Chapter 3: Émile Durkheim (1858–1917)

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Durkheim’s conviction that society is sui generis means ______.

A. that individuals experience society subjectively

B. society does not really exist

C. society is an objective reality that is more than the sum of individuals

D. society only exists within the confines of the mind

Ans: C

2. Durkheim defines social facts as ______.

A. social phenomena that are universally valid

B. rituals that create social solidarity in a community

C. the scientific knowledge base for economic planning

D. conditions outside of individuals shaping their actions

Ans: D

3. Durkheim was most influenced by Herbert Spencer’s theory on the ______.

A. division of religion

B. origins of suicide

C. evolution of societies

D. rules of sociological method

Ans: C

4. According to the authors, Durkheim’s basic theoretical orientation could be considered ______.

A. nonrational, individual

B. nonrational, collective

C. rational, individual

D. rational, collective

Ans: B

5. Durkheim defines the collective conscience as ______.

A. the system of rituals and symbols that distinguish the sacred

B. an element of mechanical solidarity that informs practices

C. all beliefs and feelings shared by members of a society

D. the realization that society is the source of spiritual power

Ans: C

6. Durkheim’s core concept of “division of labor” would be found in which of the following quadrants for action and order?

A. nonrational, individual

B. nonrational, collective

C. rational, individual

D. rational, collective

Ans: D

7. Which type of solidarity is characteristic of small, traditional societies?

A. organic solidarity

B. rural solidarity

C. cult solidarity

D. mechanical solidarity

Ans: D

8. Organic solidarity refers to solidarity based on ______.

A. workers’ control over the means of production

B. interdependence

C. likeness

D. place

Ans: B

9. The social condition resulting from a lack of moral regulation is called ______.

A. anomie

B. alienation

C. collective consciousness

D. individual consciousness

Ans: A

10. Durkheim argues that one consequence of the forced division of labor is ______.

A. moving from organic to mechanical solidarity

B. isolation and unhappiness among workers

C. increased commitment to religious groups

D. the emergence of class struggles

Ans: B

11. The two types of social solidarity that Durkheim studies are ______ and ______.

A. ritual; organic

B. organic; mechanical

C. mechanical; ritual

D. ritual; religious

Ans: B

12. In The Rules of Sociological Method, Durkheim argues that sociology is ______.

A. an important offshoot of philosophy

B. focused on understanding internal motivations for acting

C. a discipline that studies structural elements of society

D. a distinct field applying scientific methods to the study of society

Ans: D

13. According to Durkheim, there will always be crime because ______.

A. there will always be individuals who cannot control themselves

B. humans are inherently evil

C. crime is necessary for affirming “right” and “wrong”

D. there will always be laws

Ans: C

14. Which of the following is the main argument of Durkheim’s work Suicide?

A. Suicide should be understood solely as a social act.

B. Social integration and regulation contribute to lower rates of suicide.

C. Suicide occurs primarily in highly religious societies.

D. Economic downturns are the primary driver of suicide.

Ans: B

15. According to Durkheim, egoistic suicide is caused by ______.

A. too much social regulation

B. too much social integration

C. an individual’s lack of integration

D. an individual’s experience of chaos

Ans: C

16. When people die by suicide in the hopes of preserving or benefiting their social group, this is an example of ______ suicide.

