Functionalist Views On Crime Flashcards
Who believes that a limited amount of crime is functional and beneficial to society, but too much crime could cause society to collapse?
Emile Durkheim
What is collective conscience?
Society is based upon a set of shared values, norms and knowledge which guide our actions
What is boundary maintenance?
Crime helps to reinforce the boundaries of acceptable behaviour in society.
How is boundary maintenance achieved?
Through laws which remind us of what is appropriate behaviour and seeing others being arrested and prosecuted
What did Albert Cohen believe deviance can act as?
Deviance can act as a safety valve (a way of letting off steam against society without threatening its stability
According to Clinard what does crime and deviance act as?
Crime and deviance act as a warning function- that an element of the social structure is not working properly so needs to change
What is anomie?
When norms and values become unclear/break down e.g. Rapid social change, crime levels become high
Who believed in the legitimate opportunity structure?
Robert Merton
What is manifest function?
The obvious and intended function of crime or deviance
What is latent function?
The unintended function that the crime performs
What is consensus theory?
Emphasises how society is based upon value consensus- agreement upon shared values
