Functionalist Theories of Crime and Deviance Flashcards
What did Durkheim theorise about crime?
Crime is inevitable, as individuals are exposed to different influences and circumstances, so not everybody has the shared values of society (value consensus).
- A certain amount of crime could be positive for society.
What are Durkheim’s causes of crime?
Poor Socialisation = Not everyone is effectively socialised into the shared norms and values, so some will deviate.
Anomie (Normlessness) = Occurs during rapid social change, and people become unsure of societal norms. This combined with the fact that modern societies becoming more diverse due to globalisation, geographical/social mobility, etc means that the collective conscience is weakened as we have different cultural norms and values, leading to moral confusion or normlessness. Do not have a clear value consensus.
What are Durkheim’s functions of crime?
Social Change = crime generates social change, as innovation only happens if old ideas are challenged. E.g: protesting, homosexuality, the suffragette movement.
Social Solidarity/Boundary Maintenance = a small amount of crime reminds people of the law, establishing acceptable vs unacceptable behaviour and maintains social cohesion.
‘Safety Valve’ = A certain amount of crime is healthy, as otherwise society would be repressive. Deviance helps to release stresses in society.
Warning Device = A warning that society is not working properly.
Does Durkheim say that crime can be dysfunctional?
Yes, too much crime threatens society as it challenges the norms and values that unite us, disrupting social order/cohesion. Both high levels and low levels of crime are undesirable.
Evaluation of Durkheim:
Strengths = crime can reinforce a sense of collectivism, e.g terrorist attacks, a link between poor socialisation and crime.
Weaknesses = not clear what point the “right” amount of crime becomes dysfunctional. And not all people who are poorly socialised commit crimes.
What does Merton theorise?
The culture in society can create deviance as we attach great importance to monetary/material success. E.g: the American Dream. Experiencing status frustration due to the lack of legitimate opportunities, creating pressure to deviate so that they can achieve these cultural goals.
What are the 5 different modes of adaptation (the ways people respond to success goals) within Merton’s ‘Strain Theory’?
Conformity - People accept the culturally approved goals and achieve success through legitimate means (meritocracy).
Innovation - People achieve success through deviant means (most crime is a result of this). E.g: robbery, tax evasion, fraud.
Ritualism - People give up on trying to achieve these goals but conform to social norms. E.g: low-paid jobs.
Retreatism - People reject both cultural goals and the legitimate means, becoming dropouts. E.g: drug addicts, homelessness.
Rebellion - Rebelling against social norms; people reject the existing goals and means but replace with new ones, forming subcultures in a desire to bring about change. E.g: political radicals, hippies, etc.
Evaluation of Merton:
Weaknesses = doesn’t explain why most people who face strain do not turn to crime/why some experience strain more than others, ignores structural inequalities. Ignores collective responses and why people are deviant in the same ways (gangs). Only explains utilitarian crime.
