(1) Functionalism: The Functions of Crime and Deviance

Question 1

What are the two main areas that Durkheim explores?

Answer 1

1. boundary maintenance

2. adaptation and change

Question 2

Within boundary maintenance, what are the two main focuses?

Answer 2

1A. reinforces the collective conscience

1B. promotes social cohesion

Question 3

What aspect of crime and deviance explains how the collective conscience is strengthened and reinforced?

Answer 3

• the identification and punishment of deviants and criminals
• boundaries of acceptable behaviour are clarified
• eg. degradational ceremonies - deterrent

Question 4

Due to crime producing a reaction, how is social cohesion achieved?

Answer 4

• produces discussion and scandal which cements, unifies and integrates the social group
• sense of social solidarity emerges as the group condemns the crime
• people are alerted to their sense of common morality
• sense of common morality is upheld
• promotes social solidarity

Question 5

Within adaptation and change, what are the two main focuses?

Answer 5

2A. promotes societal change and progress

2B. identifies dsyfunctions in the social system

Question 6

For Durkheim, all change starts with deviance. How is this functional?

Answer 6

• there would be little change or progress
• deviants/ criminals are often expressing the morality/ behaviour which will be accepted in the future ie. divorce, homosexuality
• new moral codes will be embedded

Question 7

If crime and deviance serves as a signal/ warning that there is some defect in social organisation - how is this functional?

Answer 7

• may lead to changes that enhance efficiency and morale

- discontentment can be addressed before they escalate and threaten social stability

Question 8

How is Durkheim’s overall view positive?

Answer 8

• makes useful contributions in that it highlights how deviance can have latent/ hidden functions for society

Question 9

Regarding adaptation and change, what is a positive contribution? What is a criticism connected to this?

Answer 9

• some good definitely can come from changes implemented in society
• he never identifies where the changes/ progress should end and when crime should still be considered crime

Question 10

How does Cohen criticise Durkheim?

Answer 10

• states that the ideas are teleological ie. he assumed there is a purpose to the existence of all social phenomena

Question 11

How do Downes and Rock criticise Durkheim?

Answer 11

• argue Durkheim is being tautological

- arguing that crime and deviance has certain social functions doesn’t explain their presence and causes

Question 12

Crime doesn’t always promote solidarity - what might it do?

Answer 12

• fragment and divide communities and isolate people
• can be scary
• divisive opinions eg. terror attacks leading Islamophobia

Question 13

How might Durkheim’s comment that punishments act as a functional deterrent break down?

Answer 13

• if there is no consensus that punishments generally do fit the crime
• if punishment is too lenient then they might be able to negotiate it and it won’t be a strong deterrent

Question 14

Durkheim suggests a certain amount of crime is positive for society. What’s the problem with this?

Answer 14

• he doesn’t specify how much

Question 15

While he never promises to explore causes and origins, what comment can be made? Who tries to explore this?

Answer 15

• he doesn’t explain why particular individuals or groups seem more prone to crime
• doesn’t explain why certain forms of deviance appear to be associated with particular groups in population
• Merton, in his strain theory

Question 16

What is another criticism of Durkheim’s emphasis that crime promotes solidarity?

Answer 16

• he overexaggerates the role that crime plays in social solidarity - celebrations and positive events/ natural disasters can unite people just as much
• is crime really necessary? should he be promoting any crime at all?

Question 17

Regarding victims, what does he fail to recognise?

Answer 17

• that crime doesn’t tend to be functional or positive for the victim
• neglects to recognise the victims that suffer horrific consequences

Question 18

Do degradational ceremonies always work?

Answer 18

• no, crime often becomes so high it is dysfunctional, so they’re not a sufficient deterrent

Question 19

Does he specific what type of crime is functional?

Answer 19

• no, he accepts petty crime but doesn’t identify where this ends

Question 20

What shows that prison/ punishment is not a good deterrent?

Answer 20

• reoffending rate is high

Question 21

Should we have to wait for crime to show us there’s a problem?

Answer 21

• no, we should be pre-empting the problems instead of waiting for crime to prompt change

Question 22

Durkheim’s theory obviously has value because other sociologists have developed his ideas that deviance can have positive functions. Who are they?

Answer 22

• Davis
• Polsky
• Erikson

Question 23

What did David, Polsky, Erikson say?

Answer 23

• DAVIS: prostitution can act as a safety valve for release of sexual frustrations without threatening nuclear family
• POLSKY: porn safely channels variety of sexual desires away from eg. adultery
• ERIKSON: does society promote deviance if it is positive? eg. festivals, carnivals that license misbehaviour