durkheims functionalist theory

Define value census

Shared/ agreed values on how society should work, functionalists say people have individualism and dont have to conform to society

Define culture

How a certain demographic practice traditions and values

Summarise two key mechanisms that society uses to achieve solidarity

• socialisation- a wayof teaching people the shared norms and values of society

• Social control- certain ways of controlling peoples behaviour teaching them to conform to societies nroms and values

Briefly explain two reasons why crime is found in all societies

• people who choose not to conform to societies norms and values

• Different ways people are socialised, different groups develop their own subcultures with their own norms and values, strayinf from mainstrem culture

According to durkheim, why are modern societies likely to experience crime?

Poor socialisation results to norms and values not being taught therefore creating more crime

Briefly explain durkehims two imortant positive functions of crime

• Boundary maintenance- the concept that crime is functional in society when there is the right amount

• Adaption and change- some crime can be functional for society because it allows social adaption and change

Davis’ function of crime

Prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of mens sexual fustration without threatening the nuclear family

Polsky’s function of crime

Argues tha pronography safly channels a varietyof sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultery, doesnt help the victims of rape/sex trafficking

A.K’s function of crime

Function of deviance- a warning thatan instituion is not functioning properly

Eriksons function of crime

If deviance peforms positive social functions then it means societyis orgised to promote deviance

Whyis functionalism used for undrstanding crime and deviance

Functionalism sees society as based on value consensus. It sees members of society as sharing a common culture

Outline 3 criticisms of the functionalist theory of crime and deviance

• ignores how crime affect different groups of people

• Crime doesnt always promote solidarity, it may ahve the opposite effect, leading to people becoming more isolated

• ‘Strengthens solidarity’- it doesnt mean society actually creates crime in dvance with the intention of strengthening solidarity