Durkheim

Question 1

What does Durkheim believe crime and deviance is?

Answer 1

Both inevitable and functional in society

Question 2

Collective conscience

Answer 2

Shared rules, norms and values

Question 3

Why does Durkheim believe crime is inevitable ?

Answer 3

Humans are naturally selfish so not every member can be equally committed to the collective conscience

Question 4

Why is crime found in all societies? 2 reasons

Answer 4

Not everyone is equally effectively socialised into the shared norms and values so some individuals will deviate

Diversity of life styles and values. Different groups develop their own subcultures with distinctive norms and values

Question 5

Why does crime and deviance link to social order ?

Answer 5

Crime rates rise during periods of rapid social change e.g war, revolution, recession

Question 6

Boundary maintenance

Answer 6

crime produces a reaction from society and reinforces the norms and values of a non criminal

Question 7

Adaption and change

Answer 7

All change starts with an an act of deviance, challenging the established norms and values. Individuals with new ideas, values and ways of life mustn’t be stifled by social control or society would never change

Question 8

When is crime only functional ?

Answer 8

When it’s too high or low, if too high it can lead to anomie aka normlessness

Question 9

Functions of deviance

Answer 9

Strengthens bonds, brings social change, provides a safety valve, creates jobs, publicity function, warning sign

Question 10

Evaluation of Durkheim

Answer 10

Only looks at what crime serves and ignores the effect that crime has on different groups/individuals in society