Megan Crudden
Durkheim’s functionalist theory
Functionalism sees society as based on value consensus. It sees members of society as sharing a common culture. A culture is a set of norms, values, beliefs and goals. This produces social solidarity which binds people together.
Functionalists argue that in order to achieve this solidarity, society has two key mechanisms.
1. Socialisation- instils the shared culture. This helps to ensure that individuals internalise the same norms and values. They feel it is right to act in the ways that society requires.
2. Social control- mechanisms include rewards for conformity, and punishments for deviance. These help to ensure that individuals behave in the way society expects.
The inevitability of crime
Functionalists see crime as inevitable and universal. “crime is normal… an integral part of all healthy societies.”
There are at least two reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies:
Not everyone is equally effectively socialised, some individuals will be more prone to deviate.
Diversity of lifestyles and values. Different groups develop own subcultures with distinctive norms and values, subculture regard as normal, mainstream culture may see as deviant.
Durkheim’s view, in modern societies there is a tendency towards anomie or normlessness – the rules governing behaviour become weaker and less clear-cut. This diversity means shared culture or collective conscience is weakened, results in higher levels of crime and deviance. Durkheim sees anomie as a major cause of suicide in modern societies.
The positive functions of crime
For Durkheim, not only is crime inevitable, it also fulfils two important positive functions: boundary maintenance and adaptation.
Boundary maintenance- Crime produces a reaction from society, uniting its members
Functionalism sees society as based on value consensus. It sees members of society as sharing a common culture. A culture is a set of norms, values, beliefs and goals. This produces social solidarity which binds people together.
Functionalists argue that in order to achieve this solidarity, society has two key mechanisms.
1. Socialisation- instils the shared culture. This helps to ensure that individuals internalise the same norms and values. They feel it is right to act in the ways that society requires.
2. Social control- mechanisms include rewards for conformity, and punishments for deviance. These help to ensure that individuals behave in the way society expects.
The inevitability of crime
Functionalists see crime as inevitable and universal. “crime is normal… an integral part of all healthy societies.”
There are at least two reasons why crime and deviance are found in all societies:
Not everyone is equally effectively socialised, some individuals will be more prone to deviate.
Diversity of lifestyles and values. Different groups develop own subcultures with distinctive norms and values, subculture regard as normal, mainstream culture may see as deviant.
Durkheim’s view, in modern societies there is a tendency towards anomie or normlessness – the rules governing behaviour become weaker and less clear-cut. This diversity means shared culture or collective conscience is weakened, results in higher levels of crime and deviance. Durkheim sees anomie as a major cause of suicide in modern societies.
The positive functions of crime
For Durkheim, not only is crime inevitable, it also fulfils two important positive functions: boundary maintenance and adaptation.
Boundary maintenance- Crime produces a reaction from society, uniting its members