Verified Document

Theoretical Contributions Of Durkheim And Research Paper

662). In other words, individuals coalesce around environments repetitively to form the collective. The collective structure stays even when the individual is alone. This is close to the collective representations of Durkheim, but it is based on innate or genetic structures that connect during the repetition of social encounters (which in Allport are not religious). The social bonding function is similar: "The collective-structure event-format (so called 'reality of the group') is thus preserved, though the particular contacts of individuals may vary in space, time, and number" (Allport, 1955, p. 662). This interweaving with the collective has lasting effects on the individual structure. He says, "It is also worth noting that the collective structure itself is often represented, usually in a schematic or abridged format, in the meaning-cycles of the individuals involved, on the basis of their contacts with other individuals in the regular and repetitive course of the structure's operation" (p. 662). Here we see Allport's analogous notion of the interiorization of norms and socialization. The individual is included in social tangents beyond his individual structures (she may belong to indefinite number of collectives). The behavior of the individual within the collective structure has both inside and outside aspects (social). The individual is in the collective, while the collective is represented in meaning-cycles within the individual....

All of this forms the basis of Allport's dynamic-structural theory of perceptual-social frames of reference, and connects with his explanation of the interstructured meanings of social norms, customs, collective attitudes, and conformities. While the effect is similar to Durkheim, the argument is quite different. In fact, in Allport there are no bodies, individuals, groups, or things -- just abstract kinematic concepts. At the end of the day, material itself vanishes!
Conclusion

This essay has briefly engaged the theories of Durkheim and Allport. Both men made wide-ranging contributions to the field of social psychology. In attempting to compare these theoretical ideas, it has tried to clarify some similarities and differences in their approaches.

Bibliography

Allport, F.H. (1955). Theories of perception and the concept of structure: a review and critical analysis with an introduction to a dynamic-structural theory of behavior. New York: John Wiley.

Durkheim, E. (1984). The Division of labor in society W.D. Halls, Trans. New York: Free Press.

____. (1915). The Elementary forms of religious life J.W. Swain, Trans. New York: Free Press.

____. (1938). The Rules of sociological method S.A. Solovay & J.H Mueller, Trans. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Giddens, a. (1978). Emile Durkheim. New York: Penguin.

Thompson, K.…

Sources used in this document:
Bibliography

Allport, F.H. (1955). Theories of perception and the concept of structure: a review and critical analysis with an introduction to a dynamic-structural theory of behavior. New York: John Wiley.

Durkheim, E. (1984). The Division of labor in society W.D. Halls, Trans. New York: Free Press.

____. (1915). The Elementary forms of religious life J.W. Swain, Trans. New York: Free Press.

____. (1938). The Rules of sociological method S.A. Solovay & J.H Mueller, Trans. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Durkheim's Divison of Labor to
Words: 2482 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

" Nowadays, students have to choose between different academic disciplines: maybe one student prefers to be a psychologist rather than a physician. And then once the student has decided on psychology, he must choose, for example, to be a psychology major, as opposed to a physician major. Further more, there are even different categories within disciplines: social psychology, organizational psychology, clinical psychology, educational psychology etc., each with its own concepts, terminology

The Theoretical Framework of Emile Durkheim
Words: 1937 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Durkheim and the Times Event Summary Vindu Goel and Nick Wingfield of The New York Times (2015) report that Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, has promised to donate 99% of his shares in the company to charity over the course of his lifetime. What prompted this idea was the birth of his new child. He and his wife wrote a letter to the child in which they asserted that they "have a

Marx and Durkheim on Religion Karl Marx
Words: 1128 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Marx and Durkheim on Religion Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim, two of the most important social critics of the modern world, agree on very little about the functions and goals of religion and its place in modern societies. The one clear overlap in their assessments of religion is that it is immensely important and that no important critique of society can be complete without an examination of religion. This paper explores

Influential Economic Theorists in History
Words: 2870 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Biographies of Selected Organizational Theorists 1. ADAM SMITH (Wealth of Nations, 1723-1790) Born on June 5, 1723 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Adam Smith’s father died before his birth and he survived being briefly kidnapped by “gipsies” when he was just 4 years old to become one of the most prominent and influential economist theorists in history who is known today as the “Father of Economics” (Rae, 2009). Although his contributions were multiple, Smith

Positive Psychology the History and
Words: 2894 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

Another near-contemporary of Rogers and Maslow is Albert Bandura, whose social learning theory is more part of the behaviorist school than the humanist, though these are not as dissimilar as is often thought (Bandura 2010; Ricks & Wandersman 1982). Ultimately, though Bandura's work is most famous for explaining aggression and other behavior developments, it is truly concerned with how people develop into functioning and satisfied human beings (Bandura 2010; Bandura

Sociological Theories the Theory of
Words: 3250 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Many different views abound on the origins of modern capitalism, causalities that range from economic to political, from religious to cultural, or for some, an amalgamation of societies need to expand and the resources necessary to fuel that expansion. Max Weber's the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism is a study of the relationship between the ethics of ascetic Protestantism and the emergence of the spirit of modern capitalism.

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now