Fundamentals of Émile Durkheim's Sociology

These flashcards encompass key concepts and definitions from the sociology of Émile Durkheim.

Social Fact

A way of acting, thinking, and feeling that is external to individuals and has coercive power over them.

Collective Consciousness

The totality of beliefs and sentiments common to the average members of a society.

Anomie

A pathological state where society suffers from a lack of regulation, leading to a breakdown of social norms.

Mechanic Solidarity

A type of social cohesion based on similarity and shared beliefs in simpler, traditional societies.

Organic Solidarity

A type of social cohesion based on difference and interdependence in advanced, industrial societies.

Egoistic Suicide

Suicide resulting from excessive individualism and weak collective bonds.

Altruistic Suicide

Suicide resulting from complete absorption by the group where individual self is deemed worthless.

Anomic Suicide

Suicide resulting from the collapse of moral limits, leading to unchecked desires.

Morality

A system of collective rules that prescribes how individuals must conduct themselves in society.

Collective Effervescence

An intense emotional state during communal rites that renews social bonds and creates a sense of moral energy.

Totem

A symbol that represents both the god and the clan, serving as an emblem of collective morality.

Taboo

An absolute prohibition that protects the sacred (Totem) and exemplifies social coercion.

Sui Generis

A unique reality that emerges from the interactions of individuals within a society.

Positivism

An intellectual approach that seeks to establish Sociology as an objective and autonomous discipline.

Regulation

The process of setting limits on human desires to maintain social order and stability.

Integration

The linkage of individuals to the group, fostering belonging and reducing isolation.