Functionalism

• What did Durkheim believe?


  Crime is inevitable as not every member of society can be equally committed to the collective sentiments or values and beliefs.

  Socialisation and social control help to achieve solidarity in society.
• Crime in Functionalism 


  Crime considered to be functional and only becomes dysfunctional when the rate of it is high or low.
• What does crime strengthen?

  Social cohesion or the willingness of members of society to cooperate with one another.
• Crime helps society to change and remain dynamic.

  Too much crime can leas to social disruption. Anomie.
• Durkheim believed that the function of punishment was not to remove crime but to reinforce the shared beliefs, norms and values.
• "Crime brings together honest men and concentrates them"

  -Émile Durkheim
• Strengths of Functionalism


  Strength - First to recognise that crime can have positive functions for society.
• Limitations of Functionalism


  Limitation - Durkeim doesn't actually look at what the causes of crime might be.

  Limitation - Overlooks how crime can also isolate people e.g females/the elderly who may fear leaving their homes because of fear of crime.