functionalist theories of crime and deviance

4 characteristics of crime

Durkheim

Inevitable - will always exist, can be reduced but not eliminated

Universal - exists within every society

Relative - what is criminal in some societies varies around the world

Functional - limited amount of crime can benefit the society - eg creating jobs

Boundary maintenance

Durkheim

(social regulation)

Crime reaffirms the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, after someone is punished from an action, others man be discouraged from doing so

Courts and media broadcast the boundaries of acceptable behaviour to discourage others from partaking

Social integration

Crime can also strengthen social cohesion.

Horrific crimes occur and communities join together

Social change

When a law is not aligned with the feelings and values of the majority, we must think about changing it

Criminals therefore help the law to reflect the attitudes of the population and create social change

Cohen

Deviance acts as a warning to society that an institution is not working as it should.

Eg. High rates of truancy suggest that there is something wrong with the education system.

Polsky (1967)

Pornography safety channels a variety of sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultery which would pose a much greater threat to the family.

Davis

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

Erikson (1966)

Developed the idea of inevitability of crime even further

Argued that society is organised to promote deviance because it performs positive social functions

Criticisms of Durkheim

Fails to explain what causes crime

Doesn’t explain why certain people are more likely to commit crimes

Ignores the concept that in society, certain groups will have more power to make and control laws.

Strengths of Durkheim

First to analyse crime and deviance in terms of a broad sociological theory

Represented a huge breakthrough in understanding us understand deviance - not unnatural but integral to society

The American dream

Merton believed we have a social order around agreed social goals and approved ways of achieving them - American dream

If people aren’t able to achieve social goals…

They start to engage in deviant behaviour

Deviance is a result of the strain between two things

Merton

1 - the goals that a culture encourages people to achieve

2 - what the institutional structures of society allow them to achieve legitimately

Five responses to strain

Merton

1 - conformist

2 - innovator

3 - retreatist

4 - ritualist

5 - rebel

Conformist

The individual continues to adhere to both goals and means despite their limited likelihood of success

Innovator

Individual accepts the goals set by society however ignores the legitimate means of obtaining this.

Merton believed the WC were most likely to be found here as their least likely to achieve their goals. They have lower educational qualifications and lower paid jobs

Retreatist

Merton

Individual rejects both goals and means and retreats into their own individual world

Ritualist

Individual uses means set by society but has lost sight of the goal.

Merton believed this would occur in the lower to middle classes

They find it hard to reach their goal but have been socialised to retain the norms held by society and therefore cannot turn to crime

Rebel

The individual again rejects the goals and means laid out by society however they go on to create their own.

Criticisms of Merton

Doesn’t explain why some WC members dont break the law

Focusses on individuals not groups - crime is usually a group activity (gangs)

Assumes everyone shares the same views

Doesn’t explain non-utilitarian crimes that dont benefit the criminal like vandalism

Strengths of Merton

Explains elements of WC crime

Links strain in society to criminal behaviour

Explains crimes that profit the criminal

Societies that value money the most are more likely to turn to crime

Social bonds

Hirschi

Attachment

Communication

Involvement

Belief

Attachment

Hirschi social bonds

Strength of one’s and relationships that exist within individuals social environment.

Parents, friends

A circle of friends can prevent deviance as long as they do not engage in deviant acts

Commitment

Hirschi social bonds

Level of education invested in social standards and goals.

Assumes someone who has invested time, resources and money into achieving goals has more to lose through deviant behaviour than someone who has invested little in pursuing socially accepted goals.

Involvement

Hirschi social bonds

Someone hois intensively occupied with activities is less likely to have the time and opportunity to engage in deviant behaviour.

School, work, sports strengthen self-discipline needed to resist the impulses of deviant behaviour.

Belief

Hirschi social bonds

Confidence in and validity of the values and norms of mainstream society. The more these are internalised, the more difficult it becomes to violate them.

Cultural traditions - zodiac, karma, norms such as modesty differ within societies.