Durkheimian Theory

Durkheimian Theory, developed by sociologist Émile Durkheim, emphasizes that society is a cohesive entity where shared beliefs and values create social order. It suggests that social institutions and collective consciousness—common norms and morals—bind individuals together, maintaining stability and functioning. Deviance is seen as a response to a breakdown in these shared values. Durkheim believed that understanding these collective forces helps explain social cohesion, morality, and the importance of social institutions like religion, law, and education in maintaining societal integration.