Preview

Emile Durkheim's Anomie Theory

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
573 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Emile Durkheim's Anomie Theory
Emile Durkheim is a French sociologist who is responsible for discovering the “Anomie Theory”. “The Anomie theory originally meant an explanation of suicide.” (Theories of deviant behavior, pg.107) We now know this theory as when rules or authority is defeated by bad behavior . Since the desires of humans can never be satisfied, society will never accomplish ceasing crime completely. “That being said, crime is and always will be functional and desirable behavior”(Theories of deviant Behavior, pg 107) And rebellion of teenagers is a prime example as to why crime can be a desirable behavior. As a society we make up our values and expectations of others , which determines what is a crime and what is not. Yet, Durkheim made a interesting point …show more content…
He stated, “that if all crime was repressed people would then start to look at small violations as crimes, hence why crime is a functional part of society. “(TODB, Pg 107) Durkheim also starts to talk about what social status, and income can do to crime rates. He even goes as far to mention that bad behavior or “crime” can be a result of technological advances. As society changes so does bad behavior. Those situations unfortunately create anomies. For example, in a lower economic status neighborhood, bad behavior tends to outweigh the rules. Too many gangs, not enough cops. Durkheim also brings up a good point concerning goals and relating to crime. (TODB, Pg 107)Since we as humans cant satisfy all of our desires, its important to have goals, but what some people do to achieve their goals is concerning to society. Having goals is not a problem, but setting unrealistic and impossible goals is what creates an anomie. On the flip side Mr. Durkheim also said that reaching your goal too quickly can also cause bad behavior. Such as gaining wealth to quickly, an example of this could be a drug cartel. Greed is a big part of Durkheim’s theory, which is the basis for the anomie theory. He was stated ,“the more one has more one
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Using the Material from Item a and Elsewhere Asses the Usefulness of Subcultural Theories in Explaining Subcultural Crime and Deviance in Society.
    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Using the Material from Item a and Elsewhere Asses the Usefulness of Subcultural Theories in Explaining Subcultural Crime and Deviance in Society.

    Durkheim argued that a certain amount of crime was ‘healthy’ for society and that it is deviant behaviour that provided a catalyst for social change. He said that crime and deviance are functional because the ritual of punishment is an expressive experience that serves to bind together members of a social group and establishment a sense of community; also known as re-affirming boundaries as the resulting media coverage publicly reaffirms the existing values. They are useful in introducing necessary changes and preparing people for change – as Durkheim argues all social change begins with some form of deviance; certain crimes when prosecuted illicit public sympathy and affect change in legislation policies – Kiranjit Ahluwalia, Rosa Parks. Durkheim also put forward social cohesion, this is when certain horrific crimes are committed the entire community are drawn together in shared outrage, such as September 11th Twin Towers, often resulting in public accepting legislative changes which severely impact upon out civil liberties. However Durkheim also seen negatives aspects of Crime and Deviance named ‘Anomie’ the point when crimes becomes dysfunctional. This is a condition characterized by the breakdown of norms governing social interaction. Durkheim argues that people can only be happy when their wants are commensurate to their means. He thought that humans are basically selfish in nature and if left to their own devices would in order to satisfy their own needs, commit crime if they could get away with it. A state of anomie would therefore occur where there are insufficient social controls to ensure conformity from individuals. He argued that this would normally occur in periods of great social change or stress, where the collective conscience may be weakened.…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Assess the usefulness of functionalist approaches in explaining crime A2
    • 550 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Assess the usefulness of functionalist approaches in explaining crime A2

    Functionalist approach towards crime & deviance is seen as a top down approach as it looks at society as a whole, stating that criminal behaviour is caused by society itself except from being caused through an individual’s biology & psychology. Durkheim sees deviance as inevitable also being necessary for our society, however other perspectives such as Marxist & Feminist may state otherwise.…

    • 550 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Non Devient Australia in Accordence to Durkheim's Theory of Deviancy
    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A Non Devient Australia in Accordence to Durkheim's Theory of Deviancy

    The problem with Durkheim’s theory of social deviance is that his idea that a society needs deviancy to change is only looking at the “good” sort of deviant behaviour which leads to a more desirable type of social change. This leaves out the kinds of deviancy such as murder, theft, rape and other sorts of deviancy which damages society. With Durkheim leaving out the sort of deviancy that would cause damage to society he has left himself open to criticism.…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Critically Evaluate the Claim That People Commit Crime as a Result of Socio-Economic Inequality.
    • 3082 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Critically Evaluate the Claim That People Commit Crime as a Result of Socio-Economic Inequality.

