Durkheim Durkheim 2/32/3

Functionalism in sociologyFunctionalism in sociology

The culture of povertyThe culture of poverty

Durkheim’s Durkheim’s SuicideSuicide

What is due in the 1What is due in the 1stst Draft ? Draft ?Due 2/17 (contract: 2/10)Due 2/17 (contract: 2/10)

Workbook containing :Workbook containing :• 3 greats; 3 work sheets; Exercise #1 3 greats; 3 work sheets; Exercise #1

and some substantive researchand some substantive research A Draft consisting of :A Draft consisting of :

• Abstract; Introduction; Review of Abstract; Introduction; Review of Literature; (Bibliography)Literature; (Bibliography)

• Follow the format in the web-page on Follow the format in the web-page on the paper, and use the style of the the paper, and use the style of the sociology journals.sociology journals.

WorkbookWorkbook

1. Three entries applying insights of Marx, 1. Three entries applying insights of Marx, Durkheim and Weber to your topic.Durkheim and Weber to your topic.

2. The three discussion work sheets cover 2. The three discussion work sheets cover some of the same ground.some of the same ground.

3. Your 3. Your Annual Review of SociologyAnnual Review of Sociology article article may not be your main review article.may not be your main review article.

4. Your paper must refer to a contemporary 4. Your paper must refer to a contemporary article, written since 2000, but this might be article, written since 2000, but this might be different from either your Exercise #1 or different from either your Exercise #1 or your main review article.your main review article.

5. Your substantive research is connected 5. Your substantive research is connected to the review of the literature.to the review of the literature.

Draft #1Draft #1 Abstract: 200 – 300 words anticipating the main Abstract: 200 – 300 words anticipating the main

line of your argument.line of your argument. Introduction: 1-3 pp. stating the main issue.Introduction: 1-3 pp. stating the main issue. Review of the Literature: a description, Review of the Literature: a description,

discussion, and analysis of a stream of theory.discussion, and analysis of a stream of theory.• At least one article should be current (post-2000).At least one article should be current (post-2000).• Your Your Annual ReviewAnnual Review article must be cited, but it does not article must be cited, but it does not

necessarily play a central role.necessarily play a central role.• The same goes for theThe same goes for the literature cited by your journal of literature cited by your journal of

record article.record article. Bibliography: Use standard form to list all works Bibliography: Use standard form to list all works

you will be referring to in the paper.you will be referring to in the paper.

Origins: the Chicago schoolOrigins: the Chicago school U.S. sociology began (1895-1940) from the U.S. sociology began (1895-1940) from the

discovery that different neighborhoods had discovery that different neighborhoods had different rates of social problems.different rates of social problems.

For example: rates of homicide, suicide, divorce, For example: rates of homicide, suicide, divorce, illegitimacy, crime, academic failure, alcoholism, illegitimacy, crime, academic failure, alcoholism, juvenile delinquency.juvenile delinquency.

They concluded that the differences were rooted They concluded that the differences were rooted in the social structure; even when the people or in the social structure; even when the people or groups in the neighborhood were replaced by groups in the neighborhood were replaced by others, the rates remained high (or low.)others, the rates remained high (or low.)

There were 2 main explanations for these rates:There were 2 main explanations for these rates:1.1. Class (Marx: poverty)Class (Marx: poverty)2.2. Norms (Durkheim: anomie)Norms (Durkheim: anomie)

Binocular visionBinocular vision

2 viewpoints allows 3D vision2 viewpoints allows 3D vision There are functional and conflict theorists There are functional and conflict theorists

working in virtually every subfield on working in virtually every subfield on every topic in sociology.every topic in sociology.

Durkheim and Marx are the founding Durkheim and Marx are the founding theorists of these perspectives.theorists of these perspectives.

For many purposes, Weber is best viewed For many purposes, Weber is best viewed as a combination of Durkheim and Marx.as a combination of Durkheim and Marx.

Thus Durkheim and Marx are the 2 main Thus Durkheim and Marx are the 2 main viewpoints to be clarified.viewpoints to be clarified.

The Culture of PovertyThe Culture of Poverty The “culture of poverty” and the The “culture of poverty” and the

relation of culture to social structure is relation of culture to social structure is a royal road into sociological theorya royal road into sociological theory

Poor neighborhoods often have broken Poor neighborhoods often have broken families and deviant culture.families and deviant culture.• Is it that brutal conditions are brutalizing?Is it that brutal conditions are brutalizing?• Or that the culture produces the poverty?Or that the culture produces the poverty?

