Functionalists and strain theory

Durkheim

Durkheim- crime is inevitable and normal as an integral part of all healthy societies 

Postive functions of crime

• Durkheim- Boundary maintenance- purpose of punishment is to reaffirm society’s shared rules and reinforce social solidarity- crime produces a reaction from society which unites members and reinforce shared norms and values 

• Durkheim-Adaptation and change- change starts with an act of deviance which leads to social change- eg Rosa parks or Martin Luther king jr broke laws

• Polsky and Davis- safety valve- crime and deviance acts as a safety valve to protect society from more harmful actions- Davis argues prostitution acts as a safety valve for men to realise sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family, Polsky argues pornography channels sexual desires away from alternatives such as assault or adultery 

• Cohen- warning device- crime and deviance provides a warning that an institution is not functioning properly

• Erkison- licensed deviance- deviance performs positive social functions- means society is organised so it promotes deviance

Durkheim Boundary maintence

Durkheim- Boundary maintenance- purpose of punishment is to reaffirm society’s shared rules and reinforce social solidarity- crime produces a reaction from society which unites members and reinforce shared norms and values 

Durkheim- adaptation and change

Durkheim-Adaptation and change- change starts with an act of deviance which leads to social change- eg Rosa parks or Martin Luther king jr broke laws 

Polsky and Davi’s- Safety valve

Polsky and Davis- safety valve- crime and deviance acts as a safety valve to protect society from more harmful actions- Davis argues prostitution acts as a safety valve for men to realise sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family, Polsky argues pornography channels sexual desires away from alternatives such as assault or adultery

Cohen- warning device

Cohen- warning device- crime and deviance provides a warning that an institution is not functioning properly

Erikson- licensed deviance

Erkison- licensed deviance- deviance performs positive social functions- means society is organised so it promotes deviance 

Func eval

Evaluation of Functionlism  

-No way of knowing how much crime is the right amount for a healthy society 

-Crime doesn’t always promote solidarity 

-Crime isn’t functional for the victim

Strain theory - Merton

Strain theory (functionalism)

Merton's strain theory- People engage in deviance behaviour when they are unable to meet socially approved goals by legitimate means 

Crime and deviance is a strain between socially accepted goals in society and the socially approved means of obtaining these desired goals 

-e.g the American dream 

Deviant adaptions to strain: Ritualism, retreatism, Rebellion, Innovation, Conformity 

Eval: Marxists- they ignore the power of ruling class to make and enforce laws that criminalise the poor