the rates of occurrence of specific phenomena rather than with incidence had an additional advantage in that it allowed Durkheim to engage in comparative analysis of various structures. By comparing the rates of suicides in various groups, he was able toarrive at an overall generalization. Durkheim relied on data he could count and categorize by specific generalizations. Then comes full circle the discussion of the impact on the external society.Durkheim is also credited with constructing many sociologically significant concepts. I will examine three of them. The first is that there are two basic forms of social organization called mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity. Mechanical solidarity people live in simple, pre-industrialized societies. Members of this society are bonded together by shared beliefs and sentiment. Simply put, their unity is based on similarity. For example, tribes of people that live together in a common culture are members of mechanical solidarity. They are unified based on their shared lifestyle.Organic solidarity societies are complex, industrialized societies that develop out of differences, rather than likenesses, between individuals. This form of social organization is based on the belief that people come together and stay together due to their increasing mutual dependence. Each person depends on the other for their skill because it is different than their own. For example, the state legislature is made of an organic solidarity society. Members represent their own communities and stay together because they are dependent upon one another to adequately run the government.Another concept Durkheim created was anomie. Anomie, or normlessness, is the breakdown of social norms in a society. Individuals cannot find their place in society without clear rules to guide them; therefore, changing conditions as well as adjustment of life can lead to dissatisfaction, conflict, and deviance. Durkheim ob...
