Func Crime And Deviance

Question 1

Durkheim - crime and deviance is functional

Answer 1

Believe a certain amount of crime could be positive for society
Necessary to generate social change - innovation only comes about if old ideas are challenged
Helps to clarify boundaries of acceptable behavior following social reactions to deviance
Creates social integration as it binds society together against criminals

Question 2

Durkheim -crime is dysfunctional

Answer 2

Believed crime and deviance also acted as a threat to society

Norms and values that unite society are being challenged and thus threatening consensus social order and stability

Question 3

Durkheim - causes of crime and deviance

Answer 3

Believe crime and deviance occurred as a result of anomie

Could occur during periods of rapid social change as people becomes unsure of what societies norms and values are

Question 4

Durkheim - social order and social control

Answer 4

Believed that in modern societies there was an agreement or consensus over societies norms and values which resulted in social order and stable societies
Durkheim believed this occurred because society’s institutions successfully implemented social control which creates social cohesion
Believed social control is achieved by various agencies of social control socializing individuals into agreed norms and values and by integration individuals into social groups examples of school and religion

Question 5

Parsons

Answer 5

Believe that sickness can be seen as deviant and had the potential for destabilizing society.
Parsons sees the medical profession as performing and important social control function by restricting access to the sick role.

This means illegitimate illness is minimized and social order and stability is maintained

Question 6

Strengths

Answer 6

Durkheim ms ideas have made a major contribution to the study of crime and deviance

Question 7

Weakness

Answer 7

It’s not clear at what point the right amount of crime becomes too much

Doesn’t explain why some people commit crime whilst others don’t

Question 8

Merton strain theory

Answer 8

Merton argues that capitalist societies suffer from anomie. A strain/conflict between the goals set by society and the legitimate means of achieving them. Believed this is a product of an unequal social class structure.

Identifies 5 different responses to anomie most significant being innovation. Explains material crimes among the working class as they reject approved means and innovate and tune to illegal means to obtain their cultural goals