Question

Famed sociologist Émile Durkheim argued that crime is normal. By this, he meant that:

Select one:
a. Crime is a predictable product of, and in some ways a useful element of, the structure of society.
b. Criminal labels are arbitrary and serve no function in society; thus, criminal law should be abolished.
c. Criminals should be viewed no differently than non-criminals within society.
d. Crime is so pervasive in society that it becomes normalized.

Answer 1

Durkheim viewed crime as a normal and necessary part of societal structure, serving both to challenge and reaffirm cultural values and norms, thereby maintaining social cohesion. Deviance is seen as essential in promoting social change and reinforcing social order through punishment, which reflects the society's collective conscience.

Step-by-step explanation:

Émile Durkheim, a sociologist, posited that crime is normal within society, indicating that it is a predictable part of the social structure. According to Durkheim, crime plays a functional role in society as it challenges and reaffirms cultural values and norms, thereby contributing to social cohesion and preventing stagnation. In this context, crime is normal because it is an integral aspect of social structure, supporting the existing system by defining limits and reinforcing rules.

Durkheim saw deviance as necessary, asserting that it can serve positive functions. For instance, it promotes social change by challenging people's current views, as seen during the civil rights movement. Additionally, when deviance is punished, it strengthens the social norms by reminding others of the consequences of such actions. Thus, Durkheim's functionalist perspective interprets both crime and punishment as essential to the maintenance of social order.

Moreover, Durkheim's concept of the 'collective conscience' and his belief in 'social facts' underpins his argument. Social facts, according to Durkheim, include laws, morals, and cultural rules that exert control over individuals and uphold societal function. He contended that as societies evolve from mechanical to organic in their complexity, the way in which social order is maintained and deviance is addressed also changes.