Functionalism Flashcards
What 3 reasons did Durkheim believe that crime and deviance could be seen as positive for society?
It generates social change
Helps clarify the boundaries of acceptable behaviour
Creates social integration
Why did Durkheim believe that crime also acts as a threat to society?
Norms and values which unite society become challenged which threatens consensus, social order and stability
What does anomie mean?
Normlessness
Why did anomie occur?
Durkheim believed that this would occur during times of rapid social change where people become unaware of societies norms and values
How is there social order in modern societies?
There is a belief that there are agreements or consensus over societies norms and values
Why does Durkheim see social control as a positive thing?
It creates social cohesion - it integrates people into social groups
Examples of social cohesion
Schools bond individuals together into school communities and classes
Religion binds people together in times of happiness (wedding) and sadness (funeral)
Strength of Durkheims view
It has served to generate a great deal of subsequent research and influence
Weaknesses of Durkheims view
It’s not clear when the “right” amount of crime becomes “too much”
The idea that crime is beneficial is questionable
Reflects the problems with functionlist views - they think everything has a function
What is the strain theory?
Developed by Merton and focuses on the explanation of crimes using the American Dream as an ideology to describe the pursue of success through ambition, talent and hard work
What did Merton point out about the strain theory?
The goals set out were unattainable as financial means we’re unequally distributed which resulted in the society falling into a state of anomie
What 5 reasons did Merton say people could to adapt when faced with strain?
Conformity
Innovation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion
Conformity
Pursuing goals through approved means
Innovation
Using socially unapproved means to achieve approved goals
Ritualism
Using the same socially approved means to achieved a less elusive goals
