Functionalist theories of crime

Question 1

Functionalist argue that crime is useful and necessary in society: it performs functions

Durkheim

Answer 1

1. crime and deviance maintains a value consensus within society because people can join together in outrage
2. Durkheim argued that deviance allows for social change (needed for society to remain healthy) if people react positively to it
3. However, too much crime can become dysfunctional as it threatens social order

Question 2

Cohen - maintenance of social order

Answer 2

Cohen argued that forms of deviance such as prostitution help maintain social order - it provides a safety value for releasing tension

Other deviant behaviour e.g protests are used as warning devices to identify emerging social problems which can thus be dealt with

Question 3

Merton - strain theory

crime is a response to failing to achieve society’s cultural goals

Answer 3

not everybody has equal access of opportunities to achieve the american dream (e.g gain wealth) which relies on the education system, which some groups are disadvantaged in
= anomie (lack of values and normalness)

this inability to succeed leaves a strain on people which leads them to be deviant

Question 4

Sutherland - differential association theory

Answer 4

people learn deviance from others - exposure leads to increase in deviance because their values and attitudes are passed on

Question 5

Status frustration

Answer 5

Idea that working class boys may form subcultures and join gangs because they provide prestige for adolescents frustrated at their lack of status in society due to lack of success due to deprivation 
e.g petty crime and drugs may be valued within the group 

(-) subcultural theories criticised for assuming majority aspire to the mainstream goals whereas some groups like hippies don’t - Taylor, Walton and Young