Crime as Functional, Inevitable and Normal Essays - 707 Words

Crime as Functional, Inevitable and Normal Crime can be functional in bringing about social change - when social norms are unsuited with the conditions of life. A high crime rate is an indication of a social system that has failed to adapt to change. Deviance, acts as a warning device, indicating that an aspect of society is malfunctioning. Deviance may also act as a safety valve - a relatively harmless expression of discontent. For example the invasion of the House of Commons, would be a warning device to society relating to security issues. Durkheim argues that some crime is inevitable, but only in some societies, the crime rate may become too much and, this indicates a society that is†¦show more content†¦There are ways of being blocked from success that will lead to deviance. This is why Merton went on to explain different patterns of deviance. * CONFORMITY: Person continues to accept goals and means set by society, even though failure is likely outcome * INNOVATION: Response when person accepts goals set by society but rejects socially acceptable means e.g. find another (legal) way of making money or crime * RITUALISM: Means and goals conformed to, but person loses sight of goals. Person does work but has no real interest in outcome. * RETREATISM: Person loses sight of both means and goals, drop out of rat race? to alcoholism or drug abuse * REBELLION: Rejection of both means and goals leads to substitution of means and goals (political radicals/terrorists) Cultural deviance theories assumed that people became deviant by learning the criminal values of the group to which they belonged. This laid down the foundation for subculture theories during the 1950s. A subculture is defined as a subdivision within the dominant culture that has its own norms, values and belief system. These subcultures emergeShow MoreRelatedAssess the View That Crime Is Functional1683 Words   |  7 Pagesthe view that crime is functional, inevitable and normal. (33 marks) Within the sociological perspectives of crime and deviance, there is one particular approach which argues that crime is functional, inevitable and normal. This sociological perspective, Functionalism, consists of Emile Durkheim’s work on crime and deviance. His main argument was that ‘crime is normal’ and that it is ‘an integral part of all healthy societies’. This perspective views crime and deviance as an inevitable feature of allRead MoreThe Influence of Durkheim on Modern Criminological Investigation1441 Words   |  6 Pages(Hopkins Burke, 2006), Emile Durkheim believed that crime was an important necessity in every society as it played important functional roles in the maintenance of social cohesion, the continuity of social progress and the establishment and reinforcement of societal norms. He stated that criminality was a normal phenomenon, its influence prevalent even on the most saintly of societies. Durkheim’s theories regarding the normality and inevitability of crime, along with his influential concepts of anomieRead MoreEmile Durkheim s Influence On Anthropology, Religion, Law And Political Theory915 Words   |  4 Pagescriminological thought was advantageous; he concluded that crime is not something we should remove, instead it is a normal and useful phenomenon that exists in all societies, without crime society is impossible. However, criminality changes structure, therefore, the acts that are defined are not the same in all places. As societies developed from inferior to superior, the amount of criminality tended to decrease, this resulted in people viewing crime as less normal. However, evidence shows that criminality hasRead MoreRobert Merton Strain Theory Essay1017 Words   |  5 PagesIdentify the key aspects of Robert Merton’s ‘strain theory’. It was a powerful statement focussing on the social causes of crime but what were its limitations? This essay is going to demonstrate an understanding of Robert Merton’s strain theory, the advantages of the Strain theory and also the disadvantages of the theory. Robert Merton (1910) best known for developing theories of deviance. Robert Merton is considered to be one of the most influential social scientists. Merton’s work is highlyRead MoreSociology Is The Study Of Individuals In Groups In A Systematic Way1611 Words   |  7 PagesAs a result, there are different sociological perspectives that hold valued theories in society. In this essay three perspectives will be assessed. How society operates in the view of these perspectives. Also, scrutinizing theories on the subject ‘crime and deviance’ aiming to outline how each perspective grasps the matter. Before one can observe society, one needs to take into account the ways in which it can be viewed. Perspectives that focus on social systems, are known as macro perspectivesRead MoreThe Conflict Between Personal Experience And The Wider Society910 Words   |  4 Pagesparadigms of sociology exist to explain the ongoing social issues and their factors, and offer solutions for a more evolved society. Contrary to popular association of homelessness with drugs, alcohol, violence and crime, it is not always an outcome of laziness or wrong choice. Many inevitable factors exist at a microscopic level for each street person who was pushed (forced) onto the streets. According to the article, â€Å"Street People† by David. A Snow and Leon Anderson, factors that lead homelessnessRead MoreCrime And Deviance Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesCrime can be defined as ‘An action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law’ (Oxford Dictionary, 2017). It’s the violation of a written law that is set by society and is known as ‘committing a crime’. Deviance is defined