Editing Émile Durkheim (section)

==== Deviance ====
Durkheim thought [[Deviance (sociology)#Deviance|deviance]] to be an essential component of a functional society.<ref name="Textbook">{{cite book|url=https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-2e|title=Introduction to Sociology|publisher=OpenStax|isbn=978-1-947172-11-1|edition=2|pages=138|access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> He believed that deviance had three possible effects on society:<ref name="Textbook" /><ref>"[https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/7-2-explaining-deviance/ 7.2 Explaining Deviance]." ''Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World''. [[University of Minnesota Libraries]] (2016). {{ISBN|978-1-946135-24-7}}.</ref>

# Deviance challenges the perspective and thoughts of the general population, leading to social change by pointing out a flaw in society.
# Deviant acts may support existing social norms and beliefs by evoking the population to discipline the actors.
# Reactions to deviant activity could increase camaraderie and social support among the population affected by the activity.

Durkheim's thoughts on deviance contributed to [[Strain theory (sociology)#Merton's theory|Robert Merton's Strain Theory]].<ref name="Textbook" />