1.1 Durkheim's Functionalist Theory

• Anomie

  No rules causing chaos
• Social Cohesion

  Based upon the dependance individuals have on each other in more advanced societies
• What are two criticisms of Durkheim's functionalist theory?

  -This theory isn't clear on who crime is 'functional' for

  -Crime may not lead it social solidarity, it may cause people to be more isolated e.g forcing women to stay inside for fear of attack
• What are two strengths of Durkheim's functionalist theory?

  -Reinforces norms and values

  -Punishment does deter people from crime
• What did Davis believe is another function of crime?


  He believed that prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of men's sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family
• Why are very high and very low levels of crime bad according to Durkheim?


  -Too much crime threatens to tear the bonds of society apart

  -Too little means that society is repressing and controlling its members too much & preventing change
• What is adaptation and change?

  For change to occur, individuals with new ideas must challenge existing norms, and at first this will appear as deviance

  If this is suppressed society will be unable to make adaptive changes and will stagnate
• What is boundary maintenance?

  Crime produces a reaction from society that unites them against the wrong doer

  Reaffirms society's shared rules and reinforces social solidarity. Publicly shaming the offender discourages others from doing the same
• What are 2 of the 4 positive functions of crime according to Durkheim?

  Boundary maintenance & adaption and change
• What 2 reasons is crime found in all societies?

  -Not everyone is equally and effectively socialised into the shared norms and values

  -Theres a diversity of lifestyles and values
• What are the 2 key mechanisms for society achieving solidarity?

  Socialisation instils the shared culture onto its members. This ensures they internalise the same norms and values to ensure they behave the way society expects

  Social control mechanisms include rewards for conformity and punishments for deviance to ensure they behave the way society expects
• How do functionalists see deviance?

  Although it disrupts social stability, they see it as inevitable & beneficial
• What is a statistic that relates to Ethnicity?

  Black people are 3x more likely top be arrested than white people
• What is a statistic that relates to Gender?

  85% of people arrested are male and 95% of people in prison are male
• What is a statistic that relates to Age?

  15-17 year olds make up 80% of offenders
• What is a statistic that relates to Class?

  Working Class commit more violent crime (robbery, theft, assault) & Middle Class commit more financial crimes (fraud & tax evasion)
• Deviance

  An act that goes against societal norms and is seen as bad
• Crime

  An act punishable by law
• What is another function of crime?

  Cohen - deviance acts as a warning that aspects of society are failing and need to be changed so they serve their function more effectively