Topic 1 - Functionalist, Strain and
Subcultural Theories
DURKHEIMS FUNCTIONALIST
THEORY
FUNCTIONALISTS functionalists agree that to achieve social solidarity you need
- socialization (instils the shared culture into its members.
This helps to ensure that individuals internalize the same
norms and values, and that they feel it right to act in the
ways that society requires.)
- social control (instils the shared culture into its members.
This helps to ensure that individuals internalise the same
norms and values, and that they feel it right to act in the
ways that society requires.)
DURKHEIM - "crime is normal... an integral part of all healthy societies"
2 reasons why crime is found...
- not everyone is equally effectively socialized into society
- diversity of lifestyle and values - different groups develop their own
subcultures with their own norms and values which mainstream society
may be seen as deviant
- modern societies tend towards anomie (lack of norms leading to
deviance)
The rules governing behavior become less clear cut - leads individuals to
become increasingly different from each other
DURKHEIMS 1. Boundary Maintenance (Crime producing a reaction from society
POSITIVE uniting its members in condemnation of the deviant act)
FUNCTIONS OF
CRIME 2. Adaptation and Change - all change starts as a result of deviance
New ideas often go against current norms.
Society must allow space for people to challenge old ways.
At first, new values may seem wrong or deviant.
Over time, these ideas can lead to positive change.
If new ideas are always blocked, society can’t grow or adapt.
- too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society
- too little means that society is being controlled too much
, DAVIS - prostitution acts as a safety valve for men's sexual frustrations -
preserves the monogamous nuclear family
POLSKY - phonography safely channels a variety of sexual desires away from
alternatives such as adultery
COHEN - crime acts as a WARNING SIGNAL that an institution is failing
ERIKSON
- if deviance performs positive functions then maybe society is
organized to promote deviance
CRITICISMS - crime strengthens social solidarity but this doesnt mean society
actively creates crime for the purpose of increasing solidarity
(just because crime does these things doesnt mean thats what it is
made for)
- ignnores how crime might affect different groups within society
(eg. a murderer might bring social solidarity by bringing people
together but that isnt fucntional for the victims family)
- crime doesnt always promote solidarity - may lead to more isolation
eg. forcing women to stay indoors for fear of attack
MERTONS STRAIN THEORY
MERTON - adapted durkheims concept of anomie to explain deviance
- deviance is a result of strain between two things
1) the goals that culture encourages individuals to achieve
2)what the structure of society allows them to achieve legitimately
e.g.. American culture values money success and individual material
wealth and the high status that goes with it
AMERICAN DREAM - americans expected to pursue this goal by legitimate means and hard
work in a career
- but many disadvantages froups are denied opportunities to achieve
this legitimately
MERTON (WHAT IS - strain happens as a result of being unable to achieve goals through
STRAIN?) legitimate means and this is what causes people to deviate
Subcultural Theories
DURKHEIMS FUNCTIONALIST
THEORY
FUNCTIONALISTS functionalists agree that to achieve social solidarity you need
- socialization (instils the shared culture into its members.
This helps to ensure that individuals internalize the same
norms and values, and that they feel it right to act in the
ways that society requires.)
- social control (instils the shared culture into its members.
This helps to ensure that individuals internalise the same
norms and values, and that they feel it right to act in the
ways that society requires.)
DURKHEIM - "crime is normal... an integral part of all healthy societies"
2 reasons why crime is found...
- not everyone is equally effectively socialized into society
- diversity of lifestyle and values - different groups develop their own
subcultures with their own norms and values which mainstream society
may be seen as deviant
- modern societies tend towards anomie (lack of norms leading to
deviance)
The rules governing behavior become less clear cut - leads individuals to
become increasingly different from each other
DURKHEIMS 1. Boundary Maintenance (Crime producing a reaction from society
POSITIVE uniting its members in condemnation of the deviant act)
FUNCTIONS OF
CRIME 2. Adaptation and Change - all change starts as a result of deviance
New ideas often go against current norms.
Society must allow space for people to challenge old ways.
At first, new values may seem wrong or deviant.
Over time, these ideas can lead to positive change.
If new ideas are always blocked, society can’t grow or adapt.
- too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society
- too little means that society is being controlled too much
, DAVIS - prostitution acts as a safety valve for men's sexual frustrations -
preserves the monogamous nuclear family
POLSKY - phonography safely channels a variety of sexual desires away from
alternatives such as adultery
COHEN - crime acts as a WARNING SIGNAL that an institution is failing
ERIKSON
- if deviance performs positive functions then maybe society is
organized to promote deviance
CRITICISMS - crime strengthens social solidarity but this doesnt mean society
actively creates crime for the purpose of increasing solidarity
(just because crime does these things doesnt mean thats what it is
made for)
- ignnores how crime might affect different groups within society
(eg. a murderer might bring social solidarity by bringing people
together but that isnt fucntional for the victims family)
- crime doesnt always promote solidarity - may lead to more isolation
eg. forcing women to stay indoors for fear of attack
MERTONS STRAIN THEORY
MERTON - adapted durkheims concept of anomie to explain deviance
- deviance is a result of strain between two things
1) the goals that culture encourages individuals to achieve
2)what the structure of society allows them to achieve legitimately
e.g.. American culture values money success and individual material
wealth and the high status that goes with it
AMERICAN DREAM - americans expected to pursue this goal by legitimate means and hard
work in a career
- but many disadvantages froups are denied opportunities to achieve
this legitimately
MERTON (WHAT IS - strain happens as a result of being unable to achieve goals through
STRAIN?) legitimate means and this is what causes people to deviate
