Evaluation Functionalism linked to Crime
- Crime is functional for society
- Not all crime is functional, and how is it
possible to gauge how much crime is the - However, only to a certain extent on both ends of the spectrum.
‘right’ amount?
- Too much is bad as it leads to chaos and anomie (a lack of norms
- Boundary maintenance is supposed to and values)
create social cohesion = all members of
society go against the crime being - Too little is bad; e.g. laws regarding homosexuality
committed. (things would never change, protests would never
However, crime does not create social occur in attempts to change laws for the better)
solidarity, if anything it increases divisions
and a sense of isolation. - Crime creates unity and a sense of Functionalists say 3
social solidarity
- Crime may be good for society in general,
things about crime and
but definitely not for the individuals involved deviance
and victims of the crime in any regard.
1. It is functional
2. It is necessary
Crime and 3. It is inevitable
Deviance -
Functionalism
Kingsley Davies: Reaffirming the boundaries Shocking cases of crime
Prostitution and (Boundary maintenance) that surface which have no
the Safety Valve grey areas to them will
Prostitution is recognised as a
Social ‘reaffirm the boundaries’,
crime that is good, for the concept unlike crimes such as
reason that men are able to change/attitudes driving over the speed limit
then avoid raping/sexually
Social cohesion to get to a hospital ASAP.
assaulting their wives as Anomie (the
substitute for their - Sexual Offences Act
aggression/tension.
negative cause Shocking crimes and events 1967
of crime) that take place undeniably ↑ An act to amend the
turn the heads of people and law of England and
A lack of value consensus this subsequently leads to Wales relating to
through socialisation and a factors such as: homosexual acts.
lack of cohesion can lead to It decriminalised homosexual acts
- Riots - Increased attention in private between two men. Both
a ‘state of normlessness; - Protests in relation to what
anomie. of whom had to be at least 21
has happened years of age.
- Social cohesion
Crime is only functional in the right
amounts. - EXAMPLE: 9/11 In order for this to occur, the crime had to
Too little crime can indicate Everyone who was alive during the time could tell you where be committed in the first place; the law
repression/authoritarian state control they were exactly when it happened/when they heard about it. had to be broken.
Too much crime creates anomie and a It was a shocking event that went into worldwide
lack of social order. acknowledgement rapidly and didn’t go unheard of for years.
- Crime is functional for society
- Not all crime is functional, and how is it
possible to gauge how much crime is the - However, only to a certain extent on both ends of the spectrum.
‘right’ amount?
- Too much is bad as it leads to chaos and anomie (a lack of norms
- Boundary maintenance is supposed to and values)
create social cohesion = all members of
society go against the crime being - Too little is bad; e.g. laws regarding homosexuality
committed. (things would never change, protests would never
However, crime does not create social occur in attempts to change laws for the better)
solidarity, if anything it increases divisions
and a sense of isolation. - Crime creates unity and a sense of Functionalists say 3
social solidarity
- Crime may be good for society in general,
things about crime and
but definitely not for the individuals involved deviance
and victims of the crime in any regard.
1. It is functional
2. It is necessary
Crime and 3. It is inevitable
Deviance -
Functionalism
Kingsley Davies: Reaffirming the boundaries Shocking cases of crime
Prostitution and (Boundary maintenance) that surface which have no
the Safety Valve grey areas to them will
Prostitution is recognised as a
Social ‘reaffirm the boundaries’,
crime that is good, for the concept unlike crimes such as
reason that men are able to change/attitudes driving over the speed limit
then avoid raping/sexually
Social cohesion to get to a hospital ASAP.
assaulting their wives as Anomie (the
substitute for their - Sexual Offences Act
aggression/tension.
negative cause Shocking crimes and events 1967
of crime) that take place undeniably ↑ An act to amend the
turn the heads of people and law of England and
A lack of value consensus this subsequently leads to Wales relating to
through socialisation and a factors such as: homosexual acts.
lack of cohesion can lead to It decriminalised homosexual acts
- Riots - Increased attention in private between two men. Both
a ‘state of normlessness; - Protests in relation to what
anomie. of whom had to be at least 21
has happened years of age.
- Social cohesion
Crime is only functional in the right
amounts. - EXAMPLE: 9/11 In order for this to occur, the crime had to
Too little crime can indicate Everyone who was alive during the time could tell you where be committed in the first place; the law
repression/authoritarian state control they were exactly when it happened/when they heard about it. had to be broken.
Too much crime creates anomie and a It was a shocking event that went into worldwide
lack of social order. acknowledgement rapidly and didn’t go unheard of for years.
