Functionalist Views on Crime and Deviance PDF

**Functionalism in Crime and Deviance** **Introduction** Functionalism is a sociological theory that views society as a system where different parts work together to maintain stability and order. When it comes to crime and deviance, functionalists argue that these are not only inevitable but also...

**Functionalism in Crime and Deviance** **Introduction** Functionalism is a sociological theory that views society as a system where different parts work together to maintain stability and order. When it comes to crime and deviance, functionalists argue that these are not only inevitable but also serve necessary functions that contribute to the smooth running of society. In this view, crime isn't just about breaking the rules; it has deeper purposes that can help maintain social stability. **Key Concepts in Functionalism** Before diving into crime and deviance, let's revisit some core concepts in functionalism: - **Social Structure**: This refers to the organization of society and the roles individuals play in it. - **Social Order**: This is the idea that society is orderly, and its members generally agree on what behaviors are acceptable. - **Consensus**: The shared values and norms that most people in society follow. - **Function**: The role a particular action, behavior, or structure plays in maintaining society\'s stability. **Durkheim's Views on Crime** Émile Durkheim, one of the founding figures of functionalism, had a unique perspective on crime. He didn't see crime as something inherently harmful to society. In fact, Durkheim argued that crime is actually **healthy** for society. Here's why: 1. **Crime is Inevitable**: Durkheim believed that in any society, some level of crime is bound to happen. No matter how much we try to control behavior, there will always be individuals who break the rules. 2. **Crime is Normal**: Rather than seeing crime as something purely negative, Durkheim thought it played a role in helping society function properly. He argued that as long as crime is **regulated** by the right social institutions (like the criminal justice system), it can benefit society. **Three Functions of Crime** Durkheim identified three important functions that crime can serve in society: **1. Boundary Maintenance** When someone commits a crime, they face punishment. This punishment reminds others of society's shared values and norms, reinforcing the boundaries of acceptable behavior. For example, when a person is convicted of theft, the punishment serves as a reminder to the wider community that stealing is wrong. Crime also creates **social solidarity**, a sense of unity in society. The reaction to crime (e.g., public outrage, discussions about the crime) often brings people together, reinforcing the idea that we all share common values. **2. Warning Device** Sometimes, crime signals that something is wrong in society. Durkheim argued that criminal activity can highlight areas where society needs to change. If enough people break the same law, it may be an indication that the law itself is outdated or no longer serves its purpose. In this sense, crime acts as a "warning device," pushing society to evolve and adapt. **3. Safety Valve** Functionalist sociologist **Kingsley Davis** added another important point: a certain amount of deviance can act as a **safety valve**, allowing people to relieve tensions without disrupting the wider social order. For example, Davis argued that prostitution, while deviant, can provide an outlet for sexual frustration, thus preventing more serious social consequences like marital breakdowns. In this case, keeping prostitution around might actually help maintain family stability. **Merton's Strain Theory** Robert K. Merton took Durkheim's ideas further by focusing on why people commit crimes. He was less concerned with the functions crime serves and more interested in how individuals respond to societal pressures. Merton's **Strain Theory** argues that crime results when individuals cannot achieve society's goals by the approved means. **The 'American Dream'** Merton used the example of the **American Dream**, which is built around the idea that anyone can achieve material success through hard work and perseverance. However, Merton noted that in unequal societies, not everyone has the same access to the means required to achieve this goal. This creates **strain**---a feeling of frustration or pressure when individuals cannot reach society's ideal. **Responses to Strain** Merton identified five possible responses to strain, which show how people adapt to the fact that they cannot always achieve the culturally approved goals (like wealth or success): 1. **Conformists**: These are people who continue to believe in the system even when they fail to achieve the material success society promotes. They still trust that hard work will eventually pay off. 2. **Innovators**: Innovators accept society's goals (e.g., material success) but reject the conventional ways of achieving them (like hard work). Instead, they come up with new, often illegal, ways to reach these goals, such as engaging in criminal activity. 3. **Ritualists**: Ritualists are people who have abandoned the goal of material success but continue to follow the prescribed means (e.g., working a regular job), often to an obsessive degree. These individuals don't challenge the system; they just go through the motions without expecting rewards. 4. **Retreatists**: Retreatists give up on both society's goals and the accepted means of achieving them. These are the people who \"drop out\" of society, often turning to alcohol, drugs, or other forms of retreat. 5. **Rebels**: Rebels reject both the goals and the means of society and replace them with their own set of ideals. They want to create a new system, often through radical actions. **Subcultural Theories** While Merton focused on individual responses to strain, other theorists like **Albert Cohen** and **Cloward and Ohlin** looked at how groups of people adapt to strain. - **Albert Cohen\'s Status Frustration**: Cohen argued that working-class youth often face frustration because they can\'t meet the expectations set by middle-class society. This leads to the formation of **delinquent subcultures** where deviant behavior is used as a way to gain status among peers. - **Cloward and Ohlin's Differential Opportunity Theory**: Cloward and Ohlin took Merton's ideas further by suggesting that individuals have access to different types of subcultures, each providing different pathways to deviance. They identified three types of subcultures: 1. **Criminal Subcultures**: These focus on developing skills to engage in criminal behavior. 2. **Conflict Subcultures**: These are often found in areas with little economic opportunity, and individuals might turn to violence and gang behavior to gain status. 3. **Retreatist Subcultures**: These groups, made up of people who've failed to succeed in both legitimate and illegitimate means, often resort to drug use or other forms of escape. **Criticisms of Functionalism** While functionalism offers valuable insights into how crime and deviance can serve a purpose in society, it isn't without its critiques: - **Overemphasis on Social Order**: Functionalists focus heavily on stability and the positive roles crime plays, but they ignore the underlying **social inequalities** that lead to crime. Not all deviance is functional, and some crimes reflect deeper societal issues, like poverty or exploitation. - **Idealized View**: Critics argue that functionalism assumes society is cohesive, ignoring the conflicts and inequalities that exist. Not everyone agrees on the values that functionalists say society shares. - **Downplays Harm**: While functionalists focus on how crime can maintain social order, they often overlook the harm caused by crime, such as the suffering of victims or the negative impact on communities. **Conclusion** Functionalism provides an interesting perspective on crime and deviance, suggesting that these behaviors play essential roles in maintaining social order, bringing about social change, and even providing ways to cope with frustration. However, it's important to recognize that crime is not always beneficial, and it may reflect deep-seated social problems or inequalities that require attention.