as ‘the fact or state of diverging from usual accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behaviour’ (Oxford Dictionaries, 2017). To be deviant would be to perform an act that strays from the normal behaviours, or â€Å"norms† of any given society . ThereRead MoreOutline and Evaluate Functionalist Explanation of Crime.1442 Words   |  6 Pagessees the source of crime and deviance located in the structure of society. Although crime and deviance might be stigmatised in society, some sociologist think it is important to have it occur and there are some benefits to it. Durkheim (1982) argued that crime is an inevitable feature of social life, because individuals are composed to different influences and circumstances, and so not everyone can be equally committed to the shared values and moral beliefs of society. Despite crime and deviance’s threatRead MoreAssess the functionalist theory of crime and deviance1813 Words   |  8 PagesAssess the functionalist view of crime and deviance. [21 marks] This essay will detail the functionalist perspective of crime and deviance. Functionalist theories began to emerge after the industrial revolution in the 18th century. This period was called the enlightenment, and brought about scientific belief as opposed to the feudalist beliefs of religion. Religion no longer had such a powerful impact on peoples’ lives. The aim of sociological theories such as functionalism is to cure social illsRead MoreCrime and Deviance 2 Perspectives2744 Words   |  11 PagesCOMPARE AND EVALUATE ANY TWO OF THE FOLLOWING PERSPECTIVES ON CRIME AND DEVIANCE Crime is a word that most of the people can relate to, according to Collins dictionary it means; violation of the law. (Collins 2005) Deviance is a more difficult word to identify , Collins dictionary definition is; people who have diverged from usual or accepted standards of society, especially in social or sexual behaviour. Su Epstein (2005) who has a PhD , describes deviance in cultural societies as; there are no

The International System And Contemporary International...

In Unjust Justice, Chantal Delsol evaluates the contemporary international system and contemporary international law, the regulation of relations between sovereign states, by defending various principles that she claims will be violated by the potential formation of a â€Å"world government†. The principles that Delsol defends in response to recent steps toward a universal state are found in the works of modern thinker, Emer de Vattel, and medieval thinker, Thomas Aquinas. Furthermore, her critique of contemporary international law is complimentary and reflective of the arguments made by Vattel and Aquinas. Specifically, her critique of the contemporary international system is to preserve the principles of state sovereignty, diversity, and politics. Delsol’s interpretation of contemporary international law should be used to protect these traditional principles of international law, defended by Vattel and Aquinas, against the establishment of a universal state. Delsol’s discusses how the â€Å"murderous character of the twentieth century emerged† from conflict between morality and faith in order to explain how the idea of a world government emerged. After the Cold War, it was evident that people had been obedient to authority instead of morality. Delsol argues that this led to a â€Å"contemporary resolve to establish institutions of international justice† in order â€Å"to make ethics or morality everywhere suprem e over obedience to a leader or to a system.† The emergence of anShow MoreRelatedAn Introduction Of International Relations1702 Words   |  7 Pagescourse, an introduction of International Relations, my views have consistently been fluid. From week to week with new information and new theories presented, researched and analysed along with my increasing knowledge of attributes and models of these principles. I have had assimilations, with the key concepts of nearly all theories, yet none sat wholly in my perception of international relations. I found concepts of the disciplines to be too black and white. International relations is such a complicatedRead MoreEssay about Appraise the Pros and Cons of Cosmpolitanism1454 Words   |  6 PagesKant’s perception is pre-dominantly a form of internationalism and legality, and he is known as the modern forefather of the contemporary conceptualisation, I shall primarily focus on the arguments for and against legal cosmopolitani sm. Immanuel Kant developed his notion of cosmopolitanism as a result to the ever increasing Hobbesian ‘state of nature’ in the international realm, between the individualistic actors, nation states and the ever growing interstate communication; especially post the peaceRead MoreRealism and Liberalism in Literature1397 Words   |  6 Pageshas led to creation of a social science: international relations. â€Å"International relations, seeks to go beyond ephemeral and common-sense: to reflect more deeply on events, structures, processes and actors, and to offer explanations, interpretations and normative analyses† (Devetak and Burke et al., 2012, p. 35). It can be concluded from this quotation that international relations’ main aim is to explain phenomena deeply. By doing explanation, international relations use some theories which were createdRead MoreCriminal Justice Trends Evaluation1530 Words   |  7 PagesCriminal Justice Trends Evaluation University of Phoenix Contemporary Issues and Future in Criminal Justice People in society continuously change therefore people continue to evolve as our perceptions change. In this paper the student will assess the past, present, and future trends in the interface between elements of the criminal justice system. In the assessment the student