Functionalism

Question 1

Durkheim (functionalist)

Answer 1

Key Ideas

1) crime is inevitable
2) crime has positive functions
3) the perfect amount of crime will keep society healthy

• crime is only healthy when social order is maintained through the police and courts
• only a small amount will be self interested and commit crime

Question 2

Durkheim- Positive Functions Of Crime

Answer 2

1) Re marking social boundaries- affirms social norms and values
2) Media Coverage- warning to others
3) Social bonds- unite in disapproval
4) Safety value- little bit of deviance reduces more serious problems
5) Malfunctioning society- theft, drug use and truancy alert us to other social problems in society

Question 3

Criticisms of Durkheim

Answer 3

1) what is the perfect amount of crime?
2) explaining the functions of crime doesn’t explain what caused them in the first place
3) murder may be functional for society but what about the victim?

Question 4

Merton key idea

Answer 4

• people engage in deviant behaviour when they a re unable to achieve socially approved goals

Question 5

According to Merton deviance is the result of a strain between…

Answer 5

1) the goals of society- American dream

2) your legitimate means of achieving them

Question 6

Merton- 5 adaptions

Answer 6

• the strain produces frustration which creates pressure to deviate
  1) Conformity- most of America do not deviate
  2) Innovation- criminal behaviour as an adaption
  3) Retreatism- drug users
  4) Ritualism- people in dead end jobs
  5) Rebellion
• lower class and ethnic minorities are more likely to commit due to their social position

Question 7

Merton- criticisms

Answer 7

1) why don’t all lower class turn to crime
2) can only account for utilitarian crime what about gang violence, rape and graffiti?
3) what about other factors like class, gender, ethnicity and sexuality?