functionalism theory

• Emilie Durkheim (1893) =

  • Saw crime as a problem of modernity
  • Transformed society from pre-industrial to industrial
  • Developed anomie to explain why some people are dysfunctional
• • Anomie is the lack of usual social or ethical standards in a group.
  • Occurs when previous common norms and values disappear.
  • Causes a lack of belonging and that they are disconnected from society
• Durkheim sees modernity as causing crime as:

  • It is a particular problem in society
  • Crime was rarer in pre-industrial society as they are socialized into powerful institutions and had powerful bodies above them
  • People believed in the value consensus as they belong in a community
• Due to secularization, there is a lesser sense of community and a weaker consensus, people now experience anomie and therefore commit crime
• • Crime is inevitable and needed for society to function. This means that in societies where there is little crime, it becomes stagnant and dies off.

  
  

  • This is because society needs to adapt and change to meet evolving needs.

  
  

  • If there is too much crime, it is a sign of anomie which means there is not clear unacceptable behavior.
• • Durkheim said crime was inevitable because people are socialized differently into the value consensus
• Durkheim =

  • Imagined a society of saints of perfect individuals populated by perfect individuals but even here deviance would still exist.
  • Even the slightest slip up would be regarded as an offence due to high standards of behavior
• Durkheim =

  • Society changes with some form of deviance so deviance needs to occur to become todays norm
• Durkheim identified three positive functions of crime:

  • Boundary maintenance
  • Social Cohesion
  • Adaptation and change
• Boundary maintenance =

  • Crime reminds people what is and isn't acceptable
  • Shows consequences of such behavior
  • Collective values and social solidarity of disapproval
  • People are condemned for their actions
• Social Cohesion =

  • Crime is a way to create social cohesion
  • Naming and shaming those who commit can bring together mutual grief
  • Condemnation of people who commit these acts
• Adaptation and change:

  • Saw crime and deviance as a way to promote change in society
  • Saw it as indication that change was needed and there may be a problem in society

  eg. Suffragettes
• Other positive functions are:

  • Safety Valve
  • Warning signs
• Safety Valve:

  • Davis states that minor crime and deviance can act as a safety valve which prevents bigger crime from happening
  • Individuals commit these low level crimes as a release for their urges which prevents them from committing more crimes

  eg. Polsky states the example of pornography
• Warning signs = Clinard and Cohen

  • Criminal behavior is a warning sign that there is a dysfunction in society that needs to change
  • This warning sign is more generalized
• An evaluation of functionalism is:

  • Macro approach so it ignores the experiences of the victims which is unlikely to be positive
  • States crime can be beneficial but does not state how much crime is
  • Leads to isolation of both the victim and perpetrator
  • Does not always lead to social solidarity