1. 118 week 7: Anomie and Strain Theories

2. Anomie Emile Durkheim  Anomie: normlessness, no rules or norms about behavior.  Anomie explains crime between societies (eg. US and Japan)  Strain explains crime within societies (eg. Within the US)

3. Merton – Classic Strain Theory 1938 (fairly forgotten until mid 80s) 2 important concepts:  Culturally defined goals  Acceptable means to achieve goals There is a disjunction between goals and means, this can cause strain, so people have to adapt to these

4. Merton – Classic Strain Theory  People are generally moral and optimistic  Strain comes from universalism  Strain applies to everyone, but mostly to the lower classes (why?)

5. Merton – Classic Strain Theory 5 modes of adaptation: GOALS MEANS  Conformity++  Innovation+-  Ritualism-+  Retreatism--  Rebellion+/-+/-

6. Merton – Classical Strain Theory Critique:  Only explains financial crime?  Other cultures? (European etc?)  Implications?  Desistance  No support for distinct subcultures  Most criminals have low expectations

7. Modern Strain Theories Influenced by the criticisms of the classical strain theory Wanted to address institutional anomie All social institutions get subordinated by financial goals (state (politics), family, education) Need to emphasize non-economic goals

8. Messner and Rosenfeld – The American Dream Wants to explain crime rate in US Compare US and Japan etc What is it about US society that makes people criminal? The American Dream: commitment to the goal of material success, to be pursued by everyone in society under conditions of open individual competition

9. Messner and Rosenfeld – The American Dream ‘America poises its citizens against one another, with the warning that they must make it on their own. Hence the stress of moving past others, driven by a fear of failing behind. No other nation so rates its residents as winners or losers’

10. Messner and Rosenfeld – The American Dream Money  success  self worth Big contribution:  Challenged criminologists to think at the macro level  Crime was seen as a product of a widely admired cultural phenomenon  Deep historical roots that were not psychological  Epitome of free will

11. Agnew – General Strain Theory Looked at multiple factors as a source of strain Applied strain at an individual level Added an important component… emotions… which one?

12. Agnew – General Strain Theory Negative relationships  negative emotions  crime Stress and negative relationships come from:  Removal of positively valued stimuli  Presentation of negative stimuli Anger is the key mechanism in producing crime

13. Agnew – General Strain Theory Adolescents lack the resources to deal with these emotions Coping mechanisms:  Cognitive coping  Behavioral coping  Emotional coping

14. Gangs Video Old video – what’s changed? How does someone become a gang member? What theory explains this process? Do female gang members require a separate explanation? If so, what? Why is graffiti referred to as the newspaper of the street?