A. altruistic

B. egoistic

C. anomic

D. fatalistic

Ans: A

17. Durkheim defined religion as ______.

A. the adoration of a god or gods by a group

B. coming from myths about the origins of the world

C. worship of a social group by individuals

D. an institution developed to honor or praise a god or gods

Ans: C

18. According to Durkheim, how can we distinguish between religion and magic?

A. Religion has rituals, but magic has rites.

B. Religion has community, while magic does not.

C. Magic has untrained leaders, but religion trains leaders.

D. Magic has mystical powers, while religion does not.

Ans: B

19. The communal function of religion is carried out through the dual processes of ritualization and ______.

A. routinization

B. symbolization

C. profanation

D. anomie

Ans: B

20. According to Durkheim, what makes social life possible in all historical periods?

A. religion

B. symbolism

C. collective consciousness

D. emblems

Ans: B

21. Which of the following would be considered a communal ritual act?

A. reading a book in the library

B. eating lunch in a cafeteria

C. doing “the wave” at a sporting event

D. wearing a crucifix

Ans: C

22. Durkheim defined the ______ as a symbol that is not emotionally charged.

A. sacred

B. profane

C. ritual

D. anomie

Ans: B

23. According to Durkheim, the two most absolutely opposed and differentiated groups are ______.

A. the sacred and the profane

B. rites and beliefs

C. anomie and collective consciousness

D. religious leaders and magicians

Ans: A

24. Durkheim defines ______ as obedience based on an energy that conquers our will without regard for consequences.

A. the sacred and profane

B. traditional authority

C. social facts

D. moral authority

Ans: D

25. According to Durkheim, what does a totem represent to a group?

A. the social facts shaping their lives

B. the line between the sacred and the profane

C. the divinely inspired leader of the group

D. the god or gods that group worships

Ans: D

True/False

1. Durkheim argued that society is a force that exists independently of the people who compose it.

Ans: T

2. Durkheim’s concept of solidarity stems from Comte’s “Law of Three Stages.”

Ans: F

3. Durkheim argued that the division of labor did not necessarily harm society.

Ans: T

4. Organic solidarity immediately emerges once a society embraces “modernity.”

Ans: F

5. People living within small traditional societies are highly interdependent on each other.

Ans: F

6. According to Durkheim, the cult of personality will eventually destroy modern societies.

Ans: F

7. According to Durkheim, what makes something criminal is its immorality.

Ans: F

8. According to Durkheim, crime will always be present in every society.

Ans: T

9. Anomie is the sole source of suicide in modern societies.

Ans: F

10. Both positive and negative crises can contribute to a higher rate of suicide.

Ans: T

11. Anomie emerges even in periods of economic progress.

Ans: T

12. According to Durkheim, as long as there are societies, there will be religion.

Ans: T

13. Symbols are practices that unite a social group based on a common experience.

Ans: F

14. Sacred objects are superior to profane objects.

Ans: F

15. Durkheim argues that magic is a type of religion because both form lasting bonds between practitioner and follower.

Ans: F

16. Durkheim was largely apolitical throughout his lifetime.

Ans: T

17. Durkheim believed that social facts were not helpful for uncovering patterns in society.

Ans: F

18. Durkheim defines social solidarity as cohesion within groups.

Ans: T

19. Social facts have coercive power that compels people to adhere to them.

Ans: T

20. A social current is a social fact that exists within a social institution.

Ans: F

21. Sociological phenomena can usually be identified by their universality.

Ans: F

22. Durkheim defines egoism as an individual’s lack of integration into a particular social group.

Ans: T

23. According to Durkheim, suicides decrease when the cost of basic needs drops.

Ans: F

24. The sacred and the profane have always been entirely opposed to each other.

Ans: T

25. The same act can be either sacred or profane, depending on the context.

Ans: T

Essay

1. Discuss how Herbert Spencer and Auguste Comte influenced Durkheim’s work.

2. What is the relationship between social facts and the collective conscience?

3. Compare and contrast the two forms of solidarity discussed by Durkheim. Explain how they connect to the division of labor.

4. According to Durkheim, what is the function of crime in society?

5. Define “social fact.” Then use the idea of a social fact to explain why people stand for the singing of the national anthem at events.

6. How do symbols and rituals contribute to social solidarity? Provide at least one original example from contemporary society in your response.

7. Durkheim argues that the world is divided into two distinct spheres: the sacred and the profane. Define these spheres and then apply them to examples from contemporary society.

8. Explain how social processes create the social and the profane.

9. According to Durkheim, what does egoistic suicide result from? Explain why some societies see more egoistic suicides than others.

10. Compare and contrast Durkheim’s basic theoretical orientation with that of Karl Marx.

11. Compare Durkheim’s discussion of the division of labor with that of Marx. Discuss how mechanical and organic solidarity are connected to this concept.

12. Connect Durkheim’s term “social facts” to his discussion of crime from The Rules of Sociological Method. Be sure to specify how “coercive power” plays into this discussion.

13. How does Durkheim distinguish between different forms of suicide? Explain why Durkheim’s work Suicide is significant for the discipline of sociology.

14. How does Durkheim define religion? How does he connect social life and religious forces?

15. Define “totem” and then explain how the totem connects to religion.