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Functionalism, Crime and Deviance
   1. The Normative Approach
       2. Durkheim’s F.I.N.
The ‘normative’ approach
•   Functionalism provides a normative
    definition of crime and deviance.
•   That means – it is action which consists
    of a violation of social norms.
•   It presents an image of society in which
    exist shared norms and values. The
    deviant is the person who breaks these
    shared norms and values.
•   Fundamental to the functionalist
    philosophy is the idea that society is
    underpinned by consensus.
•   Durkheim claims that society shares a set
    of ‘core values’ (ie the collective
    conscience).
•   The more behaviour deviates from these
    core values the more likely such
    behaviour is seen as ‘deviant’
Sociological Implications
•   If there are core values in
    society it has implications for
    how crime and deviance is
    researched and studied.
•   Using this model, sociologists
    must explain why only some
    people act in a deviant manner.
•   It focuses on how dysfunctional
    behaviour within social
    institutions (family, education
    mass media, religion etc..) make
    some people into
    criminals/deviants - people who
    conform have been ‘properly
    socialised’.
Crime is Functional
•   Crime is functional for society.
•   Boundaries of acceptable
    behaviours are made known by
    the arrest of those who
    transgress/break the rules.
•   Strengthens social bonds
    between people and reaffirms
    values when they are drawn
    together by horrific crimes.
•   Public opinion on crime acts like
    a gauge and can cause change in
    the law (eg Megan’s law-USA
    and Sarah's Law-UK)
Crime is Inevitable
• It is impossible for everyone
  to be equally committed to
  the norms and values to
  society.
• “Even in a society of saints a
  distinction would be made
  between what is acceptable
  and unacceptable behaviour.”
• “Because there are
  differences between people,
  there will always be those
  who step over the boundary
  of acceptable behaviour.”
Crime is Normal
•   There is no society where there
    is no crime.
•   Abnormal levels of crime occur
    in times of social upheaval – the
    power of the collective
    conscience is weakened and a
    state of anomie develops as
    people look after their own
    interests rather than respecting
    their neighbours.
•   Individualism can therefore be
    seen as a source of crime andor
    deviance.
Functionalism evaluated 1
•   Demonstrates the useful purpose
    served by crime (ie highlights
    inconsistencies within the social
    structure, reinforces the collective
    conscience etc..)
•   Offers an explanation that
    emphasizes a social (as opposed to a
    physiological/psychological)
    dimension to crime.
•   Explains the reason for unhealthy
    levels of crime which could be
    altered by social engineering (eg
    introducing new laws, governmental
    policies etc..).
•   Avoids biological/psychological
    theories which refer to ‘sick’
    individuals.
Functionalism evaluated 2
•   Does not explain individual
    motivations and why only some
    people commit crime.
•   It assumes harmony and that the law
    reflects the interests of the
    majority, in doing so it ignores the
    issue of power (ie who has it and
    who hasn’t)
•   Over emphasis on the degree of
    consensus in society.
•   May result in a pessimistic approach
    regarding the control of crime (more
    laws, stricter policing, harsher
    sentencing etc…)
Robert K. Merton
•   Durkheim’s analysis is a fundamental
    influence on Merton’s Social Structure
    and Anomie (1949) theory.
•   AKA Strain to Anomie Theory
•   Argues that crime and deviance is caused
    by the inter-relationship between:

   (1) The cultural goals set by society (eg
         acquisition of money, wealth, status,
         power in western/capitalist society)
(2) The chances and means of achieving such
                         goals.
(3) Merton's theory highlights the
     inconsistencies in the American Dream
     ideology.
      (4) * For your next sociology class:
       research and be able to explain what
               the American dream is.
Robert K. Merton
•   Durkheim’s analysis is a fundamental
    influence on Merton’s Social Structure
    and Anomie (1949) theory.
•   AKA Strain to Anomie Theory
•   Argues that crime and deviance is caused
    by the inter-relationship between:

   (1) The cultural goals set by society (eg
         acquisition of money, wealth, status,
         power in western/capitalist society)
(2) The chances and means of achieving such
                         goals.
(3) Merton's theory highlights the
     inconsistencies in the American Dream
     ideology.
      (4) * For your next sociology class:
       research and be able to explain what
               the American dream is.

