Durkheim: The Functions of Crime

1

• Durkheim The Functions of Crime
• Informal and Formal Social Control
• The Milgram Experiment
• Sociological Explanations of Deviant Behavior
• Comparative Analysis The United States and China

2
Crime brings together honest men and
concentrates them. There is, then, no
phenomenon that more represents the symptoms of
normality, since it appears closely connected
with the conditions of all collective
life. --Emile Durkheim

• Why did Durkheim consider deviance and crime to
  be both normal and functional for society?

3

• Deviance and Social Control
• What is the difference between informal and
  formal social control? Which is generally more
  important in controlling deviance?

4

• what would be examples of each in the U.S. and
  China?

5
The Milgram Experiment

• What was the Milgram experiment?
• What did it demonstrate about social control?

6

• Explaining Deviant Behavior
• Structural Strain Theory
• This theorys key point the level and type of
  deviance in society is determined by its social
  structure
• How does this occur? What structural
  characteristics of society does Robert Merton
  focus on?

7
Mertons typology of deviance

• key sociological point origin of deviant
  behavior lies in society, not the individual

8

• Explaining Deviant Behavior
• Differential Association Theory
• structure of society taken as given
• focus on the question of who engages in deviant
  behavior and who does not
• in this perspective, deviance is treated as a
  type of conformitywhat does this mean?

9

• Comparative Analysis US and China
• informal and formal social control
• differences in preschool socialization
• claims making human rights
• population policy
• cultural and historical factors that help
  explain the differences