The Normal and the Pathological, Emile Durkheim

Reading Assignment 2
The Functionalist Perspective
7. The Normal and the Pathological, Emile Durkheim
8. On the Sociology of Deviance, Kai T. Erickson
The Conflict Perspective
9. The Conflict of Conduct Norms, Thorsten Sellin
10. Differential Punishing of African Americans and Whites Who Possess Drugs: A Just Policy or a Continuation of the Past? Rudolph Alexander, Jr., Jacquelyn Gyamerah
Points Possible: 20
Deliverable Length: 2-3 pages.

Answer two questions:

1. Emile Durkheim has written that crime is “normal.” Similarly, Kai T. Erikson maintains that deviant behavior functions to uphold community standards by punishing the deviant. Explain how deviance and crime can be normal and/or functional. Pay particular attention to the sociological context of crime/deviance in your answer. How does boundary maintenance relate to the sociological idea that crime/deviance is normal?

2. Thorstein Sellin’s concept of conduct norms is meant to highlight different types of rules (criminal law as well as religious, moral, and other types of rules. The application of these conduct norms plays out in a process of cultural diversity and conflict. Distinguish between cultural conflict “as mental conflict or as a conflict of cultural codes.”

3. Discuss the significance of State v. Russell (1991) regarding the differential punishment of blacks and whites for drug possession.