Functionalism Flashcards
Durkheim key points
- believed crime and deviance is inevitable
- a certain amount of crime and deviance is necessary
- too much leads to anomie, not functional for society
- 4 key functions
What are the 4 functions of crime that Durkheim proposed?
1- Crime defines boundaries
2- Crime tests boundaries
3- Crime creates social change
4- crime creates social cohesion
1- Crime defines boundaries
The media informs us of the consequences faced by criminals and deviants. This makes it clear to the rest of society what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour
2- Crime tests boundaries
Committing crime is a way of testing what is acceptable and not acceptable. Eventually, if the boundaries are pushed by more and more ‘deviants’ it become acceptable.
3- Crime creates social change
All social change begins with some sort of deviance. In order for society to progress, yesterdays deviance must become todays normality
e.g. suffragettes, homosexuality
4- Crime creates social cohesion
A small amount of deviance in society can have a reinforcing function in bonding society together against a common enemy
X creates division, ‘us n them’ mentality
X lead to hate
X more crime, fight back
What does Davis say about crime?
Crime as a safety valve
- deviance can be a way of providing relatively harmless expression of discontent in society without becoming a threat to the stability of society
e.g. prostitution, pornography
How can we criticise Davis?
X not harmless, bigger picture involved and may lead to further crime, promotes it
FEM- creating violence against women
How can we support Davis?
Not harming anyone, private, prevents people from actually doing it
What does Cohen say about crime?
Certain deviant acts act as a warning to indicate that an aspect of society is malfunctioning
- school truancy, gang crime
How can we criticise Cohen?
X If not one act son it it is not useful
X Crime had to be bad for it to be noticed
How can functionalists be criticised?
X crime is harmful to individuals n society
X ignores capitalism and the patriarchy
X how much deviance is the right amount
X who is crime functional for, not the victims
X deviance often leads to more deviance, rather than acting as social cohesion, leads to revenge, distrust, fear and stereotyping
Who is involved in the Functionalist/New Right theory?
Hirschi
What are the 4 elements Hirschi identifies that lower a persons chances of committing a crime?
1) Attachment
- affection and sensitivity to others, family
2) Commitment
- investment in conventional society or stake in conformity, job
3) Involvement
- busy, restricted opportunity for delinquency, hobbies
4) Belief in society
- degree to which person thinks they should obey the law
What is Merton’s strain theory?
- refers to goals and means
- accepted agreed goals, follow legitimate means to achieve them is conformist
- American society n the American Dream
- outlined 5 ways in which members of American society could respond to success goals
