Positive A03

Question 1

1

Answer 1

✓ S1. Functionalism is the only theory that demonstrates the useful purpose served by crime – e.g. reinforcing the collective conscience, maintaining agreed boundaries of acceptable behaviour, allowing society to develop & change, etc.

✓ S2. It is useful for explaining many incidents in society. E.g. the looting that followed the 2011 summer riots suggested feelings of anomie & that the offenders did not feel themselves a true part of society & put their own advantage above the law. Those who helped to protect their areas & to clear up afterwards showed collective conscience.

Question 2

2

Answer 2

✓ S3. 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.

✓ S4. Hirschi usefully builds on Durkheim’s work by arguing that criminal activity occurs when a person’s social bonds to society are weakened in some way. This at least begins to explain why most people do not commit crime when social bonds are in place.