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Functionalism

  • 1. Functionalism, Crime and Deviance 1. The Normative Approach 2. Durkheim’s F.I.N.
  • 2. The ‘normative’ approach • Functionalism provides a normative definition of crime and deviance. • That means – it is action which consists of a violation of social norms. • It presents an image of society in which exist shared norms and values. The deviant is the person who breaks these shared norms and values. • Fundamental to the functionalist philosophy is the idea that society is underpinned by consensus. • Durkheim claims that society shares a set of ‘core values’ (ie the collective conscience). • The more behaviour deviates from these core values the more likely such behaviour is seen as ‘deviant’
  • 3. Sociological Implications • If there are core values in society it has implications for how crime and deviance is researched and studied. • Using this model, sociologists must explain why only some people act in a deviant manner. • It focuses on how dysfunctional behaviour within social institutions (family, education mass media, religion etc..) make some people into criminals/deviants - people who conform have been ‘properly socialised’.
  • 4. Crime is Functional • Crime is functional for society. • Boundaries of acceptable behaviours are made known by the arrest of those who transgress/break the rules. • Strengthens social bonds between people and reaffirms values when they are drawn together by horrific crimes. • Public opinion on crime acts like a gauge and can cause change in the law (eg Megan’s law-USA and Sarah's Law-UK)
  • 5. Crime is Inevitable • It is impossible for everyone to be equally committed to the norms and values to society. • “Even in a society of saints a distinction would be made between what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.” • “Because there are differences between people, there will always be those who step over the boundary of acceptable behaviour.”
  • 6. Crime is Normal • There is no society where there is no crime. • Abnormal levels of crime occur in times of social upheaval – the power of the collective conscience is weakened and a state of anomie develops as people look after their own interests rather than respecting their neighbours. • Individualism can therefore be seen as a source of crime andor deviance.
  • 7. Functionalism evaluated 1 • Demonstrates the useful purpose served by crime (ie highlights inconsistencies within the social structure, reinforces the collective conscience etc..) • Offers an explanation that emphasizes a social (as opposed to a physiological/psychological) dimension to crime. • Explains the reason for unhealthy levels of crime which could be altered by social engineering (eg introducing new laws, governmental policies etc..). • Avoids biological/psychological theories which refer to ‘sick’ individuals.
  • 8. Functionalism evaluated 2 • Does not explain individual motivations and why only some people commit crime. • It assumes harmony and that the law reflects the interests of the majority, in doing so it ignores the issue of power (ie who has it and who hasn’t) • Over emphasis on the degree of consensus in society. • May result in a pessimistic approach regarding the control of crime (more laws, stricter policing, harsher sentencing etc…)
  • 9. Robert K. Merton • Durkheim’s analysis is a fundamental influence on Merton’s Social Structure and Anomie (1949) theory. • AKA Strain to Anomie Theory • Argues that crime and deviance is caused by the inter-relationship between: (1) The cultural goals set by society (eg acquisition of money, wealth, status, power in western/capitalist society) (2) The chances and means of achieving such goals. (3) Merton's theory highlights the inconsistencies in the American Dream ideology. (4) * For your next sociology class: research and be able to explain what the American dream is.
  • 10. Robert K. Merton • Durkheim’s analysis is a fundamental influence on Merton’s Social Structure and Anomie (1949) theory. • AKA Strain to Anomie Theory • Argues that crime and deviance is caused by the inter-relationship between: (1) The cultural goals set by society (eg acquisition of money, wealth, status, power in western/capitalist society) (2) The chances and means of achieving such goals. (3) Merton's theory highlights the inconsistencies in the American Dream ideology. (4) * For your next sociology class: research and be able to explain what the American dream is.

Notas del editor

  1. Durkheim argued that too much crime is bad for society, it would result in Anomie. However all societies need a little crime to fulfill three important Functions ( F.I.N. is a mnemonic – crime is Functional-Inevitable-Normal ). Use medical injections to help in explanation – doctors reduce the chances of a person getting a disease by injecting a diluted/weakened type of it into the person to boost their immune system. – Link this idea to Durkheim’s Organic Analogy – Biological
  2. What core values are evident in society? How many/which ones can you name? Look at the headlines (News of the world I think) – how many ‘deviant’ issues are in it? Which headline issue do you feel is most deviant? Why? Marxists and interactionists take a ‘RELATIVISTIC ’ approach – society based on diverse NOT shared values – competition/conflict not consensus etc.. Core values – a myth?
  3. Can you think of any other examples? eg teenage gangs and stabbings, religious fundamentalism and terrorism etc… Why do such ‘themes’ constantly make the headlines? Link media headlines with social construction of news
  4. Who was Sarah Payne? What happened? Can you think of any other examples of horrific crimes? How did they make you feel when you heard about them? Did you discuss them with your family/friends? – Link to A02 points regarding application of sociological knowledge.
  5. What is a Utopia? What does it mean to you? Describe your utopia. Is a crime free society a reality? Why/Why not?
  6. Use looting in recent Haiti disaster as an example. Why do you think this happens? Breakdown of social norms and values? People lose their ‘moral compass’ as their society goes through rapid social change. Employ their own rules, not the rules laid down by society – survival of the strongest?
  7. Use riots to explain point 1 – are people who take part in riots ‘natural’ criminals? Do riots happen because of some deep rooted social injustice – eg racism? See UK and 1970’s 80’s race riots (Handsworth, Toxteth etc..) N Ireland and riots – only choice left for people to express anger/frustration etc? Anti Capitalism protesters riots/protests etc..
  8. What motivates individuals to commit crimes – crimes of passion etc.. Does UK laws on cannabis ‘criminalise’ Rastafarians? - cannabis used as religious experience? What are the implications of the Uk’s anti terror laws? How are they being used/misused and by whom?
  9. Who was Merton? Coined terms such as self fulfilling prophecy and role model. What do you think the American dream is? Anyone read Miller’s Death of a Salesman? (eng lit students?) Why do black rappers wear so much bling?? – Legacy of (rejecting) poverty associated with slavery? Living the (American) dream?? Cos it looks good???