FUNCTIONALISM Flashcards
Durkheim - crime.
A healthy part of society which was inevitable.
Durkheim - ‘promoting social solidarity’
Refers to a sense of cohesion felt in society - all members of a society feeling part of one whole.
Durkheim - solidarity and crime.
Shared outrage over crime will lead to people expressing ‘public temper’.
Durkheim - boundaries.
Members of any society must learn the boundaries and crime shows where the boundaries of right and wrong are.
How do boundaries change over time?
Societies reactions can change, showing societal progression.
Durkheim - prevention.
A small amount of crime is desirable to prevent anomie, as long as this crime is punished.
Davis - ‘safety valve’.
It allows individuals/groups to ‘let off steam’ to prevent worse deviance.
Davis - prostitution.
The goals of sexual behaviour in men are not naturally social, but in society the morally acceptable expression is constricted to the family.
Durkheim - criticism.
Does not actually explain why individuals commit crime - if we all share value consensus why do some people break the law?
Doesn’t consider negative effects of deviance on individuals.
Cohen - prostitution (Davis)
States that prostitution, far from being damaging society, is actually providing a ‘safe’ outlet for these sexual urges.
Merton - strain
There are clear goals in any social structure and there are also clear means to achieve these goals.
Strain towards anomie
The goal becomes more important than the means.
Merton - alternative achevements.
Start to become acceptable and even preferred by some, than anomie will occur.
Merton - 5 modes of adaption
CIRRR
Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism and Rebellion.
Merton - criticised
Assumes that the goal of financial success is universal.
Other goals such as love and family.
