Crime and Deviance: Functionalist Theory

DURKHEIM

• SOCIALISATION: Instils shared cultures into into members and helps to ensure people have the same norms and values.
• SOCIAL CONTROL: Mechanisms include reward for conformity and punishment for deviance. Helps ensure individuals behave e.g. police.
• SOCIAL SOLIDARITY: Value consensus of shared beliefs, goals, morals norms and values.
• BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE: Crime produces a reaction from society, this reinforces shared norms and values and stigmatises wrong-doers.
• ADAPTATION AND CHANGE: Crime challenges norms and values. Gives new culture and morality in the long run e.g. homosexuality.

KINGSLEY:

• SAFETY VALVE: Little amounts of crime prevent lots of crime from happening.
• WARNING LIGHT: If crime levels become too high and shows there is a problem with society. 

Functionalism and Crime:

• Society is based on value consensus.
• Crime is inevitable in society and helps with socialisation and social control to achieve social solidarity.
• Crime performs a function for society.
• Little crime prevents a lot of crime from occurring as the criminal is 'ostracised' by society.

Crime has Positive Functions:

"Prostitution is a safety net as men alleviate sexual frustration instead of ****** a partner. Therefore it does not threaten the nuclear family."

POSITIVES: 

• It explains the functions of crime in society.

NEGATIVES:

• Society does not create crime in advance.
• Explains how it is functional society but not the individual. It begs the question 'Functional for whom?'
• Crime can do the opposite than promote solidarity in society.