durkheim

• Focus

  • functions and purposes of crime for society
  • other sociologists blame things like criminal subcultures.
• Durkheim

  • crime can be found in all societies
  • he does not think crime is necessarily harmful to societies
  • For example crimes are defined differently over time and between different cultures
  • argues that crime is a vital and necessary part of all healthy societies.
  • This is because it performs key functions in society
• The Key functions

  • Boundary maintenance
  • Social cohesion
  • Acts as a form of social change
  • Acts as a safety valve
• Boundaries maintenance

  • reaffirms social boundaries
  • Certain crimes, especially violent ones involving young or vulnerable victims, provoke public outrage
  • These crimes often receive extensive media coverage across both quality and popular press.
  • During the court case, media reports keep the public informed on the trial and sentencing.
  • This visibility shows people the consequences of crossing societal boundaries of acceptable behavior
  • EXAMPLE: PEDOPHILIA
• Popular press

  • the daily tabloid newspapers that get large readership

  Quality press:

  • newspapers that cover serious news issues such as politics, global news, economy and business
• Social change

  • Some crimes can bring sympathy from the public to the offender e.g attacking a burglar
  • Pubic outcry occurs and signals in a change of values
  • In time this can lead to a change in law for the new changed values
  • EXAMPLE: HOMOSEXUALITY, CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
• Social Cohesion

  • Strengthens social cohesion
  • Horrific crimes result in communities coming together because of shared outrage
  • Belonging to a community is strengthened
  • crime becomes dysfunctional or harmful to society when there is too much of it or not enough
  • EXAMPLE: TERRORISM
• Safety Valve

  • Deviant acts may be functional
  • Release pressure from stress in society
  • Allows individuals to express themselves in deviant ways
  • e.g a demonstration might allow people to feel heard without resorting to extreme measures that could threaten societal stability
  • EXAMPLE: Drug use, vandalism, the use of prostitutes for men to release sexual tension
• CRITICISMS:

  • Critics say Durkheim's view on crime's social functions is more applicable to small-scale societies than to large, modern, industrial societies.
  • Crimes like drug dealing only harm victims and communities rather than reinforcing shared societal values.
  • Marxists argue Durkheim overlooks power dynamics, noting that laws often serve the interests of powerful groups (the bourgeoisie) rather than benefiting society as a whole
  • Not always functional- uncomforting to victims
  • Doesn't explain why crime happens