Durkheim and Functionalist theories on crime Flashcards
What is crime ?
An act which breaks the criminal laws of society
What is deviance ?
behaviour that is disapproved of and doesn’t fit in with societal norms
What is the general functionalist views on crime ?
that crime like everything has its place and function in society however too much or too little destabilises this, crime is inevitable and universal
What did Durkheim say about crime ?
“That crime is an integral part of all society’s”
Why is crime found in all societies ?
Because not everyone is socialised into having the same norms and values
What is anomie ?
The state of having an absence of social norms
Who are some of the other sociologists who support Durkheim ?
Davis
Polsky
Cohen
Erikson
What does Davis say to support Durkheim ?
Prostitution acts as a safety valve for the release of men’s sexual frustration without threatening the monogamous nuclear family
What does Polsky say to support Durkheim ?
pornography safely channels a variety of sexual desires away from alternatives such as adultery, which would pose a much greater threat to the family
What does Cohen say to support Durkheim ?
crime is a warning system notifying society that an institution is not working
What does Erikson say to support Durkheim ?
maybe society actually is organised to promote deviance
What is a criticism of Durkheim ?
His theory fails to explain why certain people are more likely to commit criminal acts
What is another criticism of Durkheim ?
His theory assumes that society reflects solely the values of the majority and fails to acknowledge those who are influential in the creation of laws
