Sociological Theory: Chapter 3 (Emile
Durkheim) Question and answers
already passed
2 main themes in the work of Emile Durkheim - correct answer ✔1. The
priority of the social over the individual
2. The idea that society can be studied scientifically
Social facts - correct answer ✔social structures and cultural norms and
values that are external to and coercive of actors
Material Social Facts - correct answer ✔social facts that take a material form
in the external social world (Directly observable)
e.g. styles of architecture, forms of technology and legal codes
Nonmaterial Social Facts - correct answer ✔(Found in the minds of
individuals) Social facts that are external and coercive, but which do not take
a material form; they are nonmaterial (e.g. norms and values)
4 Different types of nonmaterial social facts important to Durkheim - correct
answer ✔Morality, collective conscience, collective representations, and
social currents
Morality - correct answer ✔A social fact that can be empirically studied, is
external to the individual, is coercive of the individual, and is explained by
other social facts
, Collective Conscience - correct answer ✔the shared understandings, norms,
and beliefs that are common to a group and which foster social solidarity
Collective Representations - correct answer ✔-A term Durkheim used to
refer to both a collective concept and social "force"
-group-held meanings that express something important about the group itself
(Example: religious symbols, myths and popular legends)
Division of Labor in Society - correct answer ✔- Book written by Durkheim in
which he traced the development of the modern relation between individuals
and society
- The thesis of this book is that modern society is not held together by the
similarities between people who do basically similar things. Instead, it is the
division of labor itself that pulls people together by forcing them to be
dependent on each other.
- Produces a feeling of solidarity
Social Solidarity (2 kinds, Durkheim) - correct answer ✔Feeling of "oneness"
of a group
Mechanical Solidarity - correct answer ✔- A society characterized by
mechanical solidarity is unified because all people are generalists.
- The bond among people is that they are all engaged in similar activities and
have similar responsibilities.
Durkheim) Question and answers
already passed
2 main themes in the work of Emile Durkheim - correct answer ✔1. The
priority of the social over the individual
2. The idea that society can be studied scientifically
Social facts - correct answer ✔social structures and cultural norms and
values that are external to and coercive of actors
Material Social Facts - correct answer ✔social facts that take a material form
in the external social world (Directly observable)
e.g. styles of architecture, forms of technology and legal codes
Nonmaterial Social Facts - correct answer ✔(Found in the minds of
individuals) Social facts that are external and coercive, but which do not take
a material form; they are nonmaterial (e.g. norms and values)
4 Different types of nonmaterial social facts important to Durkheim - correct
answer ✔Morality, collective conscience, collective representations, and
social currents
Morality - correct answer ✔A social fact that can be empirically studied, is
external to the individual, is coercive of the individual, and is explained by
other social facts
, Collective Conscience - correct answer ✔the shared understandings, norms,
and beliefs that are common to a group and which foster social solidarity
Collective Representations - correct answer ✔-A term Durkheim used to
refer to both a collective concept and social "force"
-group-held meanings that express something important about the group itself
(Example: religious symbols, myths and popular legends)
Division of Labor in Society - correct answer ✔- Book written by Durkheim in
which he traced the development of the modern relation between individuals
and society
- The thesis of this book is that modern society is not held together by the
similarities between people who do basically similar things. Instead, it is the
division of labor itself that pulls people together by forcing them to be
dependent on each other.
- Produces a feeling of solidarity
Social Solidarity (2 kinds, Durkheim) - correct answer ✔Feeling of "oneness"
of a group
Mechanical Solidarity - correct answer ✔- A society characterized by
mechanical solidarity is unified because all people are generalists.
- The bond among people is that they are all engaged in similar activities and
have similar responsibilities.
