Durkheim analyzed suicide and crime as social facts influenced by external forces rather than individual actions. He viewed crime and deviance as inevitable in a society based on competition and specialized labor divisions. Crime plays a positive role in creating social cohesion and moral consensus, while a state of normlessness with unrealistic aspirations can result in personal crises like suicide if not regulated.

2. The central tenets of positivism are scientific method, determinism, consensus Durkheim’s study of suicide showed how the seemingly individualistic decision to take one’s own life was due to social and economic issues In this way Durkheim was able to show how social factors explained individual and group action such as crime, thus in the same way external forces caused suicide, external forces caused crime

3. Durkheim viewed crime as a social fact-something external that acts on the individual Durkheim saw crime as having positive social function Durkheim saw crime as a consequence of a society based on values of competition and division of labour thus deviance is inevitable

4. Crime is a positive aspect of society Crime helps produce a moral consensus in society As society encourages individualism and therefore unrealistic aspirations cannot be achieved for some a social state of anomie will occur – resulting in personal crisis Unless society imposes new regulations on aspirations then a social state of anomie or normlessness will occur resulting in an increased tendency for suicide By CThompson christhomp@aol.com