functionalism and crime

Question 1

Durkheim: Three Key Ideas About Crime

Answer 1

1. A limited amount of crime is inevitable and even necessary
2. Crime has positive functions -A certain amount of crime contributes to the well-being of a society.
3. On the other hand, too much crime is bad for society and can help bring about its collapse, hence institutions of social control are necessary to keep the amount of crime in check

Question 2

SOCIAL REGULATION

Answer 2

Each time the Police arrest a person, they are making it clear to the rest of society that the particular action concerned is unacceptable.

Question 3

SOCIAL INTEGRATION

Answer 3

when particularly horrific crimes have been committed the whole community joins together in outrage and the sense of belonging to a community is therefore strengthened

Question 4

SOCIAL CHANGE

Answer 4

Criminals perform a crucial service in helping the law to reflect the wishes of the population and legitimising social change.

Question 5

EVALUATION POINTS- (hint: crime is functional…)

Answer 5

durkheim says that ‘crime’ is necessary and even functional but fails to distinguish between different types of crime. It could be that some crimes may be so harmful that they will always be dysfunctional rather than functional.

Question 6

EVALUATION POINTS (hint: marxists/feminists)

Answer 6

Marxist and Feminist analysis of crime demonstrates that not all criminals are punished equally and thus crime and punishment benefit the powerful for than the powerless

Question 7

EVALUATION POINTS (hint: interactionists)

Answer 7

interactionists would suggest that whether or not a crime is functional cannot be determined objectively; surely it depends on an individual’s relationship to the crime.