Crime and Deviance - Topic 1: Functional, Strain and Subcultural Theories
Durkheim’s functionalist theory -sociologist list
Key:
Heheh-Sociologist Heheh-Important information
Key information:
- Functionalism → based on value consensus
- Culture → set of shared norms, values, beliefs and goals
- Social solidarity → binds individuals together and influences their actions
and norms/values
- Functionalism aims to achieve social solidarity:
1. Socialisation → instils a shared culture so individuals internalise the same
norms and values, so they can fit into the mainstream society
2. Social control → mechanism to include rewards for conforming and
punishments for deviance
The inevitability of crime
- Functionalists do not view crime as an overall negative aspect of society
- Crime is negative but is universal and inevitable
- Durkheim’s quote(1893) → “crime is normal… an integral part of all healthy
societies”
- 2 main reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies:
1. Not everyone is equally and effectively socialised with the mainstream
society's culture
2. Complex modern societies → diversity of lifestyles and cultures which may
not align with the mainstream society
- Anomie(normlessness) → rules governing behaviour become weaker and
lead to a condition of instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and
values due to the difference between individuals.
- → weakens the shared culture/ collective conscience and leads to higher
levels of deviance
1
, The positive function of crime
- Crime fulfils two important/positive functions:
1. Boundary maintenance → produces a reaction from society, which unites
its members against the wrongdoer and reinforces the commitment to
follow the shared norms/values. The purpose of punishment is to reaffirm
society's rules and reinforce social solidarity, not to make the wrongdoer face
punishment. This may be done in a courtroom, where the wrongdoer is
publically shamed and reaffirms the value of the law.
● Cohen(1972)
- ‘Dramatisation of evil’ → Media plays an important role in how society
reacts to crime and deviant actions.
2. Adaptation and change → all change starts with an act of deviance.
Individuals may want to express different values/norms, and this will be
seen as deviant by the majority. However, these new values/norms may give
rise to a new culture/morality. If the new ideas are suppressed, then society will
prevent these changes from happening.
- → too little crime and too much crime is undesirable, because society is too
controlling to which change is not allowed, or it could tear the bonds of society
apart
Other functions of crime
● Davis(1937;1961)
- Safety valve
- Prostitution is a safety valve and allows men to express their sexual frustration,
without threatening the monogamous nuclear family
● Polsky(1967)
- Porn channels sexual desires away from sexual desires, such as adultery which
could threaten the family
● Cohen
2
Durkheim’s functionalist theory -sociologist list
Key:
Heheh-Sociologist Heheh-Important information
Key information:
- Functionalism → based on value consensus
- Culture → set of shared norms, values, beliefs and goals
- Social solidarity → binds individuals together and influences their actions
and norms/values
- Functionalism aims to achieve social solidarity:
1. Socialisation → instils a shared culture so individuals internalise the same
norms and values, so they can fit into the mainstream society
2. Social control → mechanism to include rewards for conforming and
punishments for deviance
The inevitability of crime
- Functionalists do not view crime as an overall negative aspect of society
- Crime is negative but is universal and inevitable
- Durkheim’s quote(1893) → “crime is normal… an integral part of all healthy
societies”
- 2 main reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies:
1. Not everyone is equally and effectively socialised with the mainstream
society's culture
2. Complex modern societies → diversity of lifestyles and cultures which may
not align with the mainstream society
- Anomie(normlessness) → rules governing behaviour become weaker and
lead to a condition of instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and
values due to the difference between individuals.
- → weakens the shared culture/ collective conscience and leads to higher
levels of deviance
1
, The positive function of crime
- Crime fulfils two important/positive functions:
1. Boundary maintenance → produces a reaction from society, which unites
its members against the wrongdoer and reinforces the commitment to
follow the shared norms/values. The purpose of punishment is to reaffirm
society's rules and reinforce social solidarity, not to make the wrongdoer face
punishment. This may be done in a courtroom, where the wrongdoer is
publically shamed and reaffirms the value of the law.
● Cohen(1972)
- ‘Dramatisation of evil’ → Media plays an important role in how society
reacts to crime and deviant actions.
2. Adaptation and change → all change starts with an act of deviance.
Individuals may want to express different values/norms, and this will be
seen as deviant by the majority. However, these new values/norms may give
rise to a new culture/morality. If the new ideas are suppressed, then society will
prevent these changes from happening.
- → too little crime and too much crime is undesirable, because society is too
controlling to which change is not allowed, or it could tear the bonds of society
apart
Other functions of crime
● Davis(1937;1961)
- Safety valve
- Prostitution is a safety valve and allows men to express their sexual frustration,
without threatening the monogamous nuclear family
● Polsky(1967)
- Porn channels sexual desires away from sexual desires, such as adultery which
could threaten the family
● Cohen
2
