Durkheim

• What are the 4 functions of crime according to Durkheim?

  Boundary maintenance

  social change

  safety valve

  warning light
• Outline boundary maintenance

  Crime produces a reaction that unites society against wrongdoers reminding them between right and wrong and reaffirming the shared rules
• Outline social change


  individuals with new ideas must challenge existing norms and values

  • Nelson Mandela imprisoned for opposing racial segregation than elected south Africa’s first black president 1994
• Outline safety valve


  Davis argues that prostitution acts to release men’s sexual frustration without threatening the nuclear family (divorce)
• Outline warning light 


  Deviance indicates that an institution isn’t functioning properly
• What did Durkheim’s theory try and suggest?


  See society as a stable structure based on shared norms and values and beliefs about right and wrong

  • social solidarity
  • all members of society feel a sense of belonging

  Most people conform to the norms and values and do not deviate
• What did Durkheim say about crime being inevitable?

  some individuals in society are inadequately socialised and likely to deviate

  society contains many social groups which have different values

  • so shared rules of behaviour becomes less clear
  • “anomie” occurs
• What are some limitations of Durkheims theory?


  claims society requires certain amount of deviance to function but never says what the right amount is

  crime maybe functional for some but not functional for victims
• What are the strengths of Durkheim‘s theory?


  Was the first to recognise that crime can have positive functions for society

  • reinforcing boundaries about right and wrong uniting against wrongdoer