Assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of crime and deviance.
Functionalist analysis of crime and deviance begins with society as a whole. It looks for the source of deviance in the nature of society rather than in the biological or psychological nature of the individual. Some functionalists argue although it seems strange, deviance is a necessary part off all societies and that it performs positive functions for the social system.
Durkheim argued that it only becomes dysfunctional (harmful to society) when its rate is unusually high or low. He argued that all social change begins with some form of deviance. In order for change to occur, yesterday’s deviance must become today’s normality. Since a certain amount of change is healthy for society. Deviance can be a safety valve, providing a relatively harmful expression of discontent. In this way social order is protected. Durkheim argued a state of Anomie can occur when people regard the rights and needs of others as unimportant and they prefer instead to look After there own interests. Durkheim has been criticised as there are many examples of deviant and criminal acts, which are socially destructive and could not be seen as reinforcing collective sentiments.