Durkheim's Functionalist theory of crime
- Created by: Victoria Prior
- Created on: 30-10-13 18:36
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- Durkheim's functionalist theory of crime.
- NORMAL
- No society where there is no crime.
- Individualism can be seen as a source of crime and/or deviance.
- HAITI.
- Abnormal levels of crime occur in times of social upheaval.
- The power of the collective conscience is weakened and a state of anomie develops as people look after their own interests rather than respecting their neighbours.
- ANOMIE - normless - rules are there to be broken/changed.
- The power of the collective conscience is weakened and a state of anomie develops as people look after their own interests rather than respecting their neighbours.
- Society has 2 key mechanisms -
- Social Control - mechanisms include rewards for conformity and punishments for deviance.
- ANALYSIS - show how basic functionalist concepts relate to the functionalist expl. of crim as Inevitable and Functional.
- Socialisation - instils the shared culture into its members to ensure the internalise the same norms and values.
- EVALUATION
- + Demonstrates the useful purpose served by crime.
- + Offers an explanation that emphasises a social dimension to crime.
- + Explains the reason for unhealthy levels of crime which could be altered by social engineering. (intro. new laws)
- - Doesn't explain individual motivations.
- - Assumes harmony and the law reflects the interests of the majority.
- - Avoids biological and psychological theories which refer to 'sick' individuals.
- - Over emphasis on the degree of consensus in society.
- May result in a pessimistic approach (more laws, harsher sentencing)
- NORMAL
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