functionalism

Question 1

what are the 4 ways in which crime and deviance contribute to society?

Answer 1

1-by strengthening collective values
2-by enabling social change
3-by acting as a safety valve
4-by acting as a warning device

Question 2

how do crime and deviance ‘strengthen collective values’?

Answer 2

-durkheim
values can waste away unless people are reminded of the line between right and wrong
media frequently carries dramatic stories of crime and deviance, which spark public outrage and can unite the public in displays of disapproval
punishing criminals reasserts the boundaries of acceptable behaviour
-2011 london riots named and shamed on TV those prosecuted to serve as reminders of accepted behaviour

Question 3

how do crime and deviance ‘enable social change’?

Answer 3

-durkheim
some deviance allows new ideas to develop, which enables progression
-suffragette movement in the early 1900’s, used criminal tactics to advance their cause

Question 4

how do crime and deviance ‘act as a safety valve’?

Answer 4

-Davis and Polsky
-releases stress in society eg mass violent protests
-davis - minor crimes prevent major crimes, release urges
-polsky - pornography/prostitution are safe outlets for releasing sexual frustration that prevents more serious offences (rape)

Question 5

how do crime and deviance ‘act as a warning device’?

Answer 5

-clinard and cohen
-can show that society is dysfunctional, eg high suicide rates,
-pointing to underlying social problems

Question 6

what is the strain theory?

Answer 6

-Merton
-suggests social order is based on a consensus around social goals and approved means of achieving them
-most people share goals eg a good job
-in an unequal society, not everyone has the same opportunities to reach these goals, so they face a sense of strain and anomie
-argues there are different ‘modes of adaptation’ causing one of 5 types of strain

Question 7

what are merton’s 5 types of strain?

Answer 7

-innovation (can’t achieve goals by approved means so turn to crime)
-ritualism (give up on achieving goals, but sticks to the means eg a teacher giving up on student success)
-retreatism (give up all-together eg drug addicts)
-rebellion (rejects existing social goals, but substitutes it with new ones)
-conformity (accepting set goals and means to achieve them)

Question 8

what are some criticisms of merton’s strain theory?

Answer 8

-assumes most people accept the goals and means of society, isn’t always the case
-focuses on individual responses, doesn’t look at patterns of crime and deviance
-doesn’t explain why most people that experience strain don’t turn to crime and deviance
-doesn’t recognise that there are many that seem to conform but are actually involved in criminal activity, eg white collar crimes

Question 9

evaluate the functionalist positive functions of crime

Answer 9

-marxism says it ignored the role the powerful have in shaping crime, as well as social inequality
-ignores impact on individuals
-doesnt quantify how much crime is beneficial
-crime can cause isolation of both the victim and offender