CJS 205 Durkheim

What does division of power mean

process of breaking down work into smaller task for people/ groups

why does division of labor matter

pulls people together forcing them to be dependent on each other, makes work for faster, efficient and productive

how do different kinds of societies divide labor and why

depending on economy, technology, culture and needs.

Societies become more complex, division of labor becomes more specialized.

what does mechnical solidarity mean, how is labor divided, what kinds of societies

everyone has similar knowledge skills and work

labor is divided by gender (not specialization)

Pre-modern, small, tribal

how is labor divided in organic solidarity, what holds people togther, what kind of societies

people have specific jobs and skills

people depend on each other( dont know how to do each other jobs)

modern, complex

how and why are mechanical and organic solidarity different

how labor is divided and how people are connected to each other

societies grow, becomes more complex, population increases, division of labor becomes more specialized

what is collective conscience

set of shared beliefs, values, morals and attitudes that are in a society

collective conscience in mechanical

collective conscience is stronger

shared beliefs, values

social rules are strict

collective conscience in organic

collective conscience is weaker, less dominant

ppl have different jobs, lifestyles and benefits

individual freedom is greater

what is collective representations

markers that stand for something else, socially created ideas, sharded across member of societies

what is collective representation function

bind people together by giving them a common identity, guide behavior right vs wrong, understanding of reality

examples of collective representations

religion, national identity, language, money, social norms

Why does Durkheim say crime is normal

crime exist in all societies, regular feature of social life, reflects diversity among individuals. “even a perfect society will have minor crime”

according to durkheim what is crimes functions

serves social functions: clarifies moral behavior, reactions to crime bring people together, strengthens collective solidarity, encourages social change

Why Durkheim views law as a necessity

maintains social order, regulates behavior, prevent chaos

laws functions

reinforcing social solidarity, regulating social relations, punishing and restoring order, reflecting social change

what are social facts

an external constraint rather than an internal drive, it is a general throughout the society and is not attached to any individual.

*something society creates that then shapes how individuals think and act

how social facts are related to individuals

shape individual behavior, they are internalized, make social life possible, they exist beyond one person

material examples of social facts

easier to understand because they are directly observable

ex: legal systems, religious and educational institutions/building , art styles

nonmaterial examples of social facts

express a far larger and more powerful realm of moral forces

ex: collective conscience, morality, cultural values, social currents

what is the difference between material and nonmaterial in social facts

material are physical structures that organize society

nonmaterial is shared idea and norms that control behavior

what is morality and why does it matter

a social facts that holds society together, guides behavior, supports social order and shapes institutions

what is the danger of a lack of shared morality

pathological loosening of moral bonds, without moral bonds the individual would be acting on desires and self intertest

what are social currents

temporary, emotional forces that influence how people feel and act in a group

examples of social currents

panic during crisis, crowd excitement at a game, sudden enthusiasm in gathering

how is social current different from social facts

currents are more temporary and emotional then social facts

how does Durkheim see human nature

humans have unlimited desire, humans need regulation, humans are social being

why does how Durkheim view human nature matter for his theories

explains the importance of social life, explains the need for morality, explains anomie, explains the study of suicide

• Seees humans as having unlimited desires and needing society to regulate them this is why social norms are morality are essentail.