Functionalist Perspective

• Durkheim


  Crime serves three functions:

  • Boundary Maintenance e.g. crime is a deterrent
  • Adaptation and Social Change e.g. Rosa Parks
  • Promoting Social Solidarity e.g. Manchester bombing 2017
• Kingsley Davis


  Crime acts as a 'safety valve'. Some deviance is good as it provides a harmless way to express discontent. He gave example of prostitution as it releases men's sexual tension
• Polsky


  Added onto Davis' view by saying pornography is an example of the 'safety valve' as it prevents adultery and rape by providing an alternative
• Marshall Clinard


  Crime is a 'warning device' as it indicates a part of society is malfunctioning allowing the problem to be fixed. For example, truancy indicates change is needed in education
• Merton 'Strain Theory'


  When people couldn't achieve the American dream through normal means they turned to conformity (conforming to norms and values), innovation (trying new ways to achieve usually illegal), ritualism (those that can't innovate or conform), retreatism (those who retreat) and rebellion (those who may try to create a new society with new norms and values).
• Travis Hirschi 


  Believed the reason people didn't commit crime is due to their attachment to the value consensus. This is through four 'bonds of Attachment': Attachment (psychological affection), commitment (not wanting to soil bonds), involvement (person willingly engaged in cementing social bonds) and belief (link between behaviour and attitude)