Durkheim's functional theory of crime
- Created by: lucexox
- Created on: 04-07-16 09:44
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- Durkheim's functional theory
- Value concensus
- A general agreement of core beliefs
- Leads to social solidarity
- A general agreement of core beliefs
- Socialisation
- The process by which individuals internalise the norms, values and culture of society
- Social control
- The ways in which a society directs the behaviour of its members using sanctions
- Value concensus
- A general agreement of core beliefs
- Leads to social solidarity
- A general agreement of core beliefs
- Crime is found when not everyone is socialised into the norms and values of society
- Social control
- The ways in which a society directs the behaviour of its members using sanctions
- Durkheim
- 'Crime is an integral part of all healthy societies'
- Although crime may destabilise society, it is inevitable and universal.
- Too much and too little crime show malfunction in society
- 'Crime is an integral part of all healthy societies'
- An increase in diversity is good but it means people live different lifestyles so have different values
- Subcultures develop
- This can be seen as deviant from mainstream norms
- Subcultures develop
- Anomie is normlessness, where values and rules are weakened and less clear cut
- Positive functions of crime
- Boundary maintenance
- Crime unties societies in condemnation of the wrongdoer
- Punishments purpose is to reaffirm societies shared rules to reinforce social solidarity
- Crime unties societies in condemnation of the wrongdoer
- Adaption and change
- There must be flexibility for individuals to change societies norms and values
- This may first appear as deviant
- There must be flexibility for individuals to change societies norms and values
- Other positives
- Davis says that prostitution can act as a safety valve for the release of men's sexual frustrations
- Polsky says that *********** acts similarly
- Cohen suggests that things like high levels of truancy acts as a warning that an institution is not functioning properly
- Erikson says that social control agencies such as the police can manage the level of crime
- Events such as festivals give young people the opportunity to misbehave without causing too much dysfunction to society
- Davis says that prostitution can act as a safety valve for the release of men's sexual frustrations
- Boundary maintenance
- Evaluation
- STRENGTH This theory provides an insight into how crime can be beneficial
- WEAKNESSThis theory doesn't state how much is the right amount of crime
- This theory ignores the fact that social solidarity may exist already
- Value concensus
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