A.C. 2.2 + 3.2 - Describing and Evaluating Sociological Theory (UNIT 2) (2)
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- Created on: 23-05-20 12:36
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- A.C. 2.2 Describe Sociological Theories.
- A.C. 3.2 Evaluate Sociological Theories.
- Advantage
- social policies come into place, they can create laws to protect the society from danger, as well as they can put restrictions on things. e.g. ciggatettes and Sarah's Law. Alcohol and Age restriction.
- if the society has a 'Boundary Maintenance' which will unite the society and members to lower the crime rate by reminding society of social norms.
- the safety valve suggests that crime releases frustrations. for example, prostitution is said to release sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family.
- shows how different institutions operate in complementary manner to produce overall social stability. this shows the importance of shared culture as the basis of social order
- Disadvantage
- Durkheim states that crime has a positive function, but this can result in negative consequences, if the stress and social change levels are to high, resulting in a weakened society.
- victims of this theory might be confused, for example Sarah's law. the victims are confused as they might be no harsh punishment because the offenders might not get punished, resulting in no justice.
- Cheal 2002: claims that functional relationships can easily slip into damaging relationships. for example Brexit, divided the nation and people are being called traitors.
- culture is treated as though it is an undifferentiated 'glue' that everyone shares and which produces harmony; even the functionalist Merton recognised that sharing cultural values could lead to conflict)
- Advantage
- Functionalism
- Emile Durkheim (1885 - 1917) said that functionalists see share norms and values as being the basis of social order and social solidarity.
- The legal system reflects these shared norms and values. law works in the interest of the members of society. crime is normal and part of a healthy society.
- Inevitable: crime exists in every society, in order to collect social norms and values.
- Relative: crime is different from society to society, later changing e.g. Homosexuality
- Functional: crime gives purpose to societies, it can become out of range is crime is too low or too high.
- 1. Boundary Maintenance: a crime committed results in a reaction being given of, and unites society and its members. e.g. WWII - Creating the Human Rights Act
- 2. Social Change: crime has to be within a society to challenge the norms and values that need to result in social change. e.g. Homosexuality
- 3. Safety Valve: crime and deviance depends on its amount, which makes a society healthy, resulting in a safety valve. e.g. Drunk Driving
- 4. Warning Light: high deviance, results in society not functioning correctly. e.g. high level of truancy can suggest poor education system.
- Collective consciousness can be weakened if there is stress and social change.
- Anomie - lack of collective values, a feeling of normlessness. where anomie exists crime rate increases.
- if social norms are broken down, the society does not have a proper control method to refer to, and so anomie links to criminality.
- A.C. 3.2 Evaluate Sociological Theories.
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