Ferdinand Tönnies’ work “Community and Society” (1887) is considered one of the earliest and most important key texts in sociology. In this work, Tönnies introduces the fundamental distinction between two forms of social life: the traditionally rooted, emotionally bound community and the rationally calculated, purpose-driven society. This differentiation continues to
Soziale Rollen
Outsiders (Becker)
In his book Outsiders, published in 1963, Becker describes the processes by which certain behaviors are criminalized. So-called moral entrepreneurs attempt to eliminate an evil they perceive by creating and enforcing norms. The groups that continue to practice the newly criminalized behaviour thus become outsiders. Through these processes, self-fulfilling prophecies
