Functionalist theory of crime

Question 1

What did Durkheim say about crime?

Answer 1

Crime is inevitable because some people are socialised poorly and have different norms and values

Question 2

What is boundary maintenance?

Answer 2

Crime serves a purpose in society because it shows extreme behaviours, providing other members of society with limits and deterring them from offending

Question 3

Why can crime be a source of social cohesion?

Answer 3

People rally together against crimes and laws provide shared norms, values and mores

Question 4

Why did Davis describe crime as a safety valve?

Answer 4

He argued that for some crime was a way of blowing off steam (e.g. visiting a prostitute, recreational drug use) making people more functional in mainstream society

Question 5

Why did Cohen describe crime as a warning light?

Answer 5

Crime can highlight things that are wrong in society and help society progress (e.g. riots)

Question 6

Why did Durkheim believe crime is positive for society?

Answer 6

Crime promotes change

Question 7

Strengths of functionalist theory

Answer 7

• A more positive perspective
• Boundary maintenance and warning light are evident in society (e.g. harsh punishments for racism on social media)
• We can see how crime promotes change (e.g. Suffragettes)

Question 8

Weaknesses of functionalist theory

Answer 8

• Crime isn’t positive for victims and Durkheim didn’t specify an ideal level of crime
• Punishment doesn’t act as a deterrent
• Ignores social problems behind crime