Crime – an act which breaks the formal written laws of a given society - it’s therefore illegal
Deviance – behaviour which most people disapprove of in society as it does not conform to its norms,
e.g picking your nose at a dinner table, inappropriate swearing
Norm – an approved way of behaving
Not all deviance is a crime, but all crime is deviant.
When is an act deviant?
- Depends on social setting/culture/time-period/place e.g nudity is okay in a shower but not in
a supermarket
LO1: To evaluate and understand functionalist perspective on crime
Functionalism:
- Society based on value consensus (shared culture)
- Shared culture = social solidarity (what we strive for/how we act)
- Society has two key mechanisms to achieve solidarity - socialisation + social control (formal
[police] and informal [media])
Durkheim’s FIN - Crime is functional, inevitable & normal!
- Society cannot exist without crime because not everyone is adequately socialised because of
inequality (& meritocracy)
- Boundary Maintenance: Crime produces a reaction from society, uniting its members and
reinforcing shared norms and values - what’s right and wrong! Punishment is not meant to
make the criminal feel bad, but instead stigmatise the crime and publicly shame the offender
as this discourages others from offending.
- Adaption & Change: Change starts with a deviant act - individuals with new ideas and lifestyles
must not be stifled by social norms and values. If those with new ideas are suppressed, society
will stagnate and be unable to make necessary adaptive change. For Durkheim, too much or
too little crime is undesirable. Too much crime will tear society apart while too little will lead to
social repression and control, preventing change.
Davis (Prostitution)
- Provides a positive function as it allows men to express their sexual urges/frustration without
threatening the nuclear family - can carry out their sexual fantasies with a prostitute and then
go back to their wives.
AO3:
- No way of knowing how much crime is the right amount
- Just because crime produces social solidarity does not mean society creates crime with this
intention
- Ignores groups or individuals w/in society by looking at society as a whole
- Does not always promote solidarity – can lead to isolation e.g. women staying indoors due to
fear (BUT crimes can unite communities in condemnation of the attack)
Deviance – behaviour which most people disapprove of in society as it does not conform to its norms,
e.g picking your nose at a dinner table, inappropriate swearing
Norm – an approved way of behaving
Not all deviance is a crime, but all crime is deviant.
When is an act deviant?
- Depends on social setting/culture/time-period/place e.g nudity is okay in a shower but not in
a supermarket
LO1: To evaluate and understand functionalist perspective on crime
Functionalism:
- Society based on value consensus (shared culture)
- Shared culture = social solidarity (what we strive for/how we act)
- Society has two key mechanisms to achieve solidarity - socialisation + social control (formal
[police] and informal [media])
Durkheim’s FIN - Crime is functional, inevitable & normal!
- Society cannot exist without crime because not everyone is adequately socialised because of
inequality (& meritocracy)
- Boundary Maintenance: Crime produces a reaction from society, uniting its members and
reinforcing shared norms and values - what’s right and wrong! Punishment is not meant to
make the criminal feel bad, but instead stigmatise the crime and publicly shame the offender
as this discourages others from offending.
- Adaption & Change: Change starts with a deviant act - individuals with new ideas and lifestyles
must not be stifled by social norms and values. If those with new ideas are suppressed, society
will stagnate and be unable to make necessary adaptive change. For Durkheim, too much or
too little crime is undesirable. Too much crime will tear society apart while too little will lead to
social repression and control, preventing change.
Davis (Prostitution)
- Provides a positive function as it allows men to express their sexual urges/frustration without
threatening the nuclear family - can carry out their sexual fantasies with a prostitute and then
go back to their wives.
AO3:
- No way of knowing how much crime is the right amount
- Just because crime produces social solidarity does not mean society creates crime with this
intention
- Ignores groups or individuals w/in society by looking at society as a whole
- Does not always promote solidarity – can lead to isolation e.g. women staying indoors due to
fear (BUT crimes can unite communities in condemnation of the attack)
