Durkheim&Merton
Durkheim&Merton
Anomie or “Strain” Theories
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
Culturally Valued Goals
Institutionalized Means
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
Anomie as a Macro Level Theory
Explains the high crime rates among the lower class
Explains the high crime rates in the United States? (Means/Goal conflict)
Strain Theory (Micro)
Criticisms of 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 produce delinquency
Strain(Neg Emotional(Delinquency
Agnew (GST)
Tests of GST are more favorable
But, is it “STRAIN” or something else?
Is this theory a theory of “Strain” or a theory of “STRESS?”
ROBERT MERTON
Culture
THE “American Dream”
Social Structure
Unequal distribution of means for achieving the “American Dream”
CRIME AND THE AMERICAN DREAM
Messner and Rosenfeld
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
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