Functionalism

• Emile Durkheim (1857-1917) developed an explanation for society called functionalism which states that society exists because it benefits individuals to live as a collective group.

  
  

  Durkheim believed the the structures and institutions in society serve to make it work better by:

  
  

  -Strengthening communal bonds

  -Reinforcing common norms and values
• Organic Analogy 


  The government is seen as the brain in society as then make all the central decisions..

  If problems occur in one of these parts would lead to a breakdown in society .
• How does this link to criminality?

  Crimes are the actions against collective feelings or sentiments- our social norms, he saw crimes as a violation of a moral code as crimes play an important role in society.

  
  

  -Adaptive- crimes can create positive change through the introduction of new ideas and practices.

  
  

  -Boundary maintenance- reinforces social norms through collective action against deviance.
• How does functionalism explain crime?

  Crime happens because some people are less committed to the needs of the whole group (community/society)

  
  

  There will always be a minority who do not conform.
• Why does Durkheim believe crime is inevitable and beneficial?

  -It helps to build up communal bonds and solidarity when people speak up against crimes.

  -It allows social change (sometimes norms and values need to be changed)

  -Crime can be a 'safety valve' allowing the expression of certain impulses without breaking down the institutions within society.

  -Crime can serve as a 'warning light' that there is something wrong with an institution.
• Crime becomes part of our communities as it serves to clarify and heighten 'moral sentiments' and 'collective consciousness'

  
  

  Crime brings people together and in talking about and condemning crime, rules are clarified and re-enforced..

  
  

  By identifying 'deviance' normality becomes clearer and society unites in the condemnation of the deviant individual (s)

  
  

  The media often refers to the horrific crimes, uniting or bringing the community together in the face of grief.
• Socialisation.


  -Family is a primary source

  
  

  -violence may result when children do not acquire necessary skills to handle interpersonal relationships.

  
  

  -Effective socialisation requires more than just the presence of adults who can teach skills.

  
  

  -Farrington (1991 Cambridge study) found deficiencies in the parenting experiences of violent adolescents ; their childhood was characterised by harsh discipline, lack of nurturance, and poor supervision.
• Anomie.


  Anomie is a social condition defined by an uprooting or breakdowns of any moral values, standards of guidance for individuals to follow.

  
  

  Anomie or formlessness is a state where the expectations of behaviour are unclear, and the system has broken down.
• How does anomie link to or cause crime?

  -Economic growth during this periods heightened peoples expectations, creating unattainable aspirations which people are then constantly searching for.

  
  

  Downes and Rock (2007:91) argue that anomie is the 'peculiar disease of the modern industrial man'

  
  

  -In this situation, individuals may be driven to crime or suicide
• Crime is inevitable?

  -Crime is crucial in society and boundaries of acceptable behaviours are made known by the arrest of those who break the rules and it strengthens social bonds between the people when they are drawn together by horrific crimes.

  
  

  -Public opinion on crime acts like a gauge and can cause change in the law.

  
  

  -Functionalists consider violence to be a necessity which works against the myth that violence is always a negative, these understandings of violence can lead directly to action; if a society knows what is broken, it can organise attempts to fix it.
• Durkheim (1895)


  Crime is inevitable as we can't imagine a 'society of saints'
• Strengths of Durkheim

  First to recognise that crime can have positive functions for society and it is crucial to keep society flowing and stable (organic function)
• weaknesses of Durkheim

  Does not suggest what the right amount of crime is for society to function properly e.g. petty theft compared to rape or mass murder

  
  

  Crime is not functional for all (e.g victims) however PVCs (perceived victimless crimes) may by more functional.