Essay
Evaluate the usefulness of functionalist explanations of crime [40 marks]
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A* grade essay (36/40) on evaluating functionalist explanations of crime. discussed using other theories.
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Evaluate the usefulness of func onalist explana ons of crime [40]Func onalism is a consensus theory, meaning that it is based on the idea that society best func ons when
each person within society shares the same norms and values. The general func onalist belief on crime is
that a low level of crime is necessary for society to func on. However if this level is exceeded, society
becomes dysfunc onal. Func onalists focus on and provide a useful explana on of the inevitability of crime
and how it can lead to social solidarity (society being bonded through its members interdependence on one
another and shared values). However some theories such as marxism may highlight that func onalists
neglect to consider that there are those with a higher status and therefore power within society who can
manipulate the law. It may also be argued that func onalists fail to address why certain groups commit
more crimes than others.
A key func onalist who o ers an explana on as not why crime can be func onal for society is Durkheim.
Durkheim suggested the general concepts that form a basis for func onalists beliefs; that crime is both
inevitable and func onal. In regards to the inevitability of crime, Durkheim highlights the relevant idea that
even in a “society of saints” with no crime, the high standards of behaviour would make even the smaller
criminal acts stand out. This is also relevant and useful when applied to the contemporary world as it
emphasises the fact that it would be impossible for crime to not exist in society, as perfec on would only
make any deviant acts, as minor as they may be, stand out and therefore be recognised. One reason
Durkheim suggests crime is func onal is due to it marking out the extremes of behaviour - when crimes are
commi ed, the state and public objects and so people are punished. The explana on is useful as it
proposes the idea that crime is func onal as it acts as a deterrent for other members of society; when
crimes are severely punished, those who witness it will not want to commit a crime, and so deviance is kept
at a low level. A similar idea linked to this that Durkheim talked about is the publicity func on of crime.
Criminals are o en publicly shamed and degraded when recognised for their crimes. This is func onal for
society as it will make others want to avoid public shaming and so not commit crimes, reinforcing social
solidarity. This idea can also be seen in a modern society through the media. For example the illegal
“gathering” held at 10 downing street during the covid lockdown in the uk was publicly addressed and
those involved were punished. This suggests that Durkheim’s ideas are useful as they are s ll relevant to
and can be seen in a contemporary society.
However, marxists may suggest that this explana on o ered by func onalists is not useful as it assumes
that the publicity of crimes leads to social solidarity and consensus of values. Marxism is a con ict theory
that proposes the concept that society is built around a capitalis c economic infrastructure through which
the ruling class (bourgeoisie) exploit the lower class (proletariat) in order to protect the ownership of the
means of produc on. Marxists would therefore argue that only working class crimes are targeted and
publicly shamed in the media, crea ng tension among them in order to distract from the fact they they are
being exploited by those in power. This suggests that, in contrast to func onalist views, the public shaming
of crimes creates con ict as opposed to consensus and so does not lead to social solidarity.
Contras ngly, func onalist Merton built on Durkheim’s ideas to demonstrate how the concept of anomie is
a result of strain within the society, which is a useful observa on in explaining the presence of crime
par cularly in American cultures. Merton argued that anomie (ini ally put forward by Durkheim) is a state
of normlessness in which norms (dicta ng “normal” and acceptable sociable behaviour) no longer direct
every day ac ons. This is supported by Merton’s strain theory: anomie can be caused when there is a
“strain” between a culture’s goals and the means of achieving these goals, and so people turn to crime in
order to achieve success. This can be seen speci cally in America, where the pursuit of the “American
dream” (material success and status) is a cultural goal that leads individuals to be deviant. Here, the need to
achieve the common cultural goal leads to anomie because success is more important than the law. This
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