Emile DurkheimEmile Durkheim (1858-1917)(1858-1917)

Emile DurkheimEmile Durkheim

Personal InformationPersonal Information Social EnvironmentSocial Environment Basic ConcernsBasic Concerns Intellectual InfluencesIntellectual Influences IdeasIdeas ResearchResearch Contribution to Sociology.Contribution to Sociology.

Personal InformationPersonal Information Born April 1858Born April 1858

Jewish section of Epinal, FranceJewish section of Epinal, France

Family not wealthy but Family not wealthy but respectedrespected

Close-knit familyClose-knit family

Taught secondary schoolTaught secondary school

Personal InformationPersonal Information 1887 first faculty appointment1887 first faculty appointment

Introduced Sociology courseIntroduced Sociology course

Chair of the Dept. of Social Chair of the Dept. of Social Sciences 1896-1902 (University Sciences 1896-1902 (University of Bordeaux)of Bordeaux)

Married, 2 children (Son, Andre Married, 2 children (Son, Andre died in WWI)died in WWI)

Durkheim died at age 59Durkheim died at age 59

Social EnvironmentSocial Environment Rapid industrializationRapid industrialization Cities full of factory workersCities full of factory workers Conflict between workers & employeesConflict between workers & employees ExampleExample: Paris Commune (1871): Paris Commune (1871)

Workers seized Paris Workers seized Paris Established egalitarian republicEstablished egalitarian republic French government destroyed French government destroyed

communecommune Killed 20,000 working-class people.Killed 20,000 working-class people.

Pere Lachaise CemeteryPere Lachaise CemeteryWall carved by Paul Albert Wall carved by Paul Albert

Barthalomé in 1899Barthalomé in 1899

Social EnvironmentSocial Environment History of Political InstabilityHistory of Political Instability

Monarchy of Louis XVIMonarchy of Louis XVI

French Revolution (1789)French Revolution (1789)

Dictatorship of Napoleon I (1799-Dictatorship of Napoleon I (1799-1815)1815)

Restoration of Bourbon monarchyRestoration of Bourbon monarchy

Bourbons overthrown (1830).Bourbons overthrown (1830).

Louis XVI & Marie Louis XVI & Marie AntoinetteAntoinette

Napoleon INapoleon I

Napoleon IIINapoleon III

Social EnvironmentSocial Environment History of Political Instability History of Political Instability (cont.)(cont.)

Monarchy of Louis PhilippeMonarchy of Louis Philippe Revolution ended monarchy (1848)Revolution ended monarchy (1848) 22ndnd Republic (didn’t last long) Republic (didn’t last long) Emperor Napoleon III (1852-1870)Emperor Napoleon III (1852-1870)

Nephew of Napoleon I Nephew of Napoleon I Deposed after defeat in Franco-Deposed after defeat in Franco-

Prussian War.Prussian War.

Louis PhilippeLouis Philippe

Social EnvironmentSocial Environment Durkheim lived in 3Durkheim lived in 3rdrd Republic Republic Felt that people had lost moral Felt that people had lost moral

unityunity Still remnants of previous Still remnants of previous

governmentsgovernments People who supported:People who supported:

DemocracyDemocracy MonarchyMonarchy Socialism.Socialism.

Basic ConcernsBasic Concerns 1) Instability1) Instability

EconomicEconomic PoliticalPolitical

2) Violence2) Violence Workers & employersWorkers & employers Between nationsBetween nations Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism

3) Decadence3) Decadence Self-centeredSelf-centered No sense of community.No sense of community.

Sociology the SolutionSociology the Solution Purpose of SociologyPurpose of Sociology=Explain =Explain

how to make modern society how to make modern society work.work.

Develop positivist lawsDevelop positivist laws Solve problemsSolve problems Address moral crisesAddress moral crises Create stability.Create stability.

Intellectual InfluencesIntellectual Influences KantKant

Morality without divine connectionMorality without divine connection Motivated by sense of dutyMotivated by sense of duty

Saint-SimonSaint-Simon Sociology develop moral lawsSociology develop moral laws Similarity of moral ideas hold Similarity of moral ideas hold

society togethersociety together

ComteComte Emphasis on social stability & Emphasis on social stability &

change.change.

Intellectual InfluencesIntellectual Influences SpencerSpencer

Social evolutionSocial evolution Increasing sizeIncreasing size Increasing complexityIncreasing complexity DifferentiationDifferentiation Integration.Integration.

Intellectual InfluencesIntellectual Influences WundtWundt

German psychologistGerman psychologist Model for creating new disciplineModel for creating new discipline Just created experimental Just created experimental psychologypsychology

Jewish trainingJewish training Morally integrated societyMorally integrated society Substituted “society” for “God” Substituted “society” for “God” as origin of moral action.as origin of moral action.

