Durkheim on deviance
Durkheim said deviance was "normal" to all healthy well-functioning societies.
Functions of deviance:
- affirms cultural values and norms
- clarifies boundaries
- promotes solidarity
- encourages social change
Notes:
Durkheim did not mean "normal" in the sense of inline with or like the average.
He meant that deviance and by extension crime exists in all societies. And that it
has beneficial functions for societies. Please see the textbook’s discussion of Kai
Erikson’s ideas about deviance as defined by the Puritans in his book Wayward Puritans.
This illustrates how deviance sets moral
boundaries. Class materials will deal with the function of deviance in encouraging positive
social change.