Crime and Deviance A Functionalist Perspective The Functions

Crime and Deviance A Functionalist Perspective

The Functions of Deviance n n n Look for the source of deviance in society rather than the individual Some functionalists argue that deviance is a necessary part of all societies, and that it performs positive functions for a social system This may seem strange as deviance is breaking shared norms and values, which functionalists argue is a threat to social order

Social Control Mechanisms n n n All functionalists agree that social control mechanisms such as the police and the courts are necessary to keep deviance in check However, many argue that a certain amount of deviance has positive functions Even that it contributes to the maintenance and well being of society!

Crime as Inevitable n n Emile Durkheim developed this argument with his discussion of crime in The Rules of Sociological Method (1895) In this he argued that crime was inevitable Durkheim argued that crime is an integral part of all healthy societies As we are exposed to different influences and circumstances we are not all alike, and therefore not all reluctant to break the law

Crime as Functional n n Durkheim argued that crime only became dysfunctional when its rates are unusually high or low All social change begins with deviance Social change is healthy for society so that it can progress, therefore deviance is good However, the shared norms and values (collective sentiment) of the society must not block the expression of deviance to allow social change

Function of Punishment n n n Durkheim argued that the function of punishment was not to remove crime but to maintain the collective sentiment Without punishment, the collective sentiments would lose their power to control behaviour and crime would rise In his view, a healthy society requires both crime and punishment, both are inevitable, both are functional Society generates deviance for its own well being High rates of crime suggest there is something wrong with society

Robert K. Merton Strain Theory n n n Argued deviance resulted from the culture and structure of society itself People do not have the same opportunities to realise the shared values (value consensus) as they are placed in different class positions This situation generates deviance

Social Structure n n Merton argued that not all social groups have the same ability to achieve the common cultural goals of society This leads to a strain (tension) between cultural goals and the means of achieving them Some groups will have less access to the means of cultural goals E. g. not having equal chance of entry to university

Anomie n n Anomie refers to a situation where norms no longer guide behaviour, where ‘anything goes’ Merton argues that so much emphasis is placed on material success, or cultural goals that many people deviate from accepted norms and values This pressure to deviate is a ‘strain to anomie’ Some people are tempted to use any available means of getting to the top

Adaptations n n Merton contends that this means that social groups will adapt or respond to cultural goals in different ways He identified 5 main adaptations to common goals

Five adaptations…. . n n n Conformists accept the goals and means of achieving them Ritualists lose their belief in the goals, but stick to the means or rules in society Retreatists withdraw from society having given up on the goals and the means Innovators accept the goals but reject the means Rebels reject the means and the goals and replace them with alternative means and goals

Therefore…. n n Crime and deviance are likely to occur when there are unequal opportunities to the means of achieving common social goals He is claiming that crime and deviance are the result of a lack of balance between goals and the means of achieving them during periods of social change

Evaluation - Advantages n n Strain theory was an early attempt to explain crime and deviance in terms of culture It provided a sociological alternative to biological and psychological theories In particular, it explained working class crime It spurred development of further theories

Disadvantages n n n There a lot of unanswered questions: Why do some people but not others adopt deviant adaptations? (why do some people from the working class turn to crime when others don’t? ) Merton’s theory focuses on individuals rather than groups. Crime and deviance are often collective activities

Cont… n n Crime and deviance are not always motivated by a desire for monetary gain. How can activities such as vandalism and fighting between rival gangs be explained? In search for the answers of these questions, subculture theory was born.