Functionalism - Durkheim

Question 1

What does Durkheim say about crime in society

Answer 1

each society has a collective conscience which is made of shared core values

this is backed up by a fair legal system which punishes offenders, forming social order

crime has positive and negative functions

Question 2

what is boundary maintenance

Answer 2

when someone is punished for crime, it reaffirms shared values which reminds people what is right and wrong

seeing punishment deters others from committing

Question 3

adaptation and change - crime

Answer 3

crime can result in law changes

example: Ariana Grande Manchester Arena attack in 2017, Martyn’s Law means you cannot take a bag over a certain size into music venues

Question 4

adaptation and change - deviance

Answer 4

example: Extinction Rebellion cause mass distribution to bring attention to global warming

durkheim would call these ‘functional rebels’

Question 5

what is social solidarity

Answer 5

after a horrific crime, society is brought together to condemn actions

e.g ariana grande attack, community united in greif

Question 6

negative aspects of crime and deviance

Answer 6

too much can be dysfunctional and threaten social order

people reject collective conscience in times of rapid social change or stress as they focus on themselves e.g COVID

this can lead to a state of anomie e.g London Riots, norms and values were no longer guiding peoples behavoir

Question 7

evaluation

Answer 7

doesn’t state how much crime is right amount

crime not functional for victims

fails to explain why some people commit crime and why some do not