Functionalist Theories of Crime

Question 1

What did Emile Durkheim argue about crime?

Answer 1

• He felt the they must understand crime and deviance to understand how society functioned
• Durkheim saw crime as a problem of modernity which is caused by the transformation from pre-industrial to industrialised society
• Anomie explains why some people become dysfunctional

Question 2

What does anomie mean?

Answer 2

• This is a lack of usual social standards in an individual or group
• Social conditions occurs when societies previously common norms and values disappear
• This causes people to feel a lack of beloning and disconnection from society
• This means people are more likely to be individualistic and look out for themselves

Question 3

How has modernity caused crime?

Answer 3

• Crime is a problem of modern society
• Previously, crime was rarer due to powerful institutions which enforced social control
• People bough into the value consensus due to religion and the nuclear family
• However, secularisation means that there is a lesser sense of community and a weakended value consensus meaning more people are likely to expierence anomie

Question 4

Is crime inevitable?

Answer 4

• Durkheim argues that crime is inevitable and needed for a functioning society
• Too much crime is anomie and no crime is stagnation
• Durkheim argued crime was inevitable because not everyone is equally committed to the value consensus due to different socialisation
• In a society of saints, crime would still exist due to higher general standards

Question 4

What are the three main positive functions of crime and deviance?

Answer 4

1. Boundary Maintenance
2. Social Cohesion
3. Adaptation and Change

Question 5

What is Boundary Maintenance?

Answer 5

• Crime acts as a reminder of what is and isn’t acceptable in society
• This is done through publications and reporting of criminal behaviour which shows what is not acceptable and the consequences of this
• Disapproval of those who are deviant strengthens collective values which is social solidarity
• Seen in the 2011 London Riots

Question 6

What is social cohesion?

Answer 6

• Durkheim saw crime and deviance as a way of creating social cohesion by naming and shaming those who committ crimes which bring society together in grief and condemnation
  Eg. Murder of MP Jo Cox

Question 7

What is adaptation and change?

Answer 7

• Durkheim saw crime and deviance as a way to promote change in society
• It can be an indication that a social change is required
  EG. Suffragete Movement, committed illegal acts for a movement

Question 8

What is a safety valve?

Answer 8

• Davis argues that minor criminal behaviour can act as a safety valve from greater criminal behaviour occuring
• Individuals commit these low level criminal behaviours as a release for their urges and to prevent them from committing more serious crimes and then having to face the consequences
• Polsky uses prostitution and pornography as an example when people are able to release sexual frustrations and desires which prevents more serious offences such rape

Question 9

What is a warning sign?

Answer 9

• Clinard and Cohen suggest that criminal and deviant acts are warning sign that there is dysfunction in society that needs to be addressed
• This is more generalised than adaptation and change

Question 10

What are the evaluation of crime and deviance according to functionalism?

Answer 10

• Ignores the victim looking at the impact on society rather than it is not likely beneficial for the victim
• It does not quantify how much crime is beneficial
• Crime does not always lead to social solidarity but may lead to isolation for the victim and criminal