Functionalism

Question 1

Key ideas of functionalism

Answer 1

-Crime is inevitable and performs a function within society-only if there is too much or too little crime is it ‘dysfunctional’.
-Emilie Durkheim (1895) – ‘father of sociology’ -Social solidarity/ cohesion and boundary maintenance + Adaption and change

Question 2

Who is the key theorist within FUNCTIONALISM – and what was the date of his main study?

Answer 2

Emile Durkheim (1895)- theorised the purpose- or function – of crime in society and set out a ‘scientific method’ of studying society. He believed that society is a stable system based on value consensus and has two key mechanisms to help bring social solidarity.

Question 3

What are Durkheim’s (1895) two key points about how society functions?

Answer 3

a) society is a stable system based on value consensus.

b) society has two key mechanisms to help bring social solidarity- socialisation and social control

Question 4

What