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Functionalist Explanations
Key theorists:
Emile Durkheim
Robert Merton

Functionalism
Lets begin with a criticism...
Being peripheral and ad hoc, functionalist
criminology may be represented as a
somewhat piecemeal accumulation of
arguments. It has not been integrated,
organized or coherent, and it has not been
the subject of lengthy debate. (Downes &
Rock 1995, pg 97)
Downes and Rock (1995) Understanding Deviance. Oxford,
OUP.

Criticism (cont.)
Functionalism has been found wanting in
its explanations of society in recent years.
Unlike other major theoretical perspectives
such as Marxism, interactionism and
feminism, no specific functionalist
criminology exists with its own
individual interpretations of: crime
statistics, the source of criminality
and potential policy solutions.

Functionalism
This is not to say the functionalist
perspective is not important.
It has informed the subcultural
theories and the work of Durkheim
on deviance still significant.

Functionalist Approach
Rather than starting with the
individual as with biological and
psychological theories, the
functionalist analysis of deviance
starts begins with society as a whole.

Crime as Inevitable
Durkheim argued that crime is an
inevitable and normal aspect of social life.
Crime is present in all types of society,
indeed the crime rate is higher in the
more advanced, industrialized countries.
It is inevitable because not every member
of society can be equally committed to
the collective sentiments (shared
values and beliefs)
Haralambos and Holborn (1995) 4ed., pg 389

Durkheim
Durkheim imagines a society of
saints populated by perfect
individuals.
In such a society there would be no
murder or robbery but there would
still be deviance as the slightest slip
would be regarded as a serious
offence and would attract strong
Haralambos and Holborn (1995) 4ed., pg 389
disapproval.

Crime as functional
Crime is not only inevitable it is functional.
Durkheim argued it only becomes
dysfunctional when it its rate is unusually
high or low.
He argues that all social change begins with
some form of deviance.
If collective sentiments are too strong
there will be little deviance and little change
or progress.
Haralambos and Holborn (1995) 4ed., pg 389

Crime as functional
Conversely if there is little
collective sentiment, there
will be too much crime and
deviance and individuality
rises and the status quo
breaks down.
This is what Durkheim
referred to as anomie the
loss of shared and guiding
principles and norms.

Crime as Functional
Durkheim also suggested that crime
strengthens social cohesion
By publically condemning those who have
broken significant rules we are aware of the
norms and values and the limits of toleration
and unite against the condemned
The public response to crime and deviance is
what is functional as it reinforces social
solidarity and integrates society
Watch Chris Livesey clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9DgtZ0fbL0

The Function of
Punishment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZs0KYbD0Gg
According to Durkheim, the function of
punishment is not remove crime, but
to heal the wounds done to the
collective sentiments.
Without punishment the collective
sentiments would lose their force and
strength
For Durkheim crime and punishment
are both inevitable and functional.
Haralambos and Holborn (1995) 4ed., pg 389

Albert Cohen
Albert K. Cohen identified two possible
functions of deviance:
1. A safety valve deviance provides a relatively
harmless expression of discontent. For example,
prostitution performs a safety valve function
without threatening the institution of the family.
2. Certain deviant acts also act as warning devices
to indicate an aspect of society is
malfunctioning. For example, truancy in schools
may reveal unsuspected causes of discontent
leading to changes.
Haralambos and Holborn (1995) 4ed., pg 390

Criticisms of Durkheim
Durkheim didnt explain why some
groups were more prone to deviance
than others or why certain forms of
deviance seem to be associated with
certain groups.
It was Robert K Merton who provided
these answers within a functionalist
framework.

Robert K Merton (1930s)

Merton argued that deviance resulted from
the culture and structure of society itself
(structuralist).
He begins from the standard functionalist
position of value consensus that is, all
members of society share the same values.
According to Merton culture, especially
Western, attaches great importance to the
values of competition, success and wealth.

Social Structure and Anomie

Since members of society are placed
in different positions in the social
structure (e.g. they differ in terms of
class position), they do not have the
same opportunity of realizing the
shared values.
This situation can generate anomie
and deviance.
He refers to this as strain theory

Strain Theory
Merton highlights that there is a strain
between the cultural goals of a society (in
his study the American Dream) and the
legitimate means to achieve these goals.
Those who are at the bottom of the ladder
find it hardest to succeed, therefore they
are the ones who are more likely to seek
alternative routes to success.

Varieties of Deviant
Responses
Merton identifies five ways in which
individuals may respond to the strain
between goals and the means of
achieving them in society:
Conform Most of the population cope by
ity
doing their best and making the
most of what society offers them

Sir Allen Stanford was accused in

connection with an $8bn (5.6bn)
investment fraud.

Innovati Commitment to cultural goals may

on
remain strong, but some people
reject the conventional means of
acquiring wealth and turn to illegal
means
Ritualis Some people have lost sight of
m
material goals, but derive
satisfaction from fairly meaningless
jobs

Retreati A small number of people reject

sm
both the goals and the means, by
dropping out of society
Rebellio People may rebel and seek to
n
replace shared goals and
institutional means with more
radical alternatives, and may use
violent methods to achieve this

To sum up...
Merton is highly critical of the driving
social values in western societies,
based on what he sees as
competition and greed.
He suggests that this encourages
individuals to break the law.

Criticisms of Merton
Merton treats deviant responses as
exclusively the actions of individuals. He
fails to take into consideration the
communal aspects of deviance and
existence of deviant subcultures.
Albert K Cohen (1950s) has taken issue
with Mertons theory on individual
response and they suggest that we should
see deviance as a collective response to
structurally imposed problems.

SUMMARY

Deviance
Any behavior, belief, or condition
that violates social norms in the
society or group in which it occurs:
drinking too much
robbing a bank
laughing at a funeral

What Is Social Control?

Practices that social groups develop
to encourage conformity to norms,
rules, and laws and to discourage
deviance.

What Is Social Control?

Internal social control takes place
when individuals internalize norms
and values and follow those norms
and values in their lives.
External social control involves
negative sanctions that proscribe
certain behaviors and punish rule
breakers.

Functionalist Perspective
Deviance serves three functions:
1. Deviance clarifies rules.
2. Deviance unites a group.
3. Deviance promotes social change.