Functionalism

Question 1

Who was the founder??

Answer 1

Durkheim

Question 2

What is the functionalism theory???

Answer 2

• Believe society is based on mutual agreement and unity I.e on a value consensus
• social norms and values are taught by social institutions such as the family and school by socialisation
• transmission of norms and the enforcement of laws is essential for society to be stable and safe
• institutions like the police, courts and gov enforce norms, values to maintain social control

Question 3

What did Durkheim believe ( also part of theory)

Answer 3

• believed that some crime was inevitable and even beneficial for society
• too much crime and society becomes chaotic and dysfunctional and called this anomie
• if there is not crime or deviance society becomes stagnant and cannot develop
• it is a question for balance
  And that there are three benefits to crime :
• adaptation and change
• boundary maintenance
• crime as a safety valve

Question 4

What is adaptation and change??

Answer 4

Argues that crime and deviance helps society to evolve. Crime is sometimes needed when real and necessary change is required

Question 5

What is boundary maintenance??

Answer 5

Crimes can create public outrage which reinforce our collective conscience and our shared norms and values

Question 6

What is crime as a safety valve??

Answer 6

According to some functionalists, committing some crime can be used to relax form the stress of life which can be beneficial for maintaining social order and family structue

Question 7

How does this explain criminal behaviour??

Answer 7

• crime and deviance exists because they are functional and beneficial to our society
• a small amount of crime can allow us to evolve and reinforce shared norms and values and help us relax
• without crime our society would not progress. But to much crime we
  Will lose control and create anomie

Question 8

What are the strengths of functionalism??

Answer 8

• support for the theory - crime found in all countries even with higher order and value consensus like Japan
• real life examples - adaptation and change in the suffragettes , terror attacks

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of functionalism??

Answer 9

• over emphasis that crime benefits society - terror attacks are emphasised to have a positive impact but ignores the trauma and victims
• lack of scientific research - functionalist is only supported by examples unlike other criminological theories
• failed to establish root cause of crime - does not explain why crime is committed or why some are law abiding