IdeasIdeas Social SolidaritySocial SolidarityDynamic DensityDynamic DensitySocial FactsSocial FactsCollective ConsciousnessCollective ConsciousnessCollective RepresentationsCollective RepresentationsSocial CurrentsSocial CurrentsSociety as a distinct social realitySociety as a distinct social realityIndividual as Dualistic.Individual as Dualistic.

Social SolidaritySocial Solidarity

1) Mechanical Solidarity1) Mechanical Solidarity More primitive societiesMore primitive societies Minimal division of laborMinimal division of labor Few occupationsFew occupations Similarity bound people Similarity bound people together.together.

Social SolidaritySocial Solidarity 2) Organic Solidarity2) Organic Solidarity

More advanced societiesMore advanced societies (industrial)(industrial)

Specialization Specialization IndividualityIndividuality Increased division of labor (more Increased division of labor (more occupations)occupations)

Individuals must rely on othersIndividuals must rely on others Division of labor creates Division of labor creates solidarity.solidarity.

Dynamic DensityDynamic Density

The number of people in The number of people in societysociety

The amount of interaction The amount of interaction between thembetween them

A social factA social factUsed to study society & Used to study society & social solidarity.social solidarity.

Social FactsSocial Facts ““Ways of acting, thinking, & feeling, Ways of acting, thinking, & feeling,

external to the individual & endowed external to the individual & endowed with the power of coercion, by with the power of coercion, by reason of which they control him.”reason of which they control him.”

Independent of any single individualIndependent of any single individual

Can only be explained by other social Can only be explained by other social facts.facts.

Social FactSocial Fact

““A social fact is identifiable A social fact is identifiable through the power of external through the power of external coercion which it exerts or is coercion which it exerts or is capable of exerting upon capable of exerting upon individuals” (Durkheim,  [1895] individuals” (Durkheim,  [1895] 1982, p. 56). 1982, p. 56).

Social Facts-3 General Social Facts-3 General TypesTypes

1. Material facts1. Material facts Social structuresSocial structures

Economy, family, social classEconomy, family, social class Morphological Facts Morphological Facts

Population size, density, Population size, density, geographical location.geographical location.

Social FactsSocial Facts (cont.) (cont.)

2. 2. Nonmaterial factsNonmaterial facts (Communication links)(Communication links) NormsNorms ValuesValues Collective representationsCollective representations Collective consciousness.Collective consciousness.

Social FactsSocial Facts (cont.) (cont.) 3. Social currents3. Social currents

Not as clearly formedNot as clearly formed Examples:Examples:

Enthusiasm in crowdsEnthusiasm in crowdsIndignation in crowdsIndignation in crowdsDepression in particular Depression in particular social groups.social groups.

Collective ConsciousnessCollective Consciousness

The totality of beliefs & The totality of beliefs & sentiments common to the sentiments common to the average member of societyaverage member of society

Preexists & survives individuals.Preexists & survives individuals.

Collective ConsciousnessCollective Consciousness

(cont.)(cont.)

Experienced as an external Experienced as an external force which shapes behavior.force which shapes behavior.

Varies from society to society Varies from society to society based on the division of based on the division of labor.labor.

Collective ConsciousnessCollective Consciousness4 dimensions4 dimensions

1. 1. VolumeVolume=number of people =number of people involved.involved.

2. 2. IntensityIntensity=how deeply the people =how deeply the people feel about the belief.feel about the belief.

3. 3. RigidityRigidity=clarity of the definition.=clarity of the definition.

4. 4. ContentContent=form collective =form collective consciousness takes.consciousness takes.

Example Example of 4 Dimensionsof 4 DimensionsMarriage in Feudal Societies Marriage in Feudal Societies

(Mechanical Societies)(Mechanical Societies) VolumeVolume=Most people involved=Most people involved

IntensityIntensity=Felt deeply about it=Felt deeply about it

RigidityRigidity=Clearly defined=Clearly defined

ContentContent=Religious & economic.=Religious & economic.

ExampleExample of 4 Dimensions of 4 DimensionsMarriage Today (Organic Society)Marriage Today (Organic Society)

VolumeVolume=Large # but smaller =Large # but smaller % of population% of population

IntensityIntensity=Feel less deeply=Feel less deeply RigidityRigidity=Less clearly defined=Less clearly defined ContentContent=Personal choice.=Personal choice.

*** Collective *** Collective RepresentationsRepresentations

Specific states of collective Specific states of collective consciousnessconsciousness Norms, values, & beliefs of various Norms, values, & beliefs of various

groups (e.g., family, schools)groups (e.g., family, schools) Not reducible to or dependent on Not reducible to or dependent on

the individualthe individual Form a collective consciousness.Form a collective consciousness.

