🧩 Durkheim's Functionalist Theory

Question 1

Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory

Answer 1

Crime is the inevitable result of inadequate socialisation/anomie

Question 2

Functionalist Theory - Boundary maintenance

Answer 2

Crime unites society’s members against wrongdoers, reinforcing the boundary between right and wrong

Question 3

Functionalist Theory - Social change

Answer 3

For society to progress, individuals with new ideas must challenge existing norms and values - this is deviance at first

Question 4

Functionalist Theory - Safety Valve: Davis

Answer 4

For example prostitution acts to release men’s sexual frustrations without threatening the nuclear family.

Question 5

Functionalist Theory - Warning light

Answer 5

Deviance indicates that a society isn’t functioning properly so action can be taken to fix it.

Question 6

Functionalist Theory - strength

Answer 6

• First to recognise that crime can have positive functions for society

Question 7

Functionalist Theory - limitations

Answer 7

• Does not suggest what the right amount of crime is for society to function properly
• Crime is not functional for all - e.g. vicitims