    Although criminal behaviour and activity is found most commonly in poorer economic societies it is also, although less common, found in middle and upper class societies too. This statement is supported by sociologist Emile Durkheim who said ‘there is no society that is not confronted with the problem of criminality’ (1938, 65-66). This is the view of a social positivist and relates to the first model of crime, the predestined actor model which looks at internal and external determinism. His book The Division of Labour in Society described how in periods of social change, in this case industrial development, consequences…

    • 3082 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Outline & Evaluate the Functionalist Approach to Crime & Deviance
    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Outline & Evaluate the Functionalist Approach to Crime & Deviance

    The majority of Functionalist's ideas on crime derive from the work of Durkheim. Durkheim believes that crime in inevitable because not every member of society shares the same values and norms; every society has crime, particularly the most advanced industrial societies. Crime is seen as not only inevitable, but functional to society because it allows for change, which is vital for society to function. Durkheim argues that crime brings society together, as in the case of the Soham murders. From this point of view it can be questioned what the function of punishment is, Durkheim believes punishment is a form of social control and act as a signal to people. A.K Cohen developed Durkheim's ideas further, providing further possible functions of deviance. Firstly deviance can act as a safety valve providing an expression of discontent. Cohen uses the example of prostitution, he believes this protects the institution of the family and provides a release from the stress of family life without undermining family stability because the relationship between prostitute and client has no emotional attachments. In other words it is fine for a man to use a prostitute, but not to have an affair because that would jeopardise the family! Cohen believes that deviance acts as a warning device too indicate that an aspect of society is malfunctioning, thus drawing attention to it and allowing the problem to be resolved. An example of…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Wayward Puritans Book Review
    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Wayward Puritans Book Review

    In his first chapter, Erikson gives regard to a foremost leader in sociology; Emile Durkheim. As he notes, crime is really a natural kind of social activity. If crime is a natural part of society, there is definitely an indication that it is necessary, much like Darwin would argue that survival of the fittest is pertinent to the continuation of a species. Erikson claims that non-deviants come together in a phenomenal way to express outrage over deviants, therefore solidifying a tighter bond between eachother. This sense of mutuality, Erikson further explains, reiterates awareness to the common goals of the social organization at stake. In his analysis of “abnormal behavior”, deviance is defined as conduct which the people of a group consider so dangerous or embarrassing that they bring special sanctions against those persons. Furthermore, Erikson gives the title of “community” to this form of social unit.…

    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    W4A1
    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages

    W4A1

    Finally, major crimes occur in our society. Pick a current event (local or national) and describe the crime. Analyze the crime in terms of Durkheim’s four major functions of deviance.…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    burglars on the job
    • 1425 Words
    • 6 Pages

    burglars on the job

    In 1893 Emile Drurkheim came up with the original concept of anomie. He studied suicides in Europe and found a condition of normlessness or lack oh norms and called it anomie. Robert Merton borrowed from Durkheims work and came up with the anomie/strain theory. His theory was a way to explain delinquency. He stated that when a person is unable to reach societies set goals then they suffer from strain. In the case of this book the goals of society would be money. The burglars in the Burglars on the Job would be considered innovators according to Merton. They accept the goals of society but reject the means to get the goals. The criminals in the book said that most of the money to had stolen was used to buy clothes, jewelry, cars, and drugs. They wanted to be rich and have nice things they just refused to get a legitimate job and earn their money so they burglarized. They seemed more worried about their appearances of being rich then anything else. Their spending habits would put them in a position that they had to continue to steal because the money they had previously stolen was spent as soon as they got it and did not think about the next’s months bills and such.…

    • 1425 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    General Strain Theory
    • 2128 Words
    • 9 Pages

    General Strain Theory

    There are many criminological theories to explain why crime and criminals work the way they work. Five theories are fit into a majority of today’s crime cases are Anomie theory by Emile Durkheim, General strain theory by Robert Agnew, Social Disorganization theory by Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay, Social Bonding theory by Travis Hirschi, and the Containment theory by Walter Reckless. Anomie is when there is a clear lack of social norms and values. This is common among teens who grew up in a dysfunctional, abusive family. General strain theory is used an individual is strained and unable to cope with the strain so they commit their time to doing crimes. Social Disorganization theory shows why certain neighborhoods experience more crime rates…

    • 2128 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Emile Durkheim's Theory Of Suicide
    • 1459 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Emile Durkheim's Theory Of Suicide

    The norms become blurred and individuals become unaware of what is right or wrong in society (Lilly, J. Robert et al. 2007). An example of anomie in society is the summer riots of 2011, making news headlines across England. Durkheim would argue that this incident is a lack of norms; offenders being unaware of the adequate norms in society. The article (The Telegraph. 2011) called it a ‘crumbling nation’, supporting Durkheim’s theory of anomie, as individuals in the riot may have been unsure of the norms in society and as a result showed acts of rioting. This suggests that the functionalist theory can yet be applied to society today and explain why people commit acts of crime and…

    • 1459 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Right Realism and crime explanations
    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Right Realism and crime explanations

    Marsland in 1988 stated that crime and deviancy is linked to the breakdown in the moral fabric of society. Schools and religion have become less effective agencies of social control and that the moral glue of society, which gave it its authority, has gone. Marsland believes that this has led to a decline in morality and as a consequence, crime has increased. Durkheim advocated that institutions such as the family make society and that without them, society breaks down. Over the years, the respect for people’s positions has changed and deference within society no longer has the impact it used to. Some argue that this is because society is…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Functionalism and Crime and Deviance
    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Functionalism and Crime and Deviance

    Durkheim looks at how crime and deviance is inevitable and needed in society as it performs two important positive functions: boundary maintenance and adaptation and change, he says that boundary maintenance is when society reacts to crime and there is social cohesion, and this leads to society condemning the criminal and the punishment given by the social agencies is a way of reaffirming societies shared rules and reinforce social solidarity. The media portrays the court case and the punishment; this acts a way of informing members of society and discourages others from rule breaking. Adaptation and change for Durkheim is when an individual has an idea or belief which is seen to be deviant by rest of the members of society, they fight and challenge the existing norms and values, in time there values may give way to a new culture and morality and not seen as deviant anymore such as cohabiting couples would be seen as deviant due to the couples not been married but in current times it is not deviant as it is more popular in society. These changes in values and in society allow society to progress and evolve. Furthermore Durkheim acknowledges that crime and deviance are inevitable because not everyone is socialized in the same way with the same norms and values. Functionalism is useful as it…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Social Controls
    • 2967 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Social Controls

    Many of the early control theories attach more importance to psychological factors rather than social factors when analysing deviance and conformity. One of the earliest control theories to focus on sociological reasons for crime was that of Durkheim’s theory of anomie. Durkheim argued ‘inadequate forms of social control are more likely during periods of rapid modernisation and social change because new forms of regulation cannot evolve quickly enough to replace the declining form of social solidarity (N.D cited in Hopkins 2009,…

    • 2967 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Deviance In Sociology
    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Deviance In Sociology

    Durkheim explains that crime in society display to people the difference between right and wrong, and what acts are breaking social-norms. Durkheim also stated that crime encourage group against group, in other words, the good against the bad. As an example in terrorist attacks, the crime of terrorism separates society from the good individuals against the bad people (terrorists) which also has an effect in having them punished and looked down upon. Another theory Durkheim has explained is the fact of being deviant and going against society to reach out for a change, this may be things such as protests. Durkheim has also said that minor law breaking and being deviant every now and then in our lives reduces stress and anger and helps us to lead better and healthier lives. Durkheim is not saying that crime is good, but rather that is serves good in society. Durkheim’s theory is somewhat about a normative theory but mainly it comes from the labeling perspective. The normative theory applies in the way that the social norms provide a guide for what is normal in society and how individuals should act, and why they get broken in society. The labeling perspective is what helps the society regarding crime; the labeling perspective focuses on the social audience and how they react to the crime. Many of Durkheim’s theories relate exactly to this, how crime shows…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Criminology
    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Criminology

    Anomie is simply defined as a state where norms (expectations on behaviors) are confused, unclear or not present. It is normlessness; Durkheim felt that it led to deviant behavior. The conditions that cause anomie are very simple. It is the breakdown of social norms and its conditions where norms no longer control society. If people cannot find their place in society without clear rules to guide them this leads to a life of deviance and conflict.…

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics