Functionalism view of crime

Question 1

What is Functionalists view on crime?

Answer 1

crime is positive and inevitable to reinforce social norms and values.

Question 2

Name three functions of crime

Answer 2

• Promotes social cohesion and solidarity: society comes together under a shared state such as panic and fear( moral panic) which reaffirms support and morals and values in society
• Maintains social boundaries : people need to push these boundaries so society understands what is right and wrong and so laws can be created and punishment can be reinforced to make society and avoid criminal actions and firmly know how to behave
• Creates social roles: without crimes, there would be no laws in place and police to which is needed to maintain social order - crime is a needed function as it supports these job roles in society

Question 3

What is Mertons Strain Theory?

Answer 3

• people aim for sucsessful and live an “ American Dream” however not everyone strives for this in a socially acceptable way and can experience strain to achieve

Question 4

What is a conformist?

Answer 4

• These people experience strain to succeed but they conform to societies expectation of working hard to achieve sucsess and its norms and values

Question 5

What is a ritualist?

Answer 5

• they play by the rules and do not commit crime but they don’t expect to succeed in working hard and give up on the idea of sucsess

Question 5

What is an innovator?

Answer 5

• These people accept societies expectations but they don’t have legitimate ways to succeed so they develop other ways to succeed high can lead to crime eg stealing money

Question 6

What is a retreatist?

Answer 6

• They give up on following societies social noma and values and the idea of sucsess and goals
• retreat to alcohol and drugs

Question 7

What is a rebell?

Answer 7

• completely ignore socially acceptable ways to succeed and instead make theory own uses and methods to achieve

Question 8

What is Durkheims view on crime?

Answer 8

• Crime is necessary but too much can be dangerous and is bad for society which can cause society to collapse
• social control is needed eg police and the law
• 3 positive functions: social cohesion, social change and social regulation

Question 9

Evaluation of functionalism

Answer 9

✅can be generalisable to most societies and recognises the influence of norms and values to explain crime
❌too deterministic in understanding crime of peoples behaviour where as interactionilsm focuses on the individuals to explain behaviour in crime
❌outdated as postmodern society has adapted to become more individualistic than collectivist society where norms and values are emphasised