Functionalism views society as a living organism made up of interconnected parts. Functionalists believe deviance and crime are inevitable in society and may serve useful purposes, such as strengthening social bonds and values. Early functionalist theorists like Durkheim argued crime was necessary for society and helped unite law-abiding citizens. Later functionalists such as Merton, Cohen, and Cloward and Ohlin explored how social and economic factors like anomie, status frustration, and unequal opportunity could lead individuals to engage in criminal acts. However, functionalist theories have been criticized for not fully explaining the complex causes of crime.