Functionalist Theory (Crime and Deviance)
- Created by: Kiwi_Universe
- Created on: 27-09-17 19:02
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- Functionalist Theory (Crime and Deviance)
- Crime has a function of creating social control as well as a value consensus shared by all of society
- Durkheim said "Crime is normal... an integral part of all healthy societies"
- Not everyone shares the same norms and values. Some are more prone to deviant.
- Different diversities mean different shared norms and values what some may consider 'normal', others may see it as deviant
- In modern society behaviours have became weaker and less clear cut
- This causes individuals to be more different to one another so a collective consensus is weakened / hence more crime.
- Positive Functions of crime
- Boundary Maintenance:Crime allows society members to unite to condemn the wrongdoer and reinforce their commitment to the shared norms and values.
- Punishment is to reform societies shared rules and reinforce social solidarity.
- Adaption and Change
- Durkheim says that all change starts with an act of deviance.
- Deviance that has turned to change will give rise to new cultural norms and values
- Too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society apart
- Too little crime means that society is repressing and controlling its members too much, stifling individuals freedom and preventing change.
- Therefore crime and deviant behaviour is higher in more advanced and industrialised countries.
- This is because there is more people from different cultures which results in more people not staying to the social norms
- Durkheim imagines a "society of saints" where there is no serious crime but still deviance to promote change and development
- He states society becomes dysfunctional when the crime rate becomes too high or low
- Durkheien sates that crime streghnthems social cohesion
- Kingsley Davis said "Prostitution acts a safety valve for the release of men's sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family".
- Kai Erikson said "if crime and deviance performs positive social functions, then perhaps it means society is actually organised so as to promote deviance."
- Criticisms
- Functionalism looks at what functions crime serves for society as a whole and ignores how it might affect different groups or individuals within society.
- Crime doesn't always promote solidarity. It may have the opposite effect and lead people to become more isolated.
- Crime has a function of creating social control as well as a value consensus shared by all of society
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