Poverty Culture of Poverty

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Durkheim and MarxDurkheim and Marx

Durkheim was writing in the Durkheim was writing in the generation after Marx and in reaction generation after Marx and in reaction to him.to him.

Many of his ideas are those of Many of his ideas are those of conservatives, particularly on the conservatives, particularly on the issues of gender roles.issues of gender roles.

But Durkheim was not an ordinary But Durkheim was not an ordinary conservative, any more than Marx conservative, any more than Marx was an ordinary liberal.was an ordinary liberal.

Both?Both?

The two causal influences are not mutually The two causal influences are not mutually exclusive.exclusive.

Nevertheless, important implications Nevertheless, important implications follow from the question which is most follow from the question which is most important most of the time.important most of the time.

They have been the focus of much theory They have been the focus of much theory and research debate.and research debate.

One importance of Durkheim’s theory was One importance of Durkheim’s theory was to provide a way of conceptualizing the to provide a way of conceptualizing the breakdown of families and moral breakdown of families and moral regulationregulation

The Culture of Poverty TodayThe Culture of Poverty Today

W.J.Wilson is one of the most W.J.Wilson is one of the most important conflict theorists today.important conflict theorists today.• The Truly DisadvantagedThe Truly Disadvantaged (1987) (1987)• When Work Disappears When Work Disappears (1996)(1996)

His main argument is that job-flight His main argument is that job-flight produces culture of poverty as an produces culture of poverty as an adaptation: poverty culture of pov.adaptation: poverty culture of pov.

But he also argues that the culture is But he also argues that the culture is self-maintaining: c. of pov poverty.self-maintaining: c. of pov poverty.

Simple (simplistic) differences Simple (simplistic) differences between Marx and Durkheimbetween Marx and Durkheim

MarxMarx Who gets what and Who gets what and

why?why? Class and class Class and class

struggle.struggle. Opposed interests Opposed interests

of different groups.of different groups. Measures of social Measures of social

class, such as class, such as incomeincome

Class class cultureClass class culture

DurkheimDurkheim What holds society What holds society

together?together? Solidarity, norms Solidarity, norms

and integration.and integration. Functional needs of Functional needs of

the societythe society Measures of family Measures of family

and religious ties.and religious ties.

Culture classCulture class

The liberal and the conservative The liberal and the conservative DurkheimsDurkheims

• The more liberal or radical Durkheim is evident The more liberal or radical Durkheim is evident from :from :

His role in the Dreyfus AffaireHis role in the Dreyfus Affaire His analysis of His analysis of The Division of LaborThe Division of Labor Especially the “forced division of labor”Especially the “forced division of labor” And his relations to Kant and to Marx in the PrefacesAnd his relations to Kant and to Marx in the Prefaces

• We will look as such issues on WednesdayWe will look as such issues on Wednesday• The conservative Durkheim is an analyst of the The conservative Durkheim is an analyst of the

importance of family and religious solidarity importance of family and religious solidarity and of the effectiveness of a conventional, and of the effectiveness of a conventional, small town moral system.small town moral system.

Durkheim’s most important Durkheim’s most important empirical study: empirical study: SuicideSuicide

The prediction and explanation of The prediction and explanation of suicide. suicide.

Seeing the forest for the trees: rates Seeing the forest for the trees: rates are social facts . are social facts .

Suicide rates are social facts.Suicide rates are social facts. Durkheim argued that social facts Durkheim argued that social facts

must be explained by other social must be explained by other social facts.facts.

The concept of egoistic suicideThe concept of egoistic suicide Some groups have consistently higher Some groups have consistently higher

rates.rates. Basic idea of egoistic suicide: lack of social Basic idea of egoistic suicide: lack of social

integration.integration. Eg. Men, singles, Protestants, peace time.Eg. Men, singles, Protestants, peace time. The concept of egoistic suicide is similar to The concept of egoistic suicide is similar to

individualism, and Durkheim’s analysis individualism, and Durkheim’s analysis highlighted the importance of bonds to highlighted the importance of bonds to solidary groups.solidary groups.

Similar to the Social Control theories of Similar to the Social Control theories of juvenile delinquency and crime.juvenile delinquency and crime.

The concept of altruistic suicideThe concept of altruistic suicide

High rates in the military, Japan, India and High rates in the military, Japan, India and preliterate societies. preliterate societies.

