Emile Durkheim Research Paper

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It is hard to imagine a world crime free and even harder to imagine a world that accepts crime as a normal part of society. Emile Durkheim’s theory that crime is a normal aspect of society is based on his belief that crime itself serves a social function. Crime is simply deviant behavior that goes against social norms. Durkheim’s claim that “crime is a normal part of society, and that it is necessary and indispensable” meaning that crime acts as a type of moral check and balance to society.
One of the main arguments for Durkheim’s theory is that since crime is found in all societies, it must be performing necessary functions otherwise it would disappear in an advanced society. One of these necessary functions is social change. Crime is one of the most effective sources of social change in any society. When crime goes against social norms, eventually a society’s collective belief will transform and bring about social change.
In my opinion, I agree to some extent, with Durkheim’s theory and say that he is correct in saying that crime is inevitable. I believe crime is always going to exist all over the world …show more content…

Does crime need to exist in order for society to be in balance? Crime exists, we need to protect ourselves from others. Because of the economy today, people have to fight to survive. They choose to do illegal things in order to make it through life. All resources are limited, whether it be food, clothes, money, places of residence, education, etc. This creates a society of people who have and don't have. From that starting point people begin to try and attain things by stealing or finding illegal ways of attaining what they couldn't do legally. The only way for crime to cease would be for man to have all his needs AND wants met, to be in perfect mental and physical health, and to have a good childhood. That being impossible, even IF it were to be attained for every human. I am sure we would find a way to cover it

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