The Positive Functions of Crime Flashcards
What are the two important functions of crime?
Boundary maintenance and adaptation and change.
What does crime do for members of society? (BM)
Unites them in condemnation of the wrongdoer and reinforcing their commitment to the shared norms and values.
What is not the function of punishment? (BM)
To make the wrongdoer suffer or mend his ways, nor is it to remove crime from society.
What is the purpose of punishment? (BM)
Reaffirm society’s shared rules and reinforce social solidarity.
What does the rituals of the courtroom do? (BM)
Dramatise wrongdoing and publicly shame and stigmatise the offender. This reaffirms the values of the law-abiding majority and discourages others from rule breaking.
What does all change start with? (AC)
An act of deviance.
What should not happen to individuals with new ideas? (AC)
Not be completely stifled by the weight of social control.
How what happen to when people try to challenge and change existing norms and values? (AC)
It will inevitably appear as deviance.
(Example) What does the authorities often persecute? (AC)
Religious visionaries who espouse a new ‘message’ or value system.
What may happen in the long run to people with new values? (AC)
Their values may give rise to a new culture and morality.
What will happen if those with new ideas are suppressed?
Society will stagnate and be unable to make necessary adaptive changes.
