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.