durkheim’s functionalist theory

core beliefs of functionalism

• Functionalism sees society as based on what?

• what is a culture?

• how does sharing the same culture produces social solidarity?

core beliefs of functionalism

• Functionalism sees society as based on value consensus.- That is, it sees members of society as sharing a common culture.

• A culture is a set of shared norms (rules), values, beliefs and goals.

• Sharing the same culture produces social solidarity - it binds individuals together, telling them what to strive for and how to conduct themselves

Functionalists argue that in order to achieve this solidarity, society has two key mechanisms- what are these?

Functionalists argue that in order to achieve this solidarity, society has two key mechanisms:

1. Socialisation 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.

2. Social control mechanisms include rewards (or positive sanctions) for conformity, and punishments (negative sanctions) for deviance. These help to ensure that individuals behave in the way society expects.

The inevitability of crime

• From functionalist emphasis and strive on social solidarity ,  we might expect that functionalists would regard crime and deviance as as what?

• For example, if each of us chose to 'd___ our own t___' - whether it be refusing to w___ or helping ourselves to others' p____ - it is hard to imagine how s___ could continue to e___.

• However, while functionalists see too much crime as d_____ society, they also see crime as what 2 things? 

• Every known society has some level of c___ and d____ - a crime-free society is a what?

• For D____ (1893), 'crime is n___... an i____ part of all h___ s____'

• Even in a 'society of saints’ with no crime at all, what would happen ?

The inevitability of crime

• From functionalist emphasis and strive on social solidarity ,  we might expect that functionalists would regard crime and deviance as wholly negative - a threat to social order and even the very existence of society.

• For example, if each of us chose to 'do our own thing' - whether it be refusing to work or helping ourselves to others' possessions - it is hard to imagine how society could continue to exist.

• However, while functionalists see too much crime as destabilising society, they also see crime as inevitable and universal.

• Every known society has some level of crime and deviance - a crime-free society is a contradiction in terms.

• For Durkheim (1893), 'crime is normal... an integral part of all healthy societies'

• Even in a 'society of saints with no crime at all, such high standards of behaviour would make even the smallest deviant act (like burping) stand out like a sore thumb

The inevitability of crime

There are at least two reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies.

1. Firstly, not everyone is equally effectively s____ into the s_____ n____ and v____, so some individuals will be prone to d___.

2. Secondly, particularly in what societies?, there is a d____ of l____ and values. Different groups develop do what? , and what the members of the s_____ regard as n____, m_____ culture may see as d___.

The inevitability of crime

There are at least two reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies.

1. Firstly, not everyone is equally effectively socialised into the shared norms and values, so some individuals will be prone to deviate.

2. Secondly, particularly in complex modern societies, there is a diversity of lifestyles and values. Different groups develop their own subcultures with distinctive norms and values, and what the members of the subculture regard as normal, mainstream culture may see as deviant.

The inevitability of crime

• In Durkheim's view, modern societies tend towards anomie - explain what this is

• This is because modern societies have a c____, s____ d____ of labour, which leads to individuals becoming increasingly d____ from one another.

• This weakens the what?  and results in higher levels of d____.

• For example, Durkheim sees anomie as a cause of s____.

The inevitability of crime

• In Durkheim's view, modern societies tend towards anomie or normlessness - the rules governing behaviour become weaker and less clear-cut.

• This is because modern societies have a complex, specialised division of labour, which leads to individuals becoming increasingly different from one another.

• This weakens the shared culture or collective conscience and results in higher levels of deviance.

• For example, Durkheim sees anomie as a cause of suicide.

The positive functions of crime

For Durkheim, not only is crime inevitable; it also fulfils two important positive functions. - what are these functions ?

The positive functions of crime

1. boundary maintenance

2. adaption and change

The positive functions of crime → Boundary maintenance

• Crime produces a r____ from society, uniting its members how? and reinforcing their commitment to what?

• For Durkheim, this explains the function of p____. This is not to make the wrongdoer s____ or m____ their w____, nor is it to r____ crime from society. I

• n Durkheim's view, the purpose of punishment is what?

• This may be done through the rituals of the courtroom, - what does this mean?

• This reaffirms the v____ of the l____-a____ m____ and discourages others from r___ b___.

• Similarly, C____ (1972) has examined the important role played by the m____ in this 'd____ of e___'. In his view, media coverage of crime and deviance often creates what?

The positive functions of crime → Boundary maintenance

• Crime produces a reaction from society, uniting its members in condemnation of the wrongdoer and reinforcing their commitment to the shared norms and values.

• For Durkheim, this explains the function of punishment. This is not to make the wrongdoer suffer or mend their ways, nor is it to remove crime from society. 

• In Durkheim's view, the purpose of punishment is to reaffirm society's shared rules and reinforce social solidarity

• This may be done through the rituals of the courtroom, which dramatise wrongdoing and publicly shame and stigmatise the offender.

• This reaffirms the values of the law-abiding majority and discourages others from rule breaking.

• Similarly, Cohen (1972) has examined the important role played by the media in this 'dramatisation of evil'. In his view, media coverage of crime and deviance often creates 'folk devils' (see Topic 7).

The positive functions of crime →  Adaptation and change

• For Durkheim, all change starts with what?

• Individuals with what? must not be completely s____ by the w____ of s___ c____.

• They should be able  to c____ and c____ existing norms and values, and in the first instance this will inevitably appear how?

• For example, the authorities often persecute who? - However, in the long run their values may give r___ to a n___ c___ and m____.

• If those with new ideas are suppressed, what will happen?

Thus, for Durkheim, neither a very high nor a very low level of crime is d___. Each of these signals some m____ of the social system:

• what does too much crime mean? 

• what does too little mean?

The positive functions of crime →  Adaptation and change

• For Durkheim, all change starts with an act of deviance.

