Emile Durkheim
1858-1917
Talked about society being bound by Solidarity, which exists on a continuum.
Mechanical Solidarity----------------------------------------------------------Organic Solidarity
Most societies can be talked about as existing somewhere between these two ideas.
Mechanical Solidarity-Small societies with low divisions of labor held together by close
knit relationships. Repressive. Few choices. Crime against one is a crime against all.
Strong sanctions against deviance. Relationships based on grassroots up logic, high
collective consciousness.
Organic Solidarity-Large societies with high divisions of labor held together by contracts.
Great deal of freedom to do as one pleases. Many choices. Individual who commits
crime must restore to the person offended against what was lost. Relationships based on
contracts and legal system. Low collective consciousness.
Collective Consciousness- The totality of beliefs amongst the average citizen. A sense of
the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. For durkheim it was through this sense
of collective consciousness that people experienced what would be called God.
GOD=society.
Traits
Size
Number of Parts
Relationship of parts
Nature of Relationships
Division of Labor
Collective Consciousness
Nature of Laws
Cultural Content
Mechanical Solidarity
Small
Few
Independent
Kinship/friendship based
Low
High
Punitive
Streses Dictates of religion
and tradition.
Organic Solidarity
Large
Many
Interdependant
Contract based
High
Low
Restitutive
Secular, stresses the
importance of individuality.
Book Suicide- Interested in the corrleates of suicide among different groups.
Anomie- Lack of connection with the collective consciousness. Normlessness,
unconnectedness, seemingly not socialized, not aware of the rules, not in touch.
Who is more likely to commit suicide:
Single, Divorced, or Married? Why?
Catholic?
Jewish?
Or Protestant?
Why?
Deviance has 4 primary functions:
1. Supports cultural norms and values by virtur of demarcating what is considered
morally right from wrong.
2. Clarifies moral boundaries in society when members react to it.
3. Promotes social unity through the responses of people to it.
4. Encourages social change by offering alternatives to existing norms and values.