Give evaluation of the functionalist approach to crime.

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology
Section: Chapter Questions
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Give evaluation of the functionalist approach to crime.

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The functionalist analysis of crime seeks to bank on the belief that crime is not disruptive but is beneficial for society. No doubt that it disrupts the stability of society and creates chaos, but the functionalists go deeper than just analyzing crime in terms of the superficial lawlessness and lack of order which it also creates. It analyzes crime not in terms of the individual criminals and their mindset but in terms of the social conditions prevalent in the society at the time of the crime. As we know societies have to deal with deviance of many kinds and therefore while analyzing any society the study of crime and deviance becomes a part of the job. There might be different interpretations of the same activity depending on the school of thought and the point and view of the enquirer. Here we are discussing the functionalist view and the major idea behind this school of thought is the maintenance of order and internal homeostasis. 

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