CRIM 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Consumerism, Structural Functionalism

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Criminology
• Course: CRIM 104
• Professor: Barry Cartwright

Document Summary

Dis(cid:272)ussed (cid:271)(cid:455) ro(cid:271)e(cid:396)t me(cid:396)to(cid:374) i(cid:374) his a(cid:396)ti(cid:272)le o(cid:374) (cid:862)so(cid:272)ial st(cid:396)u(cid:272)tu(cid:396)e a(cid:374)d a(cid:374)o(cid:373)ie(cid:863). Americans (or the american dream) included consumerism, acquisition, accumulation of wealth and social advancement. Many individuals in the united states were unable to achieve these cultural goals or aspirations, due to blocked opportunities. This created a sense of strain, or anomie. Durkheim felt that social solidarity (social cohesion) was maintained by the forces of integration- for example, through our social bonds (or attachments), our shared values and beliefs, and through the forces of attraction. Durkheim thought of people as social beings, who needed society in order to survive, enjoy their lives and achieve their full potential. Du(cid:396)khei(cid:373)"s (cid:448)ie(cid:449) of so(cid:272)iet(cid:455) a(cid:374)d ho(cid:449) it fu(cid:374)(cid:272)tio(cid:374)ed. O(cid:272)iet(cid:455) (cid:449)as si(cid:373)ila(cid:396) to a(cid:374) o(cid:396)ga(cid:374)is(cid:373), (cid:272)o(cid:374)sisti(cid:374)g of (cid:448)a(cid:396)ious different organs (e. g. , the brain, the heart, the lungs, the stomach, etc. ) all working together to keep the o(cid:396)ga(cid:374)is(cid:373) ali(cid:448)e a(cid:374)d health(cid:455).