Outline & Evaluate the Functionalist Approach to Crime & Deviance Essay

This question includes estimate of your understanding of the connections between crime and deflexion and sociological theory.Functionalist explanations of deviance bug out with hostelry as a whole looking for the origins of deviance in the nature of fiat, not the biological or psychological make up of an individual. Functionalists favour quantative methods to look at society, using statistics to see society as a whole, rather than looking at the individuals outcome on society.The majority of Functionalists ideas on crime derive from the fail of Durkheim. Durkheim believes that crime in inevitable beca procedure not every member of society sh ars the same values and norms every society has crime, particularly the most progress industrial societies. Crime is seen as not only inevitable, but utilitarian to society because it allows for change, which is vital for society to function. Durkheim argues that crime brings society together, as in the case of the Soham murders. From thi s point of view it can be questioned what the function of penalisation is, Durkheim believes punishment is a form of social control and act as a signal to people. A.K Cohen developed Durkheims ideas further, providing further possible functions of deviance. first deviance can act as a safety valve providing an looking at of discontent.Cohen uses the specimen of prostitution, he believes this protects the institution of the family and provides a release from the stress of family action without undermining family stability because the relationship between prostitute and client has no unrestrained attachments. In other words it is fine for a man to use a prostitute, but not to have an affair because that would jeopardise the family Cohen believes that deviance acts as a warning device too indicate that an scene of society is malfunctioning, thus drawing attention to it and allowing the problem to be resolved. An example of this is the Los Angeles riots that drew attention to the mistreatment of blacks, likewise the Steven Lawrence case.Durkheim and Cohens work is important because it locomote ideas away from biological and psychological explanations for deviance, rather seeing it being society itself creating crime. However, other sociologists believe the functions are too narrow and class differences are not examined.