Applying material from item B and your knowledge, evaluate the contribution of strain
theories to our understanding of crime and deviance. (30 marks)
Analyse two functions of deviance (10 marks)
Durkheim argues in a ‘society of saints’ crime would still be present. Durkheim seems crime
as normal and suggests the reason of boundary maintenance as a positive function of
deviance. Boundary maintenance refers to a growing unity of those who condemn deviant
acts. This can be done through public shaming and even protests (black lives matter).
This is essentially where society is unified in solidarity by shaming those who commit deviant
acts. This acts as a deterrent and discourages others from omitting the same deviant acts.
Societies condemnations of our acts can be seen in Cohen’s study of mods and rockers
where the media amplified their acts, and this was met with a negative reaction from society.
Overall, it is argued that this makes deviance undesirable which causes others not to do the
same. Another example to deter people from deviance is the death penalty in America which
has arguably been useful, but others argue it is not as efficient and that functionalists ignore
root causes that pre-dispose people to commit crime in the first place e.g. poverty.
Ultimately, we see from the functionalist perspective that deviance can be functional for
society.
Another function of deviance also expressed by Durkheim…
Analyse two functions of deviance (10 marks)
theories to our understanding of crime and deviance. (30 marks)
Analyse two functions of deviance (10 marks)
Durkheim argues in a ‘society of saints’ crime would still be present. Durkheim seems crime
as normal and suggests the reason of boundary maintenance as a positive function of
deviance. Boundary maintenance refers to a growing unity of those who condemn deviant
acts. This can be done through public shaming and even protests (black lives matter).
This is essentially where society is unified in solidarity by shaming those who commit deviant
acts. This acts as a deterrent and discourages others from omitting the same deviant acts.
Societies condemnations of our acts can be seen in Cohen’s study of mods and rockers
where the media amplified their acts, and this was met with a negative reaction from society.
Overall, it is argued that this makes deviance undesirable which causes others not to do the
same. Another example to deter people from deviance is the death penalty in America which
has arguably been useful, but others argue it is not as efficient and that functionalists ignore
root causes that pre-dispose people to commit crime in the first place e.g. poverty.
Ultimately, we see from the functionalist perspective that deviance can be functional for
society.
Another function of deviance also expressed by Durkheim…
Analyse two functions of deviance (10 marks)
