Deviance, Crime, and Social Control - Functionalism

Deviance, Crime, and Social Control SOCI 1306 Functionalism The comprehension of how the many components of society contribute to its overall stability and functioning is of great importance to functionalist sociologists. This viewpoint holds that society is like a complicated system, with different components that cooperate to foster stability and solidarity. According to functionalists, every facet of society is interconnected and contributes to the smooth operation of society as a whole. Deviance is essential and vital in this environment. Deviance, according to functionalists, is a normal and essential component of every society since it helps to establish social order by illuminating established norms, fostering social cohesion, and sparking social change. Deviance, which is defined as behaviour that goes against social standards, is crucial in defining what constitutes appropriate behaviour. Societies preserve social cohesiveness by recognising abnormal behaviour and taking appropriate action to correct it. One of the pioneers of functionalism, Emile Durkheim, claimed that deviation is unavoidable, even essential, for societal advancement. He asserted that since people would always hold varying opinions and moral standards, it is impossible to build a society free from deviation. Furthermore, Durkheim contended that deviation fulfils a number of essential roles: it validates cultural norms and values, defines moral limits, fosters social cohesion by fostering a "us versus them" mentality, and stimulates social change by drawing attention to instances in which societal norms and values may be out-of-date or unfair. Robert K. Merton's strain theory is a well-known functionalist viewpoint that aims to explain deviation in terms of the social constraints people experience. Merton argues that society prescribes legal ways to accomplish particular culturally acceptable goals and encourages the pursuit of such goals. Yet not everyone has equal access to these resources, which causes a mismatch or "strain" between objectives and resources. People may resort to deviant behaviour as a way around this tension in order to achieve social goals. Merton distinguished five distinct ways in which people might adjust to stress: innovation, ritualism, retreatism, innovation, and rebellion. Innovators embrace the aims but employ illegal methods, whilst conformists accept both the ends and the methods. Retreatists reject the methods as well as the objectives, ritualists give up on the ends but steadfastly follow the means, and rebels try to replace the means and the ends with new ones. According to strain theory, people may feel pressured by social systems to act abnormally if they are unable to fulfil their society obligations through legal ways. Another functionalist perspective, known as social disorganisation theory, emphasises how the disintegration of social structures like the family, community, and school may result in a rise in criminal activity and deviance. The research of Chicago School sociologists, especially Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay, who examined cities with high rates of crime and deviance, gave rise to this notion. They discovered that social disorganisation, characterised by the weakening of social ties, the disintegration of social institutions, and a lack of collective efficacy, was common in these locations. According to the social disorganisation theory, communities where social institutions are unable to effectively regulate people's behaviour are more prone to experience criminal activity and deviance. The lack of strong social networks and institutions in these societies makes it more difficult to uphold social standards and order, which increases the likelihood of deviant behaviour. This idea emphasises how crucial robust social institutions are to stifling deviation and preserving social order. According to cultural deviance theory, which combines elements of social disorganisation theory and strain theory, deviation results from adhering to the dominant cultural norms of lower-class society. This hypothesis holds that people who live in socially dysfunctional neighbourhoods are more inclined to embrace subcultural ideals that support abnormal behaviour. These subcultural values develop as a result of the stress and chaos they encounter in their surroundings. According to the cultural deviance hypothesis, deviation results from socialisation into a subculture whose norms and values differ from those of the greater community. This theory emphasises that aberrant behaviour may be acquired and reinforced within certain social situations, and it also underscores the role that cultural transmission plays in maintaining deviation. Functionalist theories of deviance, such as strain theory, social disorganisation theory, and cultural deviance theory, provide important new insights into the intricate interactions that occur between people and society when deviant behaviour occurs. All of these ideas stress how institutions, social structures, and cultural norms shape behaviour and how breaking from the norm may be beneficial for the stability and development of society. Sociologists can better understand the root causes of deviant behaviour and create plans to address and lessen its negative effects on society by looking at deviance through the functionalism lens. To sum up, the functionalist perspective offers a thorough framework for comprehending deviance as a necessary element of a functioning community. Strain theory explains how people may become deviants when they are unable to use legal ways to forward society objectives. Strong social institutions are critical to preserving social order and averting deviance, according to social disorganisation theory. Cultural deviance theory emphasises how particular cultures' subcultural values contribute to the continuation of abnormal behaviour. Collectively, these ideas highlight the complexity of deviance and its role in fostering social cohesion, enforcing norms, and igniting social transformation. Sociologists may understand the role of deviance in the dynamic and changing human society by understanding its functional components.