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

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
The American Dream
ANOMIE
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Economic Dominance
Weak Institutional Controls
HIGH CRIME RATES