ANTA02H3 Chapter Notes -The Sociological Imagination, Microstructure, Moral Panic
Document Summary
Sociology is the systematic study of human behaviour in social context. Emile durkheim believed that suicide rates varied because of the difference in the degree of social solidarity (refers to 1. the degree to which group members share beliefs and values 2. the intensity and frequency of their interaction) Emile durkheim believed that a low degree of social solidarity causes egoistic and anomic suicide while high degree of social solidarity causes altruistic suicide and having a balanced social solidarity prevents suicide. Egoistic suicide results in poor integration (mixing with) of people in society. Anomic suicide - an individual not feeling as if he/she fits into the society anymore. Altruistic suicide is suicide in order to benefit others. Social structures are relatively stable patterns of social relations (what is considered the norm in society) (there are three levels of social structure) Microstructures are the patterns of relatively intimate (close) social relations formed during face-to-face interaction.
