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

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

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”

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

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

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

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

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

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)

CRIME AND THE AMERICAN DREAM Messner and Rosenfeld

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

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

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.

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

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”

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

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”

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