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Anomie or “Strain” Theories

Explore Emile Durkheim's concept of Anomie and Robert K. Merton's Strain Theory, analyzing the impact on societal norms and behaviors. Critique Merton's theory, delve into Agnew's General Strain Theory, and examine Crime and the American Dream through Messner and Rosenfeld's perspectives. Discover how economic dominance and weak institutional controls contribute to high crime rates in the context of cultural ideals.

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Anomie or “Strain” Theories

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  1. Anomie or “Strain” Theories Durkheim, Merton, Agnew Messner and Rosenfeld

  2. Emile Durkheim • French Sociologist • Suicide • Coined the Term “Anomie”: A state where institutionalized norms lost their meaning and ability to control human behavior and human needs • Mechanical vs. Organic Solidarity

  3. Robert K. Merton • Social Structure and Anomie (1938) • From Durkheim: Institutionalized norms are weakened in societies that place an intense value on economic success • Applied this to the United States • The “American Dream”

  4. Conflict: Means and Goals • Cultural Goal in U.S.? • This goal is universal • (The American Dream) • Institutionalized Means? • Due to the social structure in the U.S., the means are unequally distributed • Segment of society with no way to attain goal

  5. MODES OF CULTURAL STITUTIONALIZED ADAPTATION GOALS MEANS 1. Conformity + + 2. Innovation + - 3. Ritualism - + 4. Retreatism - - 5. Rebellion +/- +/- Strain Theory (Micro Level)

  6. Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory • Is crime a “lower class” phenomena? • Cannot explain “expressive” crimes • Only “instrumental crimes” • Weak empirical support

  7. Agnew: General Strain Theory • Overhaul of Merton’s Strain Theory • Four types of strain • Failure to achieve valued goals • Removal of valued stimuli • Can’t escape noxious stimuli • Disjuncture between expectations and aspirations

  8. Agnew (GST) • StrainNegative Affective States • Anger, fear, frustration, depression • In lieu of “Coping Mechanisms,” anger and frustration can produce delinquency • StrainNeg EmotionalDelinquency

  9. Agnew (GST) • Tests of GST are more favorable • Is this theory a theory of “Strain” (in a sociological sense) or a theory of “STRESS?” (in a psychological sense)

  10. CRIME AND THE AMERICAN DREAM Messner and Rosenfeld

  11. The Legacy of Merton • In “Social Structure and Anomie”: • “Modes of Adaptation” (micro) • Discussion of why U.S. might be crime prone (macro) than other countries • Messner and Rosefeld, in the 1980s, revisited the macro part of the theory

  12. Elements of the “American Dream” • Achievement • Individualism • Universalism • The “fetishism” of money • These elements encourage “Anomic conditions”

  13. THE AMERICAN DREAM PRODUCES ANOMIE • MERTON: Pursuit of financial success is “limited only by considerations of technical expediency.” • Lombardi: Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

  14. Institutions in Society • Social institutions as the building blocks of society. • The Economy • The Polity • The Family • Education

  15. Key Issue for M & R • These institutions sometimes have conflicting goals and values. • All societies can therefore be characterized by their distinctive arrangements of institutions • The U.S.? Economy Dominates: we are a “MARKET SOCIETY”

  16. Indicators of Economic Dominance • Devaluation of non-economic institutional functions and roles • Accommodation to economic requirements by other social institutions • Penetration of economic norms into other social domains

  17. Implications of Economic Dominance • Weak institutional controls • Family and School are handicapped in efforts to promote allegiance to social rules • Single parent families • Poorly funded schools • “Weak institutions invite challenge”

  18. Culture, Social Structure, and Crime Rates CULTURE The American Dream ANOMIE SOCIAL STRUCTURE Economic Dominance Weak Institutional Controls HIGH CRIME RATES

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