Functionalist Theory 2C&D Flashcards
How does the law work according to functionalists
Works in the interests of all members of society
What do functionalists say about normal levels of crime
A normal health party of society
Do does the collective conscience do for society according to Durkheim
Distinguishes between actions that are acceptable and those that are not
According to Durkheim what are the 3 main positive contributions of crime ?
- Reaffirming boundaries
- Changing values
- Social cohesion
Explain reaffirming boundaries
Every time a person breaks a law and is taken to court, results in publicity and dramatises the crime to discourage others.
This act publicly reaffirms the existence values/ boundaries of accepting behaviour
Even more evident in societies were public punishment (eg:hanging) takes place
Explain Changing values
Individuals may set out to defy laws that they feel are wrong , theses people are ahead of their times and defy laws that will eventually be outdated
All change starts with an act of deviance Eg: suffragettes
If Those with new ideas are suppressed then society will stagnate
Explain social cohesion
When horrible crimes have taken place, the entire community draws together in a shared outrage, strengthens the sense of belonging to your community
Eg: Shannon Matthew’s
What does Durkheim say happens in periods of great social change?
The collective conscience is weakened causing people to look after their own selfish interests instead
This creates anomie, lack of collective values, causing a feeling of of normlessness
Where anomie exists, crime rate increases
What two types of society does Durkheim Identify
Mechanistic
Organic
Explain mechanistic society
Less complex and fairly primitive
Punishment is based on retribution - demonstrating societies abhorrence at the braking of shared values (Eg: public executions)
Traditional societies have little crime and deviance because of the existence of strong social control
Traditional societies were underpinned by mechanical solidarity
Explain organic society
More complex and developed
Punishment is based on restitution (offender has to make amends for what they have done Eg: imprisonment)
Modern societies crime has risen because of weakening of social controls, leading l anomie and undermined consensus
Evaluation of Durkheim
- doesn’t explain why some groups are more prone to deviance than others Eg: males seem to commit more crime than women
- doesn’t explain why certain forms of deviance are associated with certain groups in the population
- ignores the fact that some crimes always have a negative impact ~ they are not always functional and ignore victims experiences
- concept of anomie has been influential in developing other theories of crime such as Mertons strain theory and subcultural theories of crime
What does Cohen say is the 2 main functions of deviance
- Deviance of safety value
- Deviance as a warning device
Explain deviance as a safety valve
A harmless way for people to let off steam and get rid of their frustrations
Eg: cohen said prostitution performs such as a safety valve function with threatening the institution of the family, because he believed this crime of prostitution could relieve the stress in a discrete way
Explain deviance as a warning Device
A signal to society that something may be wrong or not working in society
He crime draws attention to the problem within society, which can be then fixed
Eg: children truenting schools shows as a warning that the education system isn’t functioning properly
What does Hirschi ask ?
Why don’t people comment crime
What does Hirschi focus on
What forces hold peoples behaviour in check, rather than what makes them commit crime
Argues that when peoples attachment to society becomes weakened, they are more likely to commit crime
What are the four bonds of attachment that keep people closely linked to the value consensus?
- Attachment
- Commitment
- Involvement
- Belief
Explain attachment
How much do we care about what others think?
We might care particularly care about what our spouses or children would think if we committed a crime
Explain commitment
What have we got to lose? If we have a good job, committing crime puts us at a lot of risk
Explain involvement
How involved are we with society? What takes up our time? If we work and are involved in group hobbies or leisure activities, would we have time to commit crime?
Explain belief
To what extent do we believe obeying the law is the right thing to do ?
How strong is our personal moral code?
Evaluation of Hirschi
- Ideas have influenced policy makers in that they are interested in how attachment can be promoted, and deviance3 reduced . Policymakers could try and forge bonds of attachment and reduce deviance by encouraging shared values and morality
- doesn’t address the issue of why some members of society have secured bonds of attachment and others are more marginalised
- not one universal value consensus that benefits all members of society. Eg: conflict theories would argue that capitalism produces detached and marginalised individuals deliberately to reinforce the ruining class power
Define blocked aspirations
People lower down then social structure have the desire to succeed but find their are barriers in the way of them achieving success
