functionalism

• Durkheim argued that crime is an inevitable feature of social life. He said that a certain amount of crime and deviance could be seen as positive for society.
• Durkheim causes of crime and deviance:

  1. Poor socialisation.
  2. Anomie.
  3. Diversity of lifestyles and values.
• Poor socialisation (Durkheim)

  Not everyone is effectively socialised into the shared norms and values. So some will be prone to deviate.
• Anomie or normlessness (Durkheim)

  Durkheim believed that this could occur during periods of rapid social change when people become unsure of what societies norms and values are.
• Diversity of lifestyles and values (Durkheim)

  A collective conscience makes most of us law abiding. However as societies have become increasingly heterogeneous as a result of geographical and social mobility and globalisation, people are no longer likely to Shaw the same norms and values, so a state of moral confusion can arise and also lead to anomie.
• Durkheim functions of crime.

  1. Social change.
  2. Social solidarity (boundary maintenance)
  3. 'Safety Valve'.
  4. Warning device.
• Social change (Durkheim)

  Crime is something that is necessary to generate social change - innovation only comes about if old ideas are challenged. (for example homosexuality)
• Social solidarity - boundary maintenance (Durkheim)

  A small amount of crime has the beneficial effect of reminding people of the law. Rituals 9fntue courtroom also dramatise wrongdoing and publicly shame the offender. This reaffirms the collective values of the law-a IDing majority and discourages others from rule breaking.
• 'Safety Valve' (Durkheim) A certain amount of crime is a sign of a healthy society, if we didn't have crime it would be an extremely repressive society. Deviance can help release stresses in society.
• Warning device (Durkheim)

  Crime can also act as a warning device that society is not working properly.