SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME - SOCIAL STRUCTURE - FUNCTIONALISM

Question 1

What does functionalism see society as ?

Answer 1

Stable structure based on shared norms

Question 2

What was durkheims argument? why did it lack credibility?

Answer 2

argued a need for balance to keep society sustained, however he never defined the optimal point of balance

Question 3

What is boundary maintenance?

Answer 3

reinforce social norms and values, crimes that go against these are condemned by large members of society so the crime doesnt happen again.

Question 4

what did durkheim suggest about deviance

Answer 4

Suggested some deviance was needed to change society views

Question 5

what did he say about moral crime?

Answer 5

he said that moral crime, like prostitution allows males to release tension while maintaining family unit

Question 6

Name a strength.

Answer 6

Acknowledges that crime serves beneficial functions for society as a whole and can be applied to society to reactions to crime

Question 7

name a limitation

Answer 7

victims of crime are ignored, as with many structural approaches to crime, the focus si on the impact on society rather than the individual.