Functionalism
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Transcript of Functionalism
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Functionalism, Crime and Deviance1. The Normative Approach
2. Durkheim’s F.I.N.
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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’
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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’.
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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)
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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.”
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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 and\or deviance.
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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.
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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…)
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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.