Sociology Functionalist Theory Crime & Deviance

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  • Functionalist theory of Crime and Deviance
    • Durkheim (1893): Positive functions of crime
      • Durkheim argued that a small amount of crime is good as it serves two functions:
        • Boundary maintainance
          • Unites people in condemnation of the wrongdoer and reinforces norms and values
        • Adaption and change
          • Social change starts as an act of defiance
      • However, Durkheim also said neither a high nor low level of crime is desirable
        • A low level is bad because it means society is repressing and controlling its members
        • A high level is bad because it threatens to tear the bonds of society apart
    • Other functions of crime
      • Davis
        • Argues crime can act as a 'safety valve' for people venting anger
      • Albert Cohen
        • Argues that crime acts as a warning device in that it lets us know that a part of society is not working properly
      • Erikson
        • Argues that crime and deviance is necessary for young people as it helps them deal with stresses associated with transitioning into adulthood
    • Evaluation
      • Strengths
        • Durkheim provides reasons for why people commit crimes or have deviant behaviour
      • Weaknesses
        • Durkheim claims that society requires a certain amount of deviance to function but does not offer a way to know what is the right amount
        • Durkheim claims that crime serves a positive function for society by reaffirming its values and promoting solidarity but ignores the negative effects it has on the victims of crime
      • Marxists would argue that functionalists ignore that crime doesn't serve as a function for all, just the ruling class who made and enforce the laws that criminalise the poor
      • Feminists would argue that functionalists ignore that crime doesn't function for all, just the patriarchy and that crime serves a fear function and not a positive function
    • Functionalists argue that society has two key mechanisms to achieve collective conscience:
      • Socialisation
        • Instils the shared culture into society's members (starts with family) which makes them internalise the same norms and values to act in a way society requires
      • Social control
        • Mechanisms including rewards for conformity and punishment for deviance

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