Final answer:
True, Émile Durkheim argued that deviance is essential for the functioning of society by challenging social norms and reaffirming current values through punishment. His ideas are central to the functionalist perspective and the concept of social facts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Émile Durkheim posited that deviance plays a crucial role in society, which makes the statement True. Deviance, according to Durkheim, is functional for several reasons. It challenges existing social norms, pushing society to adapt and change, as exemplified by the civil rights sit-ins that questioned segregation. Additionally, when deviance is punished, it reaffirms the current social norms and cultural values, maintaining social order. This is seen in everyday situations such as students being disciplined for skipping class, which serves as a reminder to others about the importance of attendance. Durkheim's concept of social facts further emphasizes that these societal components, like laws and moral rules, are external to individuals and play a key role in shaping behavior.
Durkheim's views align with the functionalist perspective, where society is compared to a living organism with interconnected parts necessary for the wellbeing of the whole. This interconnectivity and the collective conscience lie at the heart of Durkheim's analysis. Laws, as expressions of collective conscience, function to maintain order and moral consciousness, thereby defining what is considered criminal behavior. The perspectives on deviance and social facts introduced by Durkheim have been influential in understanding the nature of society and its elements.