Transcript Functionalism Crime and Deviance Durkneim`s FIN

Using what we’ve looked at so far
try and explain this diagram
13th September
Functionalism, Crime and Deviance
1. The Normative Approach
2. Durkheim’s F.I.N.
(F.I.N: crime is Functional-Inevitable-Normal)
THE ‘NORMATIVE’ APPROACH






Functionalism provides a normative
definition of crime and deviance.
That means – it is action which consists
of a violation of social norms.
It presents an image of society in
which exist shared norms and values.
The deviant is the person who breaks
these shared norms and values.
Fundamental to the functionalist
philosophy is the idea that society is
underpinned by consensus.
Durkheim claims that society shares a
set of ‘core values’ (ie the collective
conscience).
The more behaviour deviates from
these core values the more likely such
behaviour is seen as ‘deviant’
SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS



If there are core values in
society it has implications for
how crime and deviance is
researched and studied.
Using this model, sociologists
must explain why only some
people act in a deviant manner.
It focuses on how
dysfunctional behaviour
within social institutions
(family, education mass media,
religion etc..) make some
people into criminals/deviants
- people who conform have
been ‘properly socialised’.
CRIME IS FUNCTIONAL




Crime is functional for society.
Boundaries of acceptable
behaviours are made known by
the arrest of those who
transgress/break the rules.
Strengthens social bonds
between people and reaffirms
values when they are drawn
together by horrific crimes.
Public opinion on crime acts like
a gauge and can cause change in
the law (eg Megan’s law-USA
and Sarah's Law-UK)
CRIME IS INEVITABLE



It is impossible for everyone to
be equally committed to the
norms and values to society.
“Even in a society of saints a
distinction would be made
between what is acceptable and
unacceptable behaviour.”
“Because there are differences
between people, there will
always be those who step over
the boundary of acceptable
behaviour.”
Do you agree with Durkheim’s
ideas so far? Why?
CRIME IS NORMAL



There is no society where
there is no crime.
Abnormal levels of crime
occur in times of social
upheaval – the power of the
collective conscience is
weakened and a state of
anomie develops as people
look after their own interests
rather than respecting their
neighbours.
Individualism can therefore
be seen as a source of crime
and\or deviance.
THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF CRIME
Durkheim does acknowledge that the
collective conscience can fail especially in
times of social strain and change. Durkheim
called this situation anomie. When the
collective conscience weakens and a state of
anomie exists, there is an increase in crime.

Anomie
Using your new found knowledge on
the Durkheim perspective of crime
explain this diagram
Anomie
High crime
levels
(explain why)
A little crime
Totalitarianism
No crime
(explain why)
Task: look at the following examples
and explain how they provide a
positive function to society
1. Smoking
2. Riots
3. Paedophilia
4. Public hanging
5. Drunkenness
6. Ian Huntley murder case
7. Joyriding
8. September 11th bombings
9. The burning of the poppies on Remembrance Day
Durkheim – Key ideas
Crime and society
1. Crime is inevitable
and necessary to
society.
Society is only healthy when
social order is maintained
through the police and
courts. We need a small
amount of crime to remind us
of what we believe in. Only a
small minority will be selfinterested and commit crime.
2. Crime has positive
functions.
3. The perfect amount
of crime will keep
society healthy and
avoid anomie
(Normlessness)
Criticisms
 What is the perfect amount
of crime?
Explaining the functions of
crime doesn’t explain what
caused them in the first place.
Murder maybe functional for
society but what about the
victim?
Functionalism
on crime
Society of saints
Imagine there was no
crime or deviance,
even the most slight
slip like coughing
without putting your
hand over your mouth
would become a crime.
Positive functions of
crime
1. Re-marking social
boundaries – affirms
social norms and
values.
2. Media coverage – as a
warning to others.
3. Social bonds –
strengthened as we
unite in disapproval.
4. Safety Value – a little
bit of deviance
reduces more serious
problems – Prostitution
– Kingley Davis.
5. Malfunctioning society
– theft, drug use and
truancy alert us to
other social problems
in society.
FUNCTIONALISM EVALUATED 1




Demonstrates the useful purpose
served by crime (ie highlights
inconsistencies within the social
structure, reinforces the
collective conscience etc..)
Offers an explanation that
emphasizes a social (as opposed to
a physiological/psychological)
dimension to crime.
Explains the reason for unhealthy
levels of crime which could be
altered by social engineering (eg
introducing new laws,
governmental policies etc..).
Avoids biological/psychological
theories which refer to ‘sick’
individuals.
FUNCTIONALISM EVALUATED 2




Does not explain individual
motivations and why only some
people commit crime.
It assumes harmony and that
the law reflects the interests
of the majority, in doing so it
ignores the issue of power (ie
who has it and who hasn’t)
Over emphasis on the degree
of consensus in society.
May result in a pessimistic
approach regarding the
control of crime (more laws,
stricter policing, harsher
sentencing etc…)
20th September
Merton and strain theory
Learning objective
To examine Merton’s
ideas on Crime and
deviance
The American dream
ROBERT K. MERTON
Durkheim’s had fundamental influence
on Merton’s Social Structure and
Anomie (1949) theory.
AKA Strain to Anomie Theory

Argues that crime and deviance is caused
by the inter-relationship between:
The cultural goals set by society (eg
acquisition of money, wealth, status,
power in western/capitalist society)
The chances and means of achieving such
goals.
Merton's theory highlights the
inconsistencies in the American Dream
ideology.
TYPE
Goal of
Success
Means
Type
Conformity
(Normal)
Accepts
Legitimate
Most people
Innovation
(Criminal)
Accepts
Illegitimate
Gangsters (Tony
Montana)
Ritualism
(Deviant)
Rejects
Legitimate
People in dead end
jobs.
Retreatism
(Deviant)
Rejects
Illegitimate
Habitual drug user
or drunk
Rebellion
(Deviant)
Rejects for
alternative
Illegitimate
Karl Marx, Martin
Luther King,
Criticisms
 Why don’t all lower class people turn to crime?
 Can only account for utilitarian crime (money) what about gang violence,
rape and Graffiti?
 What about other factors like class, gender, ethnicity and sexuality?
Weakness
Merton - Key idea
1. The goals of
society – American
Dream
People engage in
Deviance is the
deviant behaviour
result of the
when they are unable strain between
to achieve socially
approved goals.
1. Conformity
Most of America not
criminal or deviant
Five
adaptations
Deviant adaptations
2. Your legitimate
means of achieving
them
Strain produces frustration
which creates a pressure to
deviate, what Merton calls
the strain to anomie.
Innovation
Retreatism
Criminal behaviour as
an adaptation
Habitual drug users and
alcoholics
Ritualism
Rebellion
People in dead end jobs.
Karl Marx and Martin
Luther King
Explanation
lower class and ethnic
minorities are more
likely to commit
criminal acts because
of their position in the
social structure.
WEAKNESSES

Merton has been criticised
on a theoretical level.
Functionalist subcultural
theorists criticise Merton
for individualising
deviance. They claim that
Merton sees deviance as
an individual response to
anomie, and therefore
does not adequately
account for the collective
(group) nature of crime &
deviance. This suggests
that Merton only offers a
partial view on crime and
deviance.
Synoptic links
Methods: It accepts official statistics on
crime and therefore would stresses the
advantages/uses of them.
Theories/perspectives
Simple here, it’s functionalism!
Other topics
Education
Durkheim - integrative and regulative
function of schools.
Merton - blocked opportunities result
from material deprivation … and cultural
deprivation…. This lowers chances of
educational success which creates
pressures to commit crime.