Question

institutionalized means
white - collar crime
corporate crime
questions

1. list 3 ways deviance can be functional for society (durkheim).
2. what is the main idea of strain theory?
3. define the four deviant paths people find between the goals they want and their access to the institutionalized means to reach them.

innovation
ritualism
retreatism
rebellion

Explanation:

1. Durkheim's Functionalism on Deviance

• Clarifies Norms: When deviance occurs (e.g., a crime), society reacts (e.g., through punishment). This reaction clarifies what the norms are. For example, if someone steals, the legal system's response (punishment) reinforces that property - rights are a norm.
• Unites Society: People come together in opposition to deviance. A community might rally against a local drug - dealing operation (a form of deviance), strengthening social bonds among the law - abiding citizens.
• Drives Social Change: Some forms of deviance (initially seen as deviant) can lead to social change. For instance, civil rights movements (which were seen as deviant by the status - quo in some cases) led to legal and social changes regarding racial equality.

1. Strain Theory Main Idea

• Strain theory (e.g., Merton's version) posits that society has certain culturally - valued goals (like financial success). It also has institutionalized means (like education and legal employment) to achieve these goals. When there is a disconnect (strain) between the goals individuals desire and their access to the legitimate means (e.g., a person wants financial success but has no access to quality education for a well - paying job), deviance may occur as a way to bridge that gap.

1. Deviant Paths in Strain Theory

• Innovation: Accepts the cultural goals (e.g., financial success) but rejects the institutionalized means. A drug dealer (in a context where legal, well - paying jobs are unavailable) may innovate by using illegal drug - selling (a non - institutionalized means) to achieve financial success.
• Ritualism: Rejects the cultural goals (maybe no longer aspires to great financial success) but continues to follow the institutionalized means. A person who goes through the motions of a dead - end job (following the institutionalized means of working) without any hope of achieving significant financial or social success (rejecting the cultural goals) is an example.
• Retreatism: Rejects both the cultural goals and the institutionalized means. A hermit or a drug addict (who has withdrawn from the pursuit of cultural goals like career success and also does not follow normal working or social norms - the institutionalized means) is a retreatist.
• Rebellion: Rejects the existing cultural goals and institutionalized means and substitutes new ones. A revolutionary group that rejects the capitalist economic goals (a cultural goal in some societies) and the capitalist economic means (like private property and wage labor) and instead promotes a socialist or communist system (new goals and means) is an example of rebellion.

Answer:

1. Deviance can clarify norms, unite society, and drive social change.
2. Strain theory states that a disconnect (strain) between culturally - valued goals and access to institutionalized means can lead to deviance.

3.

• Innovation: Uses non - institutionalized means to achieve cultural goals.
• Ritualism: Follows institutionalized means but rejects cultural goals.
• Retreatism: Rejects both cultural goals and institutionalized means.
• Rebellion: Rejects and substitutes new goals and means for the existing ones.