will evaluate the criminal justice connections with surrounding society. The student will identifyRead MoreThe U.s. Military Response985 Words   |  4 Pagesa notable transformation in international law regarding state responsibility for terrorist acts. This essay aims to argue that such change has been significant and it has satisfactorily countenanced states’ response to terrorism by presenting evidence of new state practice plus opinio juris in this area. To do so, this essay will first discuss the controversial concept of terrorism and its relevance to the legal framework for the use of armed force in international law. From here, it will move toRead MoreThe Contemporary Concern Of Indigenous People At The International Platform Essay1594 Words   |  7 PagesThe contemporary concern for indigenous people at the international platform gained its popularity from the long-standing Sui generis deviation of self-determination standard, that supplements the Sui generis deviation which the twentieth century classic colonialism represents (Anaya 1996). Indeed, the concept of indigenous people is usually understood to mean a culturally cohesive group who suffers inequality with the state wherein they leave because of historical empire or conquest (UN DOC 1986;Read MoreInternational Systems : An International System1578 Words   |  7 Pagesaccordance with the in-class simulations, an international system includes individuals from different countries. These countries can be called states if they are connected by an organized structure of people, leaders or â€Å"government† in those particular countries. In accordance with K.J. Holsti’s article, international systems are à ¢â‚¬Å"independent political entities that interact with frequency and according to regularized processes†. In other words, international systems represent patterns of interactions betweenRead MoreIndia s Caste System Of India1709 Words   |  7 PagesIndia’s Caste System The Caste system has aroused much controversy than any other feature of India’s society. Every day, Dalits are butchered, assaulted, abused, raped, lynched, shot or openly mutilated without considering any consequences of the offenders. The deaths of pregnant women who are not able to pay the bribes at government hospitals, some boys with eyes raised completely out for falling in love with a girl of a superior caste, and horrid stories of employees boiled to death because ofRead MoreComparison Between International Law and National Law1541 Words   |  7 Pagesnational and international law. To what extent can they be said to be similar or different? Introduction The world has witnessed the development of law since times immemorial in response to growing interaction among the individuals resulting in a need for a framework to regulate their interactions in the territories they live in. Similarly, ever since the interaction between the states has increased, the evolution of International Law has evolved accordingly side by side the National Law regulatingRead MoreWhy Has Marxism Been Neglected For International Relations?977 Words   |  4 PagesWhy has Marxism been neglected in International Relations? One of the major reasons why Marxism has generally been neglected in International Relations is due to the scarcity of Marxist writing that is specifically focused on this subject. However, it can be argued that due to this paucity of material, Marxist theory has nothing of substantial value to offer with regards to international relations. Non- Marxists argue that the concepts in Marx’s analysis of capitalist production; class, labor, exchange

The Real Facts About Abortions Free Essays

Abortion Abortion is quite a controversial issue in today’s government. Many of us refrain from even getting into a discussion over abortion, because it is such a sensitive topic. It is very unfortunate that so many women around the world have to make decisions involving abortion, period. We will write a custom essay sample on The Real Facts About Abortions or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"One in three women will have at least one abortion by the time she is 45, and these run the gamut of ages, races, backgrounds and beliefs. † (Welch) In one’s eye abortion is simply immoral and unacceptable, while in another it is a typical procedure. Often, pro-abortionists are portrayed â€Å"†¦ s merciful and anti-abortionists as close-minded† (Olasky). As an outsider I interpret each group as one extreme to the other, and the purpose of this paper is to inform myself and the reader of both, pro-life and pro-choice sides and perspectives of abortion in the U. S. Somebody that claims to be in favor of the Pro-Life policy is opposed to wrongful death and in favor of life-enhancing actions. The main argument of a pro-lifer is religious based beliefs. They argue that an abortion is immoral because, â€Å"†¦ all life was created by God and belongs to Him, no one has the right to murder another human being. (Cain) A person in favor of Pro-Life polic y believes that having an abortion is a sin, but so is sex before marriage and half of the woman getting pregnant nowadays are not even out of high school. Does that mean that just because they decided to attempt to raise a baby at 15 that they have been forgiven for their original sin? No, either way they will be judged by those in favor of what is acceptable according to their religion. They even disagree on early abortions because they claim â€Å" life begins at conception†¦ † (Lowen). Anti-choice people â€Å"†¦ ant to outlaw abortion, regardless of the woman’s situation† (The Problem). They don’t see any exception for committing murder. Anti- Abortionists often compare abortions to Hitler and the concentration camps, â€Å"One out