Functionalist, Strain and Subcultural Theories
Durkheim's functionalist theory:
● Functionalists see society based on a value consensus where society shares a shared culture - norms
and values which helps society have social solidarity - binding individuals, telling them how they should
conduct themselves - helps society run smoothly.
Functionalist argue that in order to reach this solidarity society has two key mechanisms:
- Socialisation: this means to instil members with the shared culture . - helps ensure that
individuals are internalising the right norms and thus they act in the ways society requires
- Social order - one will be rewarded for conforming to these norms and values and one will be
punished for deviance. This helps members in society behave in the way society expects.
The inevitably of crime:
● Functionalists see crime as inevitable and universal in all societies
● Durkehim says - ‘’ crime is normal… an integral part of healthy societies’’
^ two reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies:
- Not all members are socialised adequately into the shared norms and values thus they will
deviate
- Different groups create their own subcultures with their own values which they deem normal
thus seeing mainstream culture as deviant.
● Durkehim argues that modern societies head towards an anomie - normlessness and societies and the
rules governing society become less clear cut. This is because modern societies are complex and
individuals are increasingly different from each other. - weakness shared culture - people more likely to
deviate
Durkheim's functions of crime
● Durkheim argues that crime has two positive functions in society:
- Boundary maintenance - Crime allows society to reinforce what is acceptable behaviour in society
and what is not as the public nature of the punishments shows people what will happen for breaking
the rules.
Very serious crimes can also led to society coming together to condemn the perpetrators as
members have collective conscious
- Adaptation and Change - Some social deviance is necessary to allow society to move forward and
progress. Without some deviant and criminal behaviour society will become stagnant and die.
Levels of crime:
● Durkehim says too little levels of crimes means society is controlling and repressing its members
restricting their freedom and preventing change
● Durkehim says too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society
Others functions of crime:
Davis - prostitution acts as a safety valve channelling men's sexual frustration without threatening the
monogamous nuclear family.
Polsky - argues that pornography safely channels away a variety of sexual desires such as adultery away
from the threatening the family
Cohen - deviance tells us that society is not functioning correctly and thus change is needed.
Erikson - social agencies of control and police have a job to maintain a certain level of crime rather than
to get rid of it. It defines their job and allows them to do their job
Durkheim's functionalist theory:
● Functionalists see society based on a value consensus where society shares a shared culture - norms
and values which helps society have social solidarity - binding individuals, telling them how they should
conduct themselves - helps society run smoothly.
Functionalist argue that in order to reach this solidarity society has two key mechanisms:
- Socialisation: this means to instil members with the shared culture . - helps ensure that
individuals are internalising the right norms and thus they act in the ways society requires
- Social order - one will be rewarded for conforming to these norms and values and one will be
punished for deviance. This helps members in society behave in the way society expects.
The inevitably of crime:
● Functionalists see crime as inevitable and universal in all societies
● Durkehim says - ‘’ crime is normal… an integral part of healthy societies’’
^ two reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies:
- Not all members are socialised adequately into the shared norms and values thus they will
deviate
- Different groups create their own subcultures with their own values which they deem normal
thus seeing mainstream culture as deviant.
● Durkehim argues that modern societies head towards an anomie - normlessness and societies and the
rules governing society become less clear cut. This is because modern societies are complex and
individuals are increasingly different from each other. - weakness shared culture - people more likely to
deviate
Durkheim's functions of crime
● Durkheim argues that crime has two positive functions in society:
- Boundary maintenance - Crime allows society to reinforce what is acceptable behaviour in society
and what is not as the public nature of the punishments shows people what will happen for breaking
the rules.
Very serious crimes can also led to society coming together to condemn the perpetrators as
members have collective conscious
- Adaptation and Change - Some social deviance is necessary to allow society to move forward and
progress. Without some deviant and criminal behaviour society will become stagnant and die.
Levels of crime:
● Durkehim says too little levels of crimes means society is controlling and repressing its members
restricting their freedom and preventing change
● Durkehim says too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society
Others functions of crime:
Davis - prostitution acts as a safety valve channelling men's sexual frustration without threatening the
monogamous nuclear family.
Polsky - argues that pornography safely channels away a variety of sexual desires such as adultery away
from the threatening the family
Cohen - deviance tells us that society is not functioning correctly and thus change is needed.
Erikson - social agencies of control and police have a job to maintain a certain level of crime rather than
to get rid of it. It defines their job and allows them to do their job
