportive interaction of their principal institutions. Also assumes that effective maintenance of society is in the common interest of all its members. Strain theory: proposition that people feel strain when they are exposed to cultural goals they are unable to reach because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving these goals. Durkheim argued that social solidarity social groups working together toward agreed upon goals was an essential characteristic of human societies the agreed upon goals led to social norms. Although some crime is normal, there must be a balance between the functional and dysfunctional aspects of deviance. Anomie: developed by durkheim- described absence of clear societal norms and values. Merton used it more narrowly to refer to a situation where people would adopt deviant means to achieve goals beyond their means.