Social CurrentsSocial Currents Different collective consciousness & Different collective consciousness &

representations produce different representations produce different social currents.social currents.

Not as clearly formed as Not as clearly formed as representationsrepresentations

Examples:Examples: Enthusiasm or pity in crowdsEnthusiasm or pity in crowds Depression & disillusionment in Depression & disillusionment in

segments of society.segments of society.

Society & Social RealitySociety & Social Reality

Society as a distinct form of Society as a distinct form of social reality.social reality.

Cannot be reduced to biology Cannot be reduced to biology or psychology.or psychology.

Society is not the mere sum Society is not the mere sum of its parts.of its parts.

Individual as DualisticIndividual as Dualistic Individual partIndividual part

BioorganicBioorganic InbornInborn Self-centered.Self-centered.

Individual as DualisticIndividual as Dualistic Social PartSocial Part

Develops through Develops through socialization & interactionsocialization & interaction

Altruistic Altruistic Group orientedGroup oriented Needs nurturing & Needs nurturing & developing.developing.

AnomieAnomie

““It is this anomic state that is the It is this anomic state that is the cause, as we shall show, of the cause, as we shall show, of the incessantly recurrent conflicts, incessantly recurrent conflicts, and the multifarious disorders of and the multifarious disorders of which the economic world which the economic world exhibits so sad a spectacle” exhibits so sad a spectacle” ([1893] 1933: 5).([1893] 1933: 5).

AnomieAnomie Modern individual insufficiently Modern individual insufficiently

integrated into society. integrated into society. Because of these weakening bonds, Because of these weakening bonds,

social regulation breaks downsocial regulation breaks down The controlling influence of society The controlling influence of society

on the desires and interests of the on the desires and interests of the individual is effectiveindividual is effective

Individuals are left to their own Individuals are left to their own devices. devices.

AnomieAnomie

Because of the dual nature of Because of the dual nature of human beings this breakdown of human beings this breakdown of moral guidance results in:moral guidance results in:

Rising rates of devianceRising rates of deviance Social unrest Social unrest UnhappinessUnhappiness StressStress

AnomieAnomie

"The more one has, the more one "The more one has, the more one wants, since satisfactions wants, since satisfactions received only stimulate instead received only stimulate instead of filling needs"  (1951, p. 248). of filling needs"  (1951, p. 248).

ResearchResearch

Suicide rates are social Suicide rates are social factsfacts

4 types of suicide:4 types of suicide:

1.1. EgoisticEgoistic

2.2. AltruisticAltruistic

3.3. AnomicAnomic

4.4. FatalisticFatalistic

Egoistic SuicideEgoistic Suicide Low social integrationLow social integration Group solidarity has declinedGroup solidarity has declined Individual must depend on selfIndividual must depend on self Excessive individualism in modern Excessive individualism in modern

societysociety Examples of vulnerable groups:Examples of vulnerable groups:

Urban dwellersUrban dwellers Industrial workersIndustrial workers ProtestantsProtestants Unmarried men.Unmarried men.

Altruistic SuicideAltruistic Suicide High social integrationHigh social integration Excessive integration into groupExcessive integration into group Person completely absorbed by Person completely absorbed by

groupgroup Duty to commit suicide for benefit Duty to commit suicide for benefit

of groupof group Examples:Examples: Found more in less “civilized” Found more in less “civilized”

societiessocieties One group in modern society—Army.One group in modern society—Army.

Anomic SuicideAnomic Suicide Low social regulationLow social regulation Breakdown of moral communityBreakdown of moral community Human nature to be dissatisfiedHuman nature to be dissatisfied ""The more one has, the more one wants, The more one has, the more one wants,

since satisfactions received only stimulate since satisfactions received only stimulate instead of filling needs"  (Durkheim)instead of filling needs"  (Durkheim)

No rules or vague rulesNo rules or vague rules Examples:Examples:

AdolescentsAdolescents Older white men.Older white men.

Fatalistic SuicideFatalistic Suicide Excessive social regulationExcessive social regulation Too tightly controlledToo tightly controlled Few choicesFew choices Examples:Examples:

SlavesSlaves Very young husbandsVery young husbands Married women when divorce Married women when divorce

is not available.is not available.

Contribution to SociologyContribution to Sociology

Institutionalized SociologyInstitutionalized Sociology Taught first classTaught first class Defined area of researchDefined area of research Conducted research to Conducted research to illustrate sociology’s illustrate sociology’s usefulness.usefulness.

Contribution to SociologyContribution to Sociology Set the standard for research Set the standard for research

style & presentationstyle & presentation Literature reviewLiterature review Theoretical contextTheoretical context Testable hypothesesTestable hypotheses Use of statisticsUse of statistics Implications of findings.Implications of findings.