Functionalism, Crime and Deviance1. The Normative Approach

2. Durkheim’s F.I.N.

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’

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’.

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)

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.”

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.

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.

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…)

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.