Overview

Question 1

Structural

Answer 1

Functionalism is a structural approach – it is not
concerned with the individual, but society as a
whole which is seen to control us as individuals.

Question 2

Macro study

Answer 2

It uses macro (large scale) methods to study society –
it focuses on the larger & wider social structures &
institutions of society to explain large scale patterns of behaviour.

Question 3

Consensus theory

Answer 3

It is also a consensus theory (based on agreement) – one that sees society based on value consensus where members share a common culture & collective conscience where shared norms, values, beliefs & knowledge make social life & cooperation between individuals possible. Sharing a culture produces social solidarity which binds individuals together with a feeling of community.

Question 4

Crime and deviance

Answer 4

According to functionalists, an act or person is criminal or deviant when they break the shared norms & values of society. Dysfunctional behaviour within social institutions (e.g. family, religion, mass media, etc.) make some people into criminals/deviants & those who conform have been ‘properly socialised’ into the norms & values of society.

Unhealthy levels of crime & deviance can occur when there is inadequate socialisation &/or when there are not suitable levels of social control in place through both informal agents of social control (such as the family, education & peers) & formal agents of social control (such as the government, police & courts).

Question 5

Organic analogy

Answer 5

Functionalism suggests that society works like a human body, arguing that the
institutions in society are like organs in the body – each performing specific functions that are necessary to maintain the whole. This is known as the organic analogy.

Question 6

A03

Answer 6

+ : Helps to explain reasons for unhealthy levels of crime which could be altered by introducing new laws or governmental policies which allow society to remain functional which is developed by later theories such as realism.

• It doesn’t explain individual motivations & Durkheim fails to explain why only some people commit crime. This is criticised by labelling theorists who take a micro, social action approach to criminal behaviour and do look at individual motivations.