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Anomie, a concept first coined by American functionalist sociologist Robert K. Merton, draws upon Emile Durkheim's ideas and serves as a cornerstone for Merton's own theory known as Strain Theory. While Durkheim initially proposed that sudden social change leads to anomie, Merton argues that the root cause lies in a social structure that offers the same goals to all members but fails to provide equal means for achieving them. This disparity between cultural expectations and structural opportunities leads to deviant behavior.
Merton utilizes Durkheim's notion of anomie to elucidate the breakdown of the normative system.
Merton posits that the American dream, which propagates the idea that success can be attained through hard work and discipline, significantly influences whether certain groups engage in criminal activities. However, an individual's position within the social structure can profoundly affect their chances of achieving success, leading to the manifestation of anomie.
One's response to anomie is intricately tied to their position in the social hierarchy.
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Merton categorizes these responses into five distinct groups: conformists, innovators, ritualists, retreatists, and rebels.
The first response is that of conformists, the most prevalent category. Conformists are individuals who strive to achieve societal goals through approved means and channels.
Next, we have innovators, considered rule-breakers by Merton. These individuals seek success through illegitimate means, such as theft or cheating in exams, resorting to criminal acts as a means to an end.
The third response is that of ritualists. These individuals continue to go through the motions but have abandoned aspirations of success.
Often found in the lower middle class, they occupy jobs with limited opportunities for advancement and possess little ambition.
Retreatists, on the other hand, have forsