Durkheim — crime and deviance
Durkheim argued crime serves functions: it maintains social boundaries by showing what society rejects (boundary maintenance), reduces tension by channelling rebellion (safety valve), and can prompt social change (adaptation).
Real World
The prosecution of suffragettes for vandalism and public disorder in 1910s Britain ultimately prompted legal change giving women the vote — a real case of Durkheim's adaptation function, where crime signalled the need for social reform.
Exam Focus
Avoid describing crime as purely positive; examiners expect you to immediately apply Durkheim's caveat that only a 'normal' level of crime is functional.
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