1. Anomie

2. Emile Durkheim Modern society
"normlessness" (a-nomos)
Deviance: Poorly articulated or non-existent rules of conduct
human nature: innately desirous
society must set limits

3. Durkheim & Suicide Relationship between social structure & deviance
Egoistic
Western societies
Individualism
Altruistic
Self is unimportant vis-à-vis society
Fatalistic
Slavery

4. Durkheim & Suicide Anomic Weak collective conscience
Rapid social/status change
Modernity (again): nearly-permanent state of normlessness
division of labor
separation of home and workplace
decline of guild, church
individualism

5. Robert Merton’s Anomie
NOT normlessness
unlimited aspiration
Strain
cultural definitions of success &
legitimate means of achieving success

6. Merton’s Anomie Culturally Approved Goals Legitimate Means Conformity+
Innovation _
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion
+/_

7. Richard Cloward & Lloyd Ohlin
Delinquency & Opportunity
Illegitimate means can be blocked
Subcultures
Criminal
Conflict
Retreatist
Double failure

8. Social Control in Anomie
Durkheim: Return to Moral Order
Create a secular moral order
Voluntary and occupational associations
Educational Institutions

9. Social Control in Anomie
Merton: Two Options
Reduce Aspiration
Increase access to legitimate means of success
Mobilization for Youth (1960's; Cloward and Ohlin)

10. Evaluating Anomie Strengths: Weaknesses:
Empirical support
Merton
Beyond individualistic explanations
Weaknesses:
Ignored white collar crime
Over-emphasizes consensus
limited definition of success
Is all crime and deviance economically motivated?