SOCI 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Émile Durkheim

• School: UBC
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCI 100
• Professor: Catherine Corrigall- Brown

Document Summary

What is sociology? the systematic study of human society understanding the relationship between individuals and society. Largest scale human group that shares a common geographic territory and culture, based on common institutions and social interaction. Cannot directly see it but can feel its power and influence. Traditionally studied from a psychological perspective (depression, personality, etc. ) But, rates of suicide differ across countries and are different for men and women. Societies have higher/lower rates of suicide because of certain features of the society as a whole. Individuals might have propensities to commit suicide, but only do so in certain contexts. Social integration: individuals need to be integrated in to society. Individuals are totally without regulation (there are no rules, values, or norms to shape behaviour): anomic suicide. Times of economic bust and boom: when individuals are overly regulated by society (they have no free will): fatalistic suicide. Individuals shape society, but society (and how it is structured) also shapes individuals.