Sociology Functionalist Theory Crime & Deviance
- Created by: Jakeyboy13579
- Created on: 10-09-20 14:36
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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
- Boundary maintainance
- 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
- Durkheim argued that a small amount of crime is good as it serves two functions:
- 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
- Davis
- 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
- Strengths
- 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
- Socialisation
- Durkheim (1893): Positive functions of crime
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