The functionalist analysis of
deviance (cont.) 1/24
Norms and
Anomie
Functionalism in sociology
e.g. E. Durkheim (1858-1916) * **
Durkheim is discussed in most chapters of
Sociology, Micro, Macro and Mega
Functionalism appears in all chapters
Functionalism believes that the society is
an organic system
– The main forms of modern functionalism
stress norms as the social thermostat.
– Fundamental concepts: function, social
integration; norms; normative integration.
Durkheim’s most important
empirical study: Suicide
The prediction and explanation of suicide.
Seeing the forest for the trees: rates are social facts
*p.24.
Suicide rates are social facts.
Durkheim argued that social facts must be
explained by other social facts.
i.e. if a sociologist refers to psychological motives
or moral values, s/he must show why that social
structure or social position was characterized by
those motives or those values.
How much suicide is there?
In the US predictably more than 30,000
people kill themselves every year.
Surgeon General's Report.
This compares to about 19,000 homicides.
These rates are stable and predictable.
What causes them?
Moreover, people in different social
positions have different probabilities of
committing suicide.
The empirical basis of Durkheim’s
theory of egoistic suicide
Some groups have consistently higher rates.
Durkheim’s theory explained these rates.
The first portion of Durkheim’s theory
consistently explained the following differences
in suicide rates.
Rates Questions.
Our social intuitions have to be correct most of
the time, but they are not infallible, and they do
not substitute for collecting and analyzing data.
The concept of egoistic suicide
Some groups have consistently higher
rates:
Men, singles, childless, Protestants,
peacetime, and the present time.
The concept of egoistic suicide *p.25.
The theory is elegant and general, but it is
only one portion of Durkheim’s theory.
– Were the suicide bombers social isolates?
– Was Cesar or Garfield a social isolate?
Basic idea of egoistic suicide:
lack of social integration.
Lack of social ties, leaves someone uncontrolled:
free to engage in deviance.
Applications to other behaviors:
–
–
–
–
Academic failure
Crime.
187.
Age effects on suicide: adolescent peak and elderly
Contrasts between Durkheim and an individualist
explanation Re morals or individual psychology.
Social bonds and social solidarity are not just
important for suicide, but for all human behavior.
The concept of altruistic
suicide
High rates: in the military, Japan, India
and preliterate societies.
Basic idea: excess of social integration.
Possible extension to other areas.
– Bonds to the military or to the gang in 187
– Did the terrorists who killed themselves in
the Sept. 11 attacks have a lack or an
excess of bonds to their families and
communities?
– Al Quaeda as a social bond
– Cesar’s bond to KOS
Anomie
Definition in text: * 41 the weakening of
moral regulation of the self associated
with personal and social disorder
Examples in the text:
1. The Clay
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
Examples in 187
1. The murder
2. The classroom
The concept of anomic suicide
However, other groups with neither an excess or a lack of
social relationships have high suicide rates:
Urban, mobile, professional, educated, divorced
Periods of prosperity, as well as periods of poverty.
The suicide rate rises when people have more choice and
control over their lives, which is somewhat puzzling and
paradoxical.
Durkheim:
–
–
–
–
people need limits; or life is endless frustration.
traditional normative systems set those limits most effectively.
Norms = lack of choices = low suicide
Prosperity, urbanism, education etc. erodes those traditional limits.
Anomie
For Functionalist theory, the normative
system is a basic features of any society.
There is never perfect agreement on the
rules – an absolute moral consensus – but
maintaining enough agreement is crucial.
Authoritative enforcement plays a role in
establishing the rules.
There is always some anomie.
In modern society, the danger of anomie
becomes more pressing.
The concept of fatalism
Durkheim argued that in the same way that you
could have too much social integration as well
as too little, he argued that you could have too
much normative integration.
Not observed in modern society, which tends to
be anomic
But groups and individuals with very high
commitments may have high suicide rates.
Islamic Jihad, 9/11, Jonestown, Waco, Buddhist
monks protesting Vietnam
Durkheim's theory of suicide as
a whole.
Durkheim’s theory of organic
solidarity
Structural differentiation: The jobs the society needs to
have done are performed by specialist in specialized
institutions.
Increased heterogeneity; decreased common culture.
If social norms are based on common culture, anomie is
inevitable.
Durkheim believed organic solidarity and a modern
normative system could welcome and be based on
complementary differences.
Its content: general principles of unconditional human
rights, freedom of religion, speech, press; habeas
corpus; equal opportunity; equal treatment by the law…
Organic solidarity
Definition: *41 Social integration based on
functional dependence of specialists, typical
of modern society.
Distinguished from “Mechanical Solidarity:”
human attraction based on common moral
sentiments, typical of tribal society.
– E.g. of mechanical: caning, cutting off hand
– E.g. of organic: Miranda rule, Amnesty Int.
That is, for Durkheim the expansion of
human rights was the only way to hold
together a complex, heterogeneous society
Durkheim and Marx.
Durkheim’s theory of social structure was that it
was a functional system governed by norms.
This compares to Marx’ theory of social structure
as a kind of game of Monopoly.
Durkheim’s theory of social change was
structural differentiation governed by
increasingly organic solidarity.
This should be compared to Marx’ theory of
social change as a set of class struggles:
Marx’ theory of change:
In fact, we shall see that the relationship between Marx and Durkheim is
fairly complex. Like Marx, Durkheim regarded the transformation of
aristocratic, medieval society as requiring revolution, and he regarded
inherited class position in industrial, capitalist society as a problem.