There are usually serious consequences when a politician is caught cheating on his spouse. In some cases, the politician is forced to resign from office when his constituents express their unhappiness with such behavior. According to Émile Durkheim, what function does this reaction serve?
A) It helps to deter politicians from cheating in the future.
B) It helps to clarify moral boundaries and reinforce the idea that marital infidelity is wrong.
C) The public outcry helps rehabilitate the offender so he won't cheat in the future.
D) It helps protect the family members of the politician from scrutiny and media coverage.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Émile Durkheim argues that the punishment of deviant behavior, such as marital infidelity in the case of politicians, serves to clarify moral boundaries and reinforce social norms. In this case, the public outcry against the politician's behavior reinforces the idea that marital infidelity is wrong, and serves as a warning to other politicians considering similar behavior.

There Are Usually Serious Consequences When a Politician Is Caught