Durkheim

• What two issues was Durkheim interested in relating to the role of crime

  • Has social change led to an increase in criminal activity
  • Does crime serve a purpose or function in society
• Why does Durkheim state there was less crime in the pre-industrial era than in modern society

  • Society used to be bound together by mechanical solidarity
  • 1 - there was very little variation in the nature of work so people either worked in agriculture or trade meaning everyone was in the same financial/economic position
  • 2 - everyone's role or status was ascribed through their family line as they were guaranteed a role to play
  • 3 - there were high levels of social control e.g religion and family honour
• Define mechanical solidarity

  The idea that all people had similar roles to one another so were bound together through their similarities
• Define organic solidarity

  People are no longer bound together by their similarities, but by their dependence on one another’s differences
• Why does Durkheim state there is more crime in modern society

  • Our society is now in a state of organic solidarity
  • 1 - there is a specialised division of labour where workers have different roles to one another so those with lower status/pay may commit crime
  • 2 - roles and statuses are now achieved rather than ascribed so those who have not done well in life may commit deviant behaviours
  • 3 - social controls which used to regulate behaviours have been lost e.g industrialisation meant people moved to cities for work away from their family so upholding family honour was lost
• What functional roles does Durkheim state crime and deviance plays for society

  • Punishments of crimes encourages boundary maintenance
  • Some deviant behaviours act as a safety valve
  • Some activity is a functional rebellion which provokes needed social change
• Explain boundary maintenance - Durkheim

  • Punishments of criminals encourages boundary maintenance by reminding us certain behaviours are unacceptable
  • actions have consequences and a price to pay
  • punishments are shared with the public via the media which deters others from wanting to commit crime as they will suffer the same fate
  • e.g Saudi Arabia - the death penalty is still in affect and executions take place in public which reinforced to the public what the expected codes of behaviour are
• Explain crime as a functional rebellion - Durkheim

  • Some activities provoke social change by highlighting current problems with laws or the way that society is organised
  • 1 - people may actively protest or challenge a particular law to point out it is no longer appropriate for todays society e.g suffragettes
  • 2 - if many people begin acting against a traditional norm it can lead to a natural transition in which a law or norm is changed e.g the recent openness of same sex relationships
• Explain the safety valve function - Durkheim

  • Low level crimes can prevent more serious crimes from taking place - if people are allowed to push the boundaries of acceptability it may help them let off steam and stop them from engaging in something more serious
  • e.g sexual deviance - prostitution
  • prostitution is illegal yet the police tend to turn a blind eye to it because men can fulfil their sexual needs which can benefit society as it prevents sexual assault and prostitutes are protected as the police are nearby