Crime and Deviance- Functionalist theory

STRAIN THEORY

Functionlists argue that crime distrupts social stablity, but it is inevitable and can be somewhat beneficial.

KEY THEORISTS- Emilie Durkhiem

                               Robert Merton

Why is crime found in every society?

Not everyone is equally socialised into shared norms and values, some individuals are prone to deviate.

There is a diversity of lifestyles and norms.

DURKHIEM: Modern societies tend towards anomie- sense of normlessless

Rules that govern behaviour become weaker because modern societies = a complex divsion of labour, individualism. This weakens the shared culture and collective conscience= more deviance. Durkhiem showed this in his study of sucide.

Positive functions of crime

1) Boundary Maintence- crime is a…