Durkheimian/Functionalist Approaches to Deviance

Positivism and the Development of Sociology Prior conceptions Positivism as a social movement The example of economics Precursors to Durkheim –Comte –Quetelet

Durkheim’s Sociology Society as a reality sui generis –Social facts –Social statistics and the use of “indicators” The example of suicide Other important Durkheimian concepts –The essential goodness of the evolved society –The conscience collective –Mechanical and organic solidarity

Durkheim on Law, Crime, and Deviance Law –Repressive law –Restitutive law –Law and forms of solidarity Crime and deviance –Religious crimes –Human crimes –The FUNCTIONALITY of crime and deviance

Kai Erikson: A Modern Durkheimian The notion of “boundary maintenance” A historical example of boundary maintenance: Wayward Puritans –The antinomian heresy –The persecution of Quakers –The Salem witch trials

Critiques of the Functionalist Perspective Problems with theoretical assumptions –Is society “consensual”? –Is all deviance functional for society? –What about individual- and group-level dysfunction? Problems with macro-level focus –Ignores micro level –Problem of vagueness –Problem of validity