Functionalism, strain and Subcultural theories
Durkheim’s functionalist theory
Functionalism – society based on value consensus. Members of society sharing common culture.
In order to achieve this, two things needed:
- Socialisation – helps ensure individuals share the same norms and values. Shows the way to act.
- Social control – rewards for conformity and punishment for deviance. Controls behaviour.

Inevitability of crime – functionalists see crime as inevitable and universal. Every society has crime.
Two reasons why crime and deviance are in all societies:
- No everyone is equally socialized into norms and values. Some are likely to be deviant.
- Diversity of lifestyle and values. Different groups have their own subcultures with distinctive norms and values. Some may see deviant acts as normal.
> Durkheim says in modern societies there is tendency towards anomie. The rules for behaviour become weaker and less clear-cut. This is because modern societies have a complex division of labour meaning individuals become more different from each other. Crime is more likely.

Positive functions of crime – it also performs two positive functions
Boundary maintenance - produces a reaction from society, uniting members in disapproval of criminals and reinforcing their commitment to shared norms and values.
Adaptation and change – all change starts with an act of deviance. There must be scope to challenge existing norms and values and this will seem deviant in the short run.

Criticisms
- Durkheim says society requires deviance to function properly but states no way of knowing how much is the right amount.
- Functionalists see crime in terms of its function. Crime may not exist to fulfill these functions.
- Functionalists look at how functions of crime serve society as a whole and ignore how it might affect different groups or individuals within