Functionalism Flashcards
what is functionalism?
a theory proposed by Durkheim stating that crime is an integral part of all healthy societies. it states that crime reinforces value consensus and social solidarity, acts as a safety valve, a warning device and as a way to create jobs.
what does anomie mean to functionalists?
it refers to a state of normlessness/breakdown of social norms and values. in simple terms, it is a lack of rules or a structure in society which can lead people to feel disconnected/uncertain/lost because they don’t know what is expected of them.
what is Robert Merton’s strain theory and what does it suggest?
this is a theory which states that deviance is a result of strain between the goals of society and the legitimate means of achieving them. people have their opportunities blocked, leading them to experience strain which in turn produces frustration, creating a path to deviance - strain to anomie.
what are the 5 suggested responses to strain by Merton?
conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion.
what is conformity?
people accept society’s goals and work hard using socially accepted means. e.g., getting a well-paid job by going to university and getting a degree
what is innovation?
people accept the goals but use new or illegal ways to achieve them e.g., someone wants to be rich but they turn to crime because they are not able to do it through legitimate work
what is ritualism?
people give up on the goals but still stick to rules and routines. e.g., a worker stops aiming for a promotion but still does their job everyday
what is retreatism?
people reject both the goals and the means often withdrawing from society. e.g., someone who turns to drugs or homelessness gave up on trying to succeed.
what is rebellion?
people reject society’s goals and means but try to replace them with new ones. e.g., activists or revolutionists who fight for a new social system.
is there any way to criticise functionalism?
YES! it may explain the patterns found in official stats or why the working class crime rates may be higher however, Merton’s strain theory only explains deviance as individual so therefore it does not explain group crime or all types of crime. it also doesn’t stay that people have free choice i.e., deterministic - not all working class individuals resort to crime.
