Functionalism

Functionalism

This is a social/structural theory that believes society is a system made up of different parts or subsystems that work together and depends on each other to meet societys needs.

Value consensus

This is a concept where people believe in a set of shared norms and values, they all collectively agree on the same shared norms amd values learned through socialisation and this helps society function well.

Social solidarity

Socialisation

This refers to the process where people learn the norms and values of society and it involves different institutions like the family, education,peer groups, the media and etc

Primary socialisation

This is between the ages of 0-5 and usually takes place in the family. The family teaches the child the behaviours, rules, regulations and things that are important and hold value to people in our society.

Secondary socialisation

Process starts after child is 5 where institutions other than the family, socialises them into their norms and values.

Functionalism and crime

Functionalist believe that crime is actually beneficial to society, for example it can improve social integration and social regulation.

Emile Durkheim and society

Durkheim saw society as stable structure based on shared norms, values and beliefs about what is right or wrong which creates social solidarity and integrations where all members of society feel they belong.

Anomie

Emile Durkheim and crime

Durkheim said that crime has 4 key characteristics: inevitable, universal, relative and functional.

Durkheim- crime is inevitable

This means crime will always exist. It can be reduced but never eleminated, in every society some people are inadequately socialised. Society also contains many subcultures, each with different values, so shared rules about behaviour become less clear (anomie).

Durkheim- crime is universal

This means that crime exists in every society, there is no society where there is no crime.

high levels of crime occur in times of social upheaval - the power of the collective conscience (shared beliefs) is weakened and a state of anomie develops as people look after their own interests rather than respecting their neighbours.

Individualism can therefore be seen as a source of crime and\or deviance

Durkheim- crime is relative

Relative means that what is seen as criminal behaviour varies from society to society and over time, in other words, crime is a social construct. Criminal or deviant behaviour in one context may not be seen that way in different context.

For example a soldier killing is not considered a crime yet a murderer killing is a crime. A boxer fighting in a ring is not considered a crime but fighting on the streets is a crime.

Durkheim- crime is functional

This means that a limited amount of crime and deviance can actually benefit a society, because the experience of crime strengthens bonds between people.

Boundaries of acceptable behaviours are made known by the arrest of those who transgress/break the rules, this bring people together who all have same negative fealing about the behaviours which strengthens social bonds between people and reaffirms values

Public opinion on crime acts like a gauge and can cause change in the law (eg Megan's law-USA and Sarah's Law-UK)

Durkheim’s positive function of crime - boundary maintenance

Unites society's members to be against the wrongdoer, reminding them of the boundary between right and wrong, and reaffirming their shared values.

Durkheim’s positive function of crime - social change

For society to progress, individuals with new ideas must challenge existing norms and values, and at first this will be seen as deviance. (E.g. Nelson Mandela)

Durkheim’s positive function of crime - safety value

to protect other institutions in society. (E.g. prostitution enables men to release sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family)

Durkheim’s positive function of crime - Warning light

Deviance indicates an institution isn't working properly. (E.g. high truancy rates could indicate a problems with the education system)

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