of every three children conceived in America since 1972 has died a brutal death through abortion—more than six times the number of Jews that Adolf Hitler put to death in his Nazi concentration camps. â₠¬  (Roe) The cost of abortion is another issue for pro-lifer’s, they think that the government shouldn’t have to spend so much money to undermine future growth. â€Å"The inistry of health claimed that the 45,000 women treated in public hospitals for incomplete abortions each year is costing the state R19 million† (Cain). They believe tax dollars should not be used to provide women with this type of birth control, it is unfair to those who do not support the pro-choice policy and it is unacceptable. Being Pro-Choice means being in favor of safe and legal abortions, but also in reducing the need for abortions. Their religious beliefs are not a base for their opinions on abortion. Those who are in favor of the Pro-Choice policy argue that person-hood at conception is â€Å"†¦ ot a provable biological fact,† it is simply a religious belief (Choice Matters). Pro-choice supporters give women the benefit of the doubt allow for a logical explanation for an abortion. Abortions are medically necessary for some women, â€Å"Teen girls, whose bodies are not yet ready for childbirth, are five times more likely to die† (Health). In a case like that would it be fair to pass judgment? The same goes for woman who are raped. Pro-choice people argue that instead of trying to prohibit abortion altogether, we should try alternate methods like; safe, affordable contraceptives and comprehensive sex education. Laws against abortion do not stop abortion; they simply make it less safe†¦ the only thing that changes is more women die† (Health). Outlawing it would lead women to turn to unsafe abortions, not conducted in clinics. For some families abortion â€Å"†¦ helps parents limit their families to number of children they want and can afford, both financially and emotionally† (Choice Matters). Taking away the civil rights of women and/or families by making it illegal to have abortions, will only lead to more poverty in th e United States and lead to increasing government spending on welfare. According to the First Amendment, we all have our right to privacy. I am a woman myself and I honestly wouldn’t appreciate strangers making decisions for me. What happens in the privacy of one woman’s body doesn’t belong out in the open for everyone else to critique. I am fully aware that if a woman feels she is mature enough to have sexual intercourse, then she should be prepared to face the possible consequences, but this is the real world and we are only human. Mistakes do happen. I do not support women getting abortions just because they are promiscuous and lazy. Of course the abstinence policy is the best policy, but as long as we are living on planet Earth, that just won’t cut it. Just like Hillary Clinton, I believe that, â€Å"†¦ whatever side you’re on in the pro-choice vs. pro-life debate,†¦ we can all agree on a third principle: we would be better off with fewer of them† (Sullivan). I personally think that providing all sexually active women with contraceptives is the smartest thing to do in order to decrease high rates of abortion. In the United states, â€Å"†¦ 74% say having a baby would interfere with work, school, or other responsibilities† (United States). Some women may have to go through with an abortion simply because she has severe health risks that may possibly kill her if she went into labor. She may want a child just as bad as many other women except her body cant support a pregnancy. Or, if a women is raped she shouldn’t have to relive the agony of such an event every single day for 9 months. What if she didn’t even want kids? Just because she got pregnant from a rapist, doesn’t mean she has to raise his child. Some â€Å"†¦ people say an aborted child might have grown up to be President. There’s a better chance he would have grown up to be the one who shot the President† (Olasky). It would all really depend on the mother of that child, if she kept the kid and ended up to resent him/her then, that would most likely effect the child in a negative manner; it would make that child have a negative outlook on life. He/she would hate everything and everyone. In that situation in my eyes, the mother would be doing the kid and herself a favor. I’m not saying I would be the one to have an abortion, because in the end I most likely wouldn’t have the heart to get rid of something that I partially created. I would think, what if he/she is the only chance I have at ever being a mother? What if I only had one shot and I blew it? On the other hand, I would recap on all the things I could potentially loose out on because I decided to have a child that I wasn’t capable of raising yet. At the end of the day, deciding to abort a baby depends on the situation a women may be in at that point of her life; it doesn’t depend on all of the outsiders who think they have the right to decide for her. Every women has a life and has a choice, and the reasoning behind her decision is completely personal. After conducting all of my research, I noticed that there are strong points on each side of abortion. No matter what position a person takes on this issue, there will always be others critiquing it. I think it is important to accept some woman’s reasons for abortion, but at the same time support the fight on lowering the needs for abortion. We need to educate women about their choices and consequences. Birth control methods need to be expressed and easily obtained. Until the Pro-Choice v. Pro-Life fight gets settled, the United States will only get more and more divided as a nation. How to cite The Real Facts About Abortions, Papers