• Individuals with new ideas, values and ways of living must not be completely stifled by the weight of social control.

• They should be able  to challenge and change existing norms and values, and in the first instance this will inevitably appear as deviance.

• For example, the authorities often persecute religious visionaries who espouse a new 'message' or value-system - However, in the long run their values may give rise to a new culture and morality.

• If those with new ideas are suppressed, society will stagnate and be unable to make necessary adaptive changes.

Thus, for Durkheim, neither a very high nor a very low level of crime is desirable. Each of these signals some malfunctioning of the social system:

• Too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society apart.

• Too little means that society is repressing and controlling its members too much, stifling individual freedom and preventing change.

Other functions of crime

what are 3 Other functions of crime?

1. safety valve 

2. a warning

3. promotion of deviance 

Other functions of crime →safety valve

• D____ (19__; 19___) argues that prostitution acts as a safety valve. why?

• Similarly, P___ (1967) argues that pornography safely 'channels' a variety of s____ d____ away from alternatives such as a____, which would pose a much greater t____ to the family.

Other functions of crime →safety valve

• Davis (1937; 1961) argues that prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of men's sexual frustrations without threatening the monogamous nuclear family.

• Similarly, Polsky (1967) argues that pornography safely 'channels' a variety of sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultery, which would pose a much greater threat to the family.

Other functions of crime → a warning

• C____ identifies another function of deviance: a warning that what?

• For example, high rates of truancy may tell us what?

Other functions of crime → a warning

• Cohen identifies another function of deviance: a warning that an institution is not functioning properly.

• For example, high rates of truancy may tell us that there are problems with the education system and that policy-makers need to make appropriate changes to it.

Other functions of crime → a warning- positive

• Erikson 1966) argues that if deviance performs positive social functions, r

• then what does this mean for society ?

• He suggests that the true function of agencies of social control such as the  p____ may actually be to s____ a certain level of c____ rather than to rid s____ of it.

• The idea that agencies of social c____ actually produce rather than p____ crime has been developed further by what?

Other functions of crime → a warning- positive

• Erikson 1966) argues that if deviance performs positive social functions, then perhaps it means society is actually organised so as to promote deviance.

• He suggests that the true function of agencies of social control such as the police may actually be to sustain a certain level of crime rather than to rid society of it.

• The idea that agencies of social control actually produce rather than prevent crime has been developed further by labelling theory

Other functions of crime →promotion of deviance

• Societies sometimes also m____ and r____ deviance rather than seeking to e____ it entirely.

• For example,what all license misbehaviour that in other contexts might be p____.

• Similarly, the young may be given l____ to 'sow their wild oats'.

• From a functionalist perspective, this may be to offer them a way of coping with what?

Other functions of crime →promotion of deviance

• Societies sometimes also manage and regulate deviance rather than seeking to eliminate it entirely.

• For example, demonstrations, carnivals, festivals, sport and student rag weeks all license misbehaviour that in other contexts might be punished.

• Similarly, the young may be given leeway to 'sow their wild oats'.

• From a functionalist perspective, this may be to offer them a way of coping with the strains of the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Evaluations ✓strengths

✓- Functionalism is useful in showing what?

• It provides an i____ and i____ a_____ that directs attention to the ways in which deviance can have h____ or l____ functions for society - i.e. not everything that is b___, is b____ for society!

Evaluations ✓strengths

✓- Functionalism is useful in showing the ways in which deviance is integral to society.

• It provides an important and interesting analysis that directs attention to the ways in which deviance can have hidden or latent functions for society - i.e. not everything that is bad, is bad for society!

Evaluations ✘- limitations

✘- For D_____, society requires a c___ a____ of deviance to function s____, but he offers no way of knowing what?

Evaluations ✘- limitations

✘- For Durkheim, society requires a certain amount of deviance to function successfully, but he offers no way of knowing how much is the right amount.

Evaluations ✘- limitations

✘- Functionalists explain the existence of crime in terms of its s____ f__^ - for example, to s____ s____. But this doesn't mean society actually creates crime in a____ with the intention of what?

• For example M____ shows that crime has clear s____ c___ (b____ o____), so functionalists are wrong to imply crime exists because of what?

Evaluations ✘- limitations

✘- Functionalists explain the existence of crime in terms of its supposed function - for example, to strengthen solidarity. But this doesn't mean society actually creates crime in advance with the intention of strengthening solidarity.

• For example Merton shows that crime has clear social causes (blocked opportunities), so functionalists are wrong to imply crime exists because it is beneficial for society.

Evaluations ✘- limitations

✘- Functionalism looks at what f____ deviance performs for s____ as a w___ and ignores what? 

• For example, prostitution may be 'functional' how?  but it obviously isn't functional how? 

• Functionalism misses this because it fails to ask what question?

Evaluations ✘- limitations

✘- Functionalism looks at what functions deviance performs for society as a whole and ignores how it might affect different groups or individuals within society.

• For example, prostitution may be 'functional' as a safety valve for male sexual frustrations, but it obviously isn't functional for the illegally trafficked sex worker who has to meet his needs.

• Functionalism misses this because it fails to ask, 'functional for whom?'

Evaluations ✘- limitations

✘- Crime doesn't always promote s____. It may have the o___ e____, leading to people becoming more i___

• for example forcing w_____ to stay i____ for fear of a___.

• (On the other hand, some crimes do reinforce collective s____, for example u____ the c____ in condemnation of a brutal attack.)

Evaluations ✘- limitations

✘- Crime doesn't always promote solidarity. It may have the opposite effect, leading to people becoming more isolated

• for example forcing women to stay indoors for fear of attack.

• (On the other hand, some crimes do reinforce collective sentiments, for example uniting the community in condemnation of a brutal attack.)