FUNCTIONALIST THEORIES

Question 1

BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE (DURKHEIM)

Answer 1

Crime allows society to reinforce what is
acceptable behaviour in society as the public
nature of the punishments shows people what will happen for breaking the rules. Very serious crimes can also led to society coming together to condemn the perpetrators.

Question 2

ADAPTATION and CHANGE
(DURKHEIM)

Answer 2

Some social deviance is necessary to allow society to move forward and progress. Without some deviant and criminal behaviour society will become stagnant
and die

Question 3

SAFETY VALVE (DAVIS)

Answer 3

DAVIS argus CRIME ACTS AS A SAFET VALVE. PROSTITUTION provides a POSITIVE FUNCTION, ALLOWS men to EXPRESS SEXUAL FRUSTRATION WITHOUT THREATENING the NUCLEAR FAMILY. Additionally, MINOR CRIMES and DEVIANCY PREVENT MORE SERIOUS CRIMES. POLSKY suggests ACCESS to PORNOGRAPHY can PREVENT SERIOUS SEXUAL CRIMES: RAPE.

Question 4

WARNING SIGN (COHEN)

Answer 4

An increase in a certain type of crime or deviant behaviour can be an indication that something
in society is not functioning as it should be and a change needs to occur.

eg HIGH LEVELS of TRUANCY suggests a PROBLEM in the EDUCATION SYSTEM

Question 5

MERTON’S STRAIN THEORY

Answer 5

Based around the idea of the
AMERICAN DREAM in the
1950’s, MERTON believed that crime is a RESPONSE to the STRAIN placed on people to ACHIEVE the goals and values of society.

5 types of STRAIN:
CONFORMITY
accept the goals set out and the means to achieve them
INNOVATION
accepting the goals set out but choosing alternative ways to achieve them
RITUALISM
follow the goals society but not believing you will achieve them
RETREATISM
reject the goals and the legitimate means and become drop outs
REBELLION
reject existing goals and means, replace the, with new ones to bring about revolutionary change: hippies