1.1 Functionalist Theory

Question 1

What are the three positive functions of crime according to Durkheim?

Answer 1

1. Boundary Maintenance
2. Adaptation and change
3. Social cohesion/social solidarity

Question 2

How can crime and deviance act as a safety valve according to Davis and What example is given by Polsky?

Answer 2

Some minor crimes and acts of deviancy can actually prevent larger more serious crimes. For example Polsky suggests that accessing pornography can prevent more serious sexual crimes. Adultery posing threat to family

Question 3

In what ways can crime and deviance be seen as a warning sign according to Clinard and Cohen?

Answer 3

Argued that deviant behaviour (e.g civil disobedience, protests and truancy) is used as a warning device by society to identify emerging social problems which can be dealt with

Question 4

What are the criticisms of the positive functions of the crime?

Answer 4

• Marxism –Ignores the role that the powerful have in shaping what is criminal and deviant as well as the role of social inequality
• Durkheim ignores the impact that crime has on the individual victims instead focuses on the impact on society.
• Doesn’t quantify how much crime is beneficial to society.
• Crime doesn’t always lead to solidarity but can cause isolation of both victim and criminal.

Question 5

What did Durkheim mean by crime being functional for society?

Answer 5

• crime produces a reaction from society, uniting its members in condemnation of the wrongdoer and reinforcing their commitment to shared values and norms.

Question 6

What are the four social bonds which prevent people from committing crime?

Answer 6

1. Belief
2. Attachment
3. Involvement
4. Commitment

Asks not why people commit crime but why they don’t commit crime. This idea suggests strong bonds with society stops people from committing crime.

Assumes all people are naturally bad and it is society that keeps people good. Doesn’t explain why the bonds are weak or strong, or how they become so. You can have strong bonds but still be deviant –sexuality

Question 7

What did Durkheim mean by anomie?

Answer 7

Modern societies tend toward anomie or normlessness- The rules governing behaviour become weaker and less clear-cut.

Question 8

In a nutshell

Functionalists believe that crime is _____ in society; poor socialisation and _____ result in the absence of norms and _____ being taught. In addition, functionalists believe crime is _____ for society because it allows _____ maintenance, and allows a scope for and _____ change

Answer 8

inevitable, inequality, values, positive ,boundary ,adaptation

Question 9

Durkheim

1. Crime is _____ - Poor _____ results in not everyone being taught the same _____ and _____ .
   The inevitability of crime stems from the inequality that exists in society
2. Crime is _____ - ‘Boundary maintenance’ is the concept that crime is _____ in society when there is the _____ amount. When people are punished for committing crimes, it _____ the rest of society not to go against norms and values, in turn strengthening boundaries and _____ further crime.
   ​
3. Davis agrees with Durkheim in that crime can be _____ , but in a _____ way. He believes _____ provides positive functions because it allows men to express _____ frustration without threatening the _____ family.
   ​
4. Adaptation and change - Some crime can be _____ for society because it allows social _____ and change; this means that for society to have norms and values that change as a form of rationalism, a criminal act must take place.

Answer 9

1. inevitable, socialisation, norms
2. positive, functional, right, teaches, preventing
3. positive, different, prostitution, sexual, nuclear
4. functional, adaptation

Question 10

what example of social cohesion can u give?

Answer 10

‘Blitz spirit’ referring to the way ppl in Britain, and particularly in London, were bound together during the Nazi air raids in WWII.