1. Functionalist Theories of
Crime

2. Functionalism
Society is made up of ‘building blocks’
- living organism.
All parts exist to enable it to work as
a whole.
Born into an existing system of moral
codes which are learned through
socialisation.
Deviance occurs through social
pressures.

3. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Crime is necessary for society.
Deviance important to the well-being
of society and challenges to
established moral and legal laws acted
to unify the law-abiding.
Fails to recognise causes of crime

4. Further Functionalist Theories
Robert Merton (1938) – crime due to
anomie and strain. Using illegal means
to achieve material goals.
Albert Cohen (1955) – ‘status
frustration’. Lower class using illegal
means to achieve middle class goals.
Cloward and Ohlin (1961) – working
class have less opportunity to succeed.

5. Read P468-472
What are the merits of these
theories?
Do they explain crime adequately?

6. Read P468-472
What are the merits of these
theories?
Do they explain crime adequately?