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Unlock This CourseFunctionalism is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology that views society as a complex system of interconnected parts working together to maintain stability. When it comes to crime and deviance, functionalists have some surprising views that might seem counterintuitive at first!
Key Definitions:
Functionalists offer a unique perspective by suggesting that crime and deviance, while seemingly negative, actually serve important functions in society. This helps us understand why no society has ever been crime-free and why certain levels of deviance might actually be necessary for social progress!
The main functionalist thinkers on crime and deviance include Émile Durkheim, Robert Merton, Albert Cohen and Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin. Each developed theories explaining how crime relates to social structure and cultural expectations.
Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) was one of the founding figures of sociology and made significant contributions to our understanding of crime and deviance.
Durkheim argued that crime is normal and inevitable in all societies. He believed a society without crime is impossible because not everyone can be equally committed to collective values and moral beliefs.
Crime helps define moral boundaries. When someone breaks a rule and is punished, it reinforces what behaviour is acceptable in society.
Public reactions to crime (like outrage in the media) bring people together, creating a sense of unity against those who break society's rules.
Today's deviance can become tomorrow's morality. People who challenge existing norms (like early civil rights activists) may eventually change society for the better.
Durkheim also introduced the concept of anomie - a state of normlessness that occurs during periods of rapid social change when traditional norms break down and people become uncertain about society's expectations.
Robert Merton (1910-2003) developed Strain Theory to explain how social structure might pressure citizens toward deviant behaviour.
Merton argued that deviance results from a gap between:
When people can't achieve cultural goals through legitimate means, they experience "strain" and may respond in different ways:
| Response | Cultural Goals | Legitimate Means | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conformity | Accept | Accept | Working hard at school and in a job to achieve success |
| Innovation | Accept | Reject | Wanting wealth but turning to crime to get it (e.g., drug dealing) |
| Ritualism | Reject | Accept | Following rules without believing success is possible |
| Retreatism | Reject | Reject | Dropping out of society (e.g., drug addicts, homeless by choice) |
| Rebellion | Replace | Replace | Creating alternative goals and means (e.g., political activists) |
In the UK, young people from disadvantaged backgrounds may face limited legitimate opportunities for success. According to Merton, some might turn to "innovation" - accepting the goal of financial success but using illegitimate means to achieve it. This helps explain why certain types of crime (like drug dealing or theft) might be higher in areas with fewer economic opportunities.
Albert Cohen built on Merton's work but focused specifically on working-class boys and juvenile delinquency. He argued that:
According to Cohen, delinquent subcultures are characterised by:
Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin combined Merton's strain theory with the concept of differential association (the idea that criminal behaviour is learned through interaction with others).
They argued that access to both legitimate and illegitimate opportunities varies by social location. When legitimate opportunities are blocked, the type of delinquent subculture that emerges depends on what illegitimate opportunities are available:
Forms in stable areas with organised adult crime networks. Young people can "apprentice" in criminal careers (e.g., drug dealing, theft rings).
Emerges in unstable areas with few legitimate or illegitimate opportunities. Status comes through violence and gang warfare.
Develops among those who fail at both legitimate paths and criminal/conflict paths. Involves escape through drug use.
When writing about functionalist perspectives, make sure you can compare them with other theoretical approaches like Marxism, interactionism and realism. For high marks, you need to evaluate these theories critically, using evidence and examples to support your points.