[FUNCTIONALIST] Sociological - Durkheim Flashcards
(15 cards)
Explain functionalism
The focus on the structure and organisation of a society and how it is organised.
Functionalism can be described using the analogy of the human body.
Society needs a social order, if these needs arent met, it can lead to chaos.
Each part of society is functional for the stability of the whole society.
[EMILE DURKHEIM]
Explain Durkheim’s idea.
'’Crime is normal and an integral (essential) part of all healthy societies’’
Crime is inevitable .
Society contains many subcultures and lifestyles which will lead to shared behaviours becoming less clear.
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain the two sides of crime and deviance for the functioning society.
Positive - Helps society change and remain dynamic.
Negative - saw too much crime, leading to disruption.
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
What are the two important functions of crime
- Boundary Maintenance & Reinforcing Value Consensus and Social Solidarity
- Adaptation and change
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain Boundary Maintenance & Reinforcing Value Consensus and Social Solidarity
A shared outrage by a society in response to a horrific crime that has been committed.
When people commit a crime they are punished.
Behaviour is a result of positive and negative sanctions.
E.g: ‘Abduction’ of Shannon Matthews - community came together to search and find Shannon.
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain Adaptation and change
New ideas to challenge the existing norms and values by individuals of a society.
Society changes starts with an act of defiance.
If new ideas are supressed, they wont be taken in consideration and the society wont be changed.
E.g: Assisted dying (How people take action for change: riots & protests.)
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Give three examples of where the breaking of laws & crime led to a change in law.
Homosexuality
Abortion
Assisted dying (not yet has been confirmed)
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Give two examples of laws & crimes that have never changed despite it being clear the value consensus of that crime has changed.
Prostitution -Difficult to change due to sex trafficking
Vagrancy
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
What are two other positive functions of crime?
Acts as a safety valve
(Kingsley Davis)
&
Acts as a warning device
(Albert Cohen)
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain acts as a safety device
Deviance is a way of ‘letting off steam’ in a relatively harmless way
E.g: Extreme Sports - may be illegal but allow people to ‘let off steam’
Video Games - allows a level of violence in a safe environment
Getting drunk - causes them to be disorderly in community
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain acts as a warning device
Deviance sends a message that society’s social order is breaking down.
This prompts governments/ councils to take action.
!!Too much crime means a society is breaking down!!
Can lead to policy changes for a re-balance in society
E.g: Policies about sexual harassment - specifically in the work place
&
Policies about cannabis
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
What is the other negative function of crime?
Anomie (Normlessness)
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain what Anomie (Normlessness) means
Normlessness - A society with no norms
When a society begins to forget the value consensus and take on their own selfish interests.
Too much crime can lead to Anomie.
Periods of stress can make the collective conscience weaken.
During these times people will become more selfish rather than adhering to collective values.
Reinforcing collective conscience can help the situation be bought back under control.
E.g: Covid-19
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain 3 strengths
+ Recognises that crime has a positive side in society
+ Without deviance societies would never move forwards (Stagnant)
+ Durkheim argues that a certain amount of crime/deviance is reality for society but does not indicate how much is the higher amount
[EMILE DURKHEIM] - Functionalism
Explain 3 weaknesses
- Doesn’t recognise how much deviance/crime is healthy as it can be difficult to judge
- Creates fear for individuals: crime and deviance strengthens social solidarity but overlooks how it can isolate people
- Doesn’t look at what the causes of crime might be (NO REASONS WHY). just that it’s functional, healthy, universal, inevitable and relative.
