functionalism

• 4 positive functions of crime

  1. boundary maintenance - durkheim
  2. warning signs - cohen
  3. adapt and change - durkheim
  4. safety valve - davis
• hirschi

  bonds of attachment

  • bonds to society like family or work prevent criminal acts

  eval

  people have strong bonds but are still deviant e.g sexual deviance

  assumes people are naturally bad and need to bonds to stop deviance
• strain theory 


  merton- crime isa response to strain places on people to achieve goals in society e.g American dream

  5 types:

  1. conformity
  2. innovation
  3. ritualism
  4. rebellion
  5. realism

  eval

  overexaggerates the importance of money and success in society

  underestimates amount of crime by successful people
• boundary maintenance

  reinforces acceptable behaviour due to public punishment to serious crimes bringing people in society together to condemn
• warning signs

  cohen

  increases in certain types of crime highlight issues in society and show that it needs change
• adapt and change

  durkheim

  deviance allows society to progress without crime scoiety would become stagnant
• safety valve

  davis minor crime or acts of deviance prevent more serious crimes

  polosky - pornography stops from violent sexual acts