Abstract

Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist, is one of the influential figures in the developments of criminology. The approach he chose in analyzing criminal and deviant phenomena is completely in line with a sociological criminology or criminological sociology perspective. By proposing some concepts, he has tried to find the root of the criminality and deviance of some individuals. Among the important and main concepts considered by Durkheim is the concept of anomie (abnormality). Durkheim analyzes this concept by studying the changes that human societies, especially following the phenomenon of industrialization, find from an organic to a mechanical state. In his opinion, anomie is rooted in the defective economic, social and cultural structure of society during the period of changes he sees. The proposal of the concept of anomie by Durkheim caused important developments after him, including the presentation of theories of abnormality and pressure by some such as Merton and Parsons. In this study, an attempt has been made to discuss the theory of anomie from the perspective of Emile Durkheim.