Final answer:
Durkheim argued that deviance is essential for reinforcing societal norms and values through punishment, thereby maintaining social order. His concept of 'social facts' indicates that societal structures, norms, and values influence individual behaviors. Society should ensure that the punishment for deviance aligns with the community's collective conscience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Émile Durkheim, a foundational sociologist, believed that deviance played an essential role in society's functionality. He viewed deviance as a necessary component of social order, similar to organs in a living organism, each playing a crucial role to maintain a stable and adaptive society. Durkheim posited that deviance and its subsequent punishment serve to affirm and reinforce the collective values and norms of a society. When deviance is punished, it sends a clear message to other members of society about the consequences of such actions, thereby reaffirming the societal norms and maintaining social order.
Durkheim also believed in the concept of 'social facts,' which are the values, cultural norms, institutions, and social structures that exist outside of individuals but have a controlling influence on them. These social facts form society's collective conscience, guiding individual behavior to conform to societal norms. The adaptive function of deviance, according to Durkheim, is that it challenges and sometimes changes societal norms, leading to an evolving social landscape that can respond to new circumstances and integrate new behaviors.
In regards to how society should respond to deviance, Durkheim suggested that punishments for deviance should reflect the collective conscience and contribute to social solidarity. Hence, punishments should not only be a deterrent but also serve to illustrate the community's core values and norms, promoting cohesion and the reinforcing of moral boundaries.