“A crime is a crime because we condemn it,” he said (1893). Durkheim saw laws as an expression of the “collective conscience,” which are the beliefs, morals, and attitudes of a society. Seeing a student given detention for skipping class reminds other high schoolers that playing hooky isn’t allowed and that they, too, could get detention.ĭurkheim’s point regarding the impact of punishing deviance speaks to his arguments about law. Moreover, Durkheim noted, when deviance is punished, it reaffirms currently held social norms, which also contributes to society (1893). For instance, when Black students across the United States participated in sit-ins during the civil rights movement, they challenged society’s notions of segregation. One way deviance is functional, he argued, is that it challenges people’s present views (1893). Émile Durkheim believed that deviance is a necessary part of a successful society. Émile Durkheim: The Essential Nature of Deviance Strain theory and social disorganization theory represent two functionalist perspectives on deviance in society. They view deviance as a key component of a functioning society.

Sociologists who follow the functionalist approach are concerned with the way the different elements of a society contribute to the whole. These theories can be grouped according to the three major sociological paradigms: functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory. Why does deviance occur? How does it affect a society? Since the early days of sociology, scholars have developed theories that attempt to explain what deviance and crime mean to society. Protesters, such as these PETA members, often use this method to draw attention to their cause. Figure 7.4 Functionalists believe that deviance plays an important role in society and can be used to challenge people’s views.

Define deviancy theory