Apply a functionalist perspective to explain the existence and persistence of crime.
What will be an ideal response?
Ans: Varies. It regards deviance as an abnormality that society seeks to eliminate, much as an organism seeks to rid itself of a parasite. At the same time, functionalist theory sees a certain amount of deviant behavior as useful--or functional--for society. It suggests that deviance--or the labeling of some behaviors as deviant--contributes to social solidarity by enhancing members’ sense of the boundary between right and wrong.
KEY: Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe key theories used in sociology to explain deviance.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Functionalist Perspectives
Difficulty Level: Hard
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