CRIM 104 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Social Fact, Anomie, Émile Durkheim
11 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
One of most famous sociologists of all time. Responsible for introducing concept of anomie to sociological thinking. Did not mention anything about specific r/s b/w anomie & crime. One of main concerns - w/ social solidarity & how effectively maintained by forces of integration & regulation constraining indiv behaviour if necessary. Wrote about anomic suicide in 1897 book suicide . Argued fluctuations in suicide rates attributed to dramatic economic changes. Notes criminologists generally regard crime as abnormal/pathological. Observes all societies have some level of crime. Viewed that crime must perform necessary social function if normal. Function of punishment seen to defend collective conscience. All social phenomena has ability to assume diff forms in diff cases while still conserving essential characteristics. Some distributed in entire range of species. Where they occur, mostly do not persist throughout life of indiv. Condition can be defined as pathological only in relation to given species.
