10 - Functionalism Flashcards
What does Durkheim argue?
Crime is an integral part of a healthy society. Some crime is inevitable and some members of society will always test the boundaries and commit crime
What is normlessness?
There are no agreed set of rules in society
What is anomie?
A breakdown of society caused by a sudden change in government, a disaster leading to destruction or a major economic upheaval
A society where there is a disjunction between goals and means
Why is a small amount of crime is not bad?
As long as the crime is punished it prevents anomie from occurring
How are crime and deviance a safety valve?
Individuals can let off steam to prevent worse crime and deviance occurring in the future
What does Davis argue?
Prostitution is not damaging to society as it can provide a safe outlet for sexual tensions that men experience. Prostitution acts as a safety valve to prevent sexual tensions from affecting family life
What is social cohesion in society?
All members of society feel part of the whole. Events in society can bring people together to promote social solidarity
Positive AO3 points for Durkheim’s theory
Supports to nurture argument
Policing is enabled by crime as no crime would lead to no jobs for police officers/courts/lawyers/prison officers
Negative AO3 points for Durkheim’s theory
Feminists would argue that Davis is incorrect as he suggests men are allowed to be disloyal and therefore are more powerful than the submissive woman in the relationship
Marxists would argue that crime is a result of capitalist society oppressing minority groups and certain classes rather than blaming consensus
Norms and values are relative and therefore not all of society shares this value consensus e.g. Brasians value family honour and are less likely to commit crime
Lambrosso would argue that criminals are born that way and disagree with the nurture arguement
What is Merton’s Social Structure and Anomie theory?
Everyone in society shares values but some people do not have the same opportunity to access and act upon these shared values e.g. the American Dream led to people wanting to strive for success but not knowing how to and so finding illegitimate ways of doing this
Those in lower social classes should not expect to get to the top and become successful; instead they should adjust their expectations and aim for a comfortable standard of living
Lower classes are more likely to commit crime
What are Merton’s five modes of adaption?
Conformity Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion
Explain conformity
The population learn to accept their disappointment and position. They will conform and work hard and will not commit crime
Explain innovation
Lower class people may reject the conventional means of acquiring wealth and adopt illegal means. The middle class might bend the rules and commit crime to make more money e.g. tax evasion, not paying VAT
Explain ritualism
People have lost sight of their goals but carry on in meaningless jobs and working hard - they have become lost in their routines. They become deviant because they reject the goals held by the majority of society
Explain retreatism
Some people drop out of society and reject the goals and the means altogether e.g. through drug addiction, homelessness or committing suicide
