Emile Durkheim's Works and Understanding The Concept of Functionalism

Understanding Emile Durkheim's Functionalism and Its Relation to Other Theories

Emile Durkheim was a functionalist who believed that society functions based on several components within it. Applying functionalism, Durkheim referred to solidarity as “community bonding in traditional societies in which people share beliefs and values and perform common activities” (Carl, 2015, p. 12). Like functionalism, conflict theory also refers to a type of bonding akin to solidarity; Karl Marx, a conflict theorist, argued that people would likely bond once they developed a sense of class consciousness. Lastly, symbolic interactionism uses the theory that certain groups bond because of their society’s symbols, such as a flag or their language. All three sociological paradigms are related in that bonding exists in each of them based on certain concepts. Therefore, understanding these paradigms is crucial for sociologists to comprehend how societies maintain coherence and identity.

The Role of Sociological Imagination in Sociological Studies

It is important for a sociologist to use ‘sociological imagination’ to view situations from a sociological perspective rather than an individual one. Sociological imagination refers to being able to have a “collective understanding of social issues” (Solis-Gadea, 2005). For instance, if a sociologist wants to study a group of wealthy individuals within a society, he would benefit from examining the sociological factors contributing to the group's wealth. He should not focus solely on the individuals and overlook the sociological components. By failing to use sociological imagination, the sociologist can only view the individuals' wealth in a biographical way. The consequence of not using sociological imagination is that the sociologist ends up with individual findings, not sociological findings. This limitation underscores the need for a broader perspective to accurately interpret social phenomena.

Symbolic Interactionism and Its Impact on Social Perceptions

A symbolic interactionist would likely discourage using negative symbols when referring to the homeless population. It would be discouraged because if we refer to the homeless with negative labels such as “alcoholics,” “drug addicts,” “lazy,” or “dirty,” they are less likely to escape the homeless environment and move up in social class. Therefore, it would have a negative and devastating impact on them. Being that they, like anyone else (under symbolic interactionism theory), are influenced by their societal symbols, they are likely to associate themselves with the particular symbols. This understanding highlights the power of language and symbols in shaping social reality and individual identity.

Emile Durkheim's Theories on Suicide

I find Emile Durkheim’s theories on suicide particularly insightful. In general, he theorized that two social forces influenced suicide: solidarity and social control (Carl, 2015, p. 7). Whether the solidarity one feels to his/her society is either lacking or overly high, suicide may be more likely to occur. Regarding social control, when there is little hope for one’s future or when social instability is rampant, the likelihood of suicide also increases. Given these theories, suicide is a compelling issue because it can be linked to the impact a certain society (or its forces) has on an individual’s influence to commit suicide. It is deeply saddening to consider that societal influence can drive someone to such a tragic decision. This perspective encourages a broader examination of societal structures and their effects on individual well-being.

The Legalization of Drugs: Manifest and Latent Functions

Concerning the legalization of drugs, there are both manifest and latent functions of such a law. In my view, the manifest functions include increased revenue through taxation and the end of government spending to fund the current “war on drugs.” On the other hand, the latent functions might involve a higher number of people addicted to drugs and increased healthcare costs. According to Robert Merton, “one cannot complete a functional analysis without considering both manifest and latent functions” (Carl, 2015, p. 13). It is difficult to list any further latent functions simply because they are just that—latent. Latent functions relate to consequences that are “unforeseen or unexpected” (Carl, 2015, p. 13). The complexity of these outcomes necessitates careful consideration and analysis of potential social impacts.

References

Carl, J. D. (2015). Think Sociology. Pearson.

Solis-Gadea, H. R. (2005). The Sociological Imagination and Its Promise Fifty Years Later. Acta Sociologica, 48(4), 419-430.