Crime and Deviance Revision Pack
Different theories of crime, deviance, social order and social control
1. Functionalist theories of crime and deviance
A. Emile Durkheim
1. Crime & deviance is functional
Durkheim believed that a certain amount of crime and deviance could be seen as positive for society.
Necessary to generate social change - innovation only comes about if old ideas are challenged.
Helps to clarify the boundaries of acceptable behaviour following social reactions to deviance.
Creates social integration as it bonds society together against criminals.
2. Crime & deviance is dysfunctional
Durkheim believed that crime and deviance also acts as a threat to society. This is because the norms and values that ‘unite’ society are being challenged, thus threatening consensus, social order and stability.
3. Cause of crime & deviance
Durkheim believed that crime & deviance occurred as a result of anomie (normlessness). Durkheim believed that this could occur during periods of rapid social change (e.g. revolutions) when people become unsure of what societies norms and values are.
4. Social order & social control
Durkheim believed that in modern societies there was agreement or consensus over society’s norms and values, which resulted in social order and stable societies. Durkheim believed this occurred because society’s institutions successfully implemented social control. For Durkheim social control is positive (unlike interactionist and Marxist views on social control) as it creates social cohesion. Durkheim believes social control is achieved by various agencies of social control socialising individuals into socially agreed norms and values (regulation) and by integrating individuals into social groups. For example, schools bond individuals together into school communities and classes. They instil core norms & values through citizenship programmes. Religion binds people together during times of happiness e.g. weddings and sadness e.g. funerals.
1. Functionalist theories of crime and deviance
A. Emile Durkheim
1. Crime & deviance is functional
Durkheim believed that a certain amount of crime and deviance could be seen as positive for society.
Necessary to generate social change - innovation only comes about if old ideas are challenged.
Helps to clarify the boundaries of acceptable behaviour following social reactions to deviance.
Creates social integration as it bonds society together against criminals.
2. Crime & deviance is dysfunctional
Durkheim believed that crime and deviance also acts as a threat to society. This is because the norms and values that ‘unite’ society are being challenged, thus threatening consensus, social order and stability.
3. Cause of crime & deviance
Durkheim believed that crime & deviance occurred as a result of anomie (normlessness). Durkheim believed that this could occur during periods of rapid social change (e.g. revolutions) when people become unsure of what societies norms and values are.
4. Social order & social control
Durkheim believed that in modern societies there was agreement or consensus over society’s norms and values, which resulted in social order and stable societies. Durkheim believed this occurred because society’s institutions successfully implemented social control. For Durkheim social control is positive (unlike interactionist and Marxist views on social control) as it creates social cohesion. Durkheim believes social control is achieved by various agencies of social control socialising individuals into socially agreed norms and values (regulation) and by integrating individuals into social groups. For example, schools bond individuals together into school communities and classes. They instil core norms & values through citizenship programmes. Religion binds people together during times of happiness e.g. weddings and sadness e.g. funerals.
Links: • Karofi and Mwanza (2006) suggest that global crimes include, among others, the international trade in illegal drugs, weapons and human beings; money-laundering; terrorism; and cybercrime.