Basic idea: excess of social integration.Basic idea: excess of social integration. Sometimes the presence of solidarity and Sometimes the presence of solidarity and

solidary groups, rather than their absence solidary groups, rather than their absence is viewed as the problem. is viewed as the problem.

Possible extension to other areas. Possible extension to other areas. • Bonds to the militaryBonds to the military• Al Quaeda as a social bondAl Quaeda as a social bond

AnomieAnomie Durkheim’s most important contribution to Durkheim’s most important contribution to

sociology was the analysis of norms and sociology was the analysis of norms and normative integration.normative integration.

Talcott Parsons made that analysis the Talcott Parsons made that analysis the basis of “structural-functionalism”.basis of “structural-functionalism”.

Some groups that were neither too bonded Some groups that were neither too bonded not to individualist had high suicide rates not to individualist had high suicide rates because they had weak norms.because they had weak norms.

The weakening of norms is called anomie.The weakening of norms is called anomie. Merton made the analysis of “structural Merton made the analysis of “structural

strain” leading to anomie the basis of strain” leading to anomie the basis of many theories of crime and delinquency.many theories of crime and delinquency.

The concept of anomic suicideThe concept of anomic suicide

There are high suicide rates during periods There are high suicide rates during periods of prosperity, among the educated, among of prosperity, among the educated, among professionals, in urban areas, among those professionals, in urban areas, among those mobile geographically or socially.mobile geographically or socially.

Durkheim argued that these groups lack Durkheim argued that these groups lack normative (moral) regulation.normative (moral) regulation.

The weakening of normative systems is The weakening of normative systems is called anomie, and it is one of the called anomie, and it is one of the fundamental concepts of functional fundamental concepts of functional sociology.sociology.

The concept of fatalistic suicideThe concept of fatalistic suicide Fatalistic suicide is defined as suicide Fatalistic suicide is defined as suicide

resulting from an excess of normative resulting from an excess of normative integration.integration.• Durkheim argued that it is rare in modern Durkheim argued that it is rare in modern

societysociety• But there may well be contemporary examples.But there may well be contemporary examples.

Intense moral commitment often leads to Intense moral commitment often leads to group suicides.group suicides.• Massada, Thermopolae, Jonestown, Islamic Massada, Thermopolae, Jonestown, Islamic

Jihad, Al Quaeda.Jihad, Al Quaeda.• E.g. religious conflicts often generate people E.g. religious conflicts often generate people

willing to die for their beliefs.willing to die for their beliefs.

Implications of Durkheim’s analysis:Implications of Durkheim’s analysis:

Durkheim’s analysis of suicide had Durkheim’s analysis of suicide had several different kinds of several different kinds of implications:implications:

1.1. Methodological: “social facts”Methodological: “social facts”

2.2. Substantive: social and normative Substantive: social and normative integration.integration.

3.3. Political-normative: the balance of Political-normative: the balance of self and societyself and society

Methodological: “social facts”Methodological: “social facts” One of the primary implications of his One of the primary implications of his

analysis was complementary to the analysis was complementary to the Chicago school’s observation that Chicago school’s observation that different neighborhoods had different different neighborhoods had different rates of social problems:rates of social problems:

Durkheim argued that social facts Durkheim argued that social facts need to be explained by other social need to be explained by other social facts.facts.

The distinct rates in different social The distinct rates in different social positions or social structures cannot positions or social structures cannot be explained by psychology.be explained by psychology.

Social and Normative integration.Social and Normative integration.

Many people prior to Durkheim had Many people prior to Durkheim had stressed the importance of moral stressed the importance of moral values or of family and religious ties.values or of family and religious ties.

Durkheim showed how to get at Durkheim showed how to get at them rigorously and quantitatively; them rigorously and quantitatively;

their interconnection;their interconnection; and their social structural roots that and their social structural roots that

are as real as a rock.are as real as a rock.

The balance of self and societyThe balance of self and society

Durkheim believed that solidary groups Durkheim believed that solidary groups and social norms are what make humans and social norms are what make humans human.human.

But he believed that both group bonds and But he believed that both group bonds and normative ideals could be excessive as normative ideals could be excessive as well as inadequate.well as inadequate.

He welcomed modern society and He welcomed modern society and individual freedom.individual freedom.

His central problem was the reconciliation His central problem was the reconciliation of freedom and diversity with normsof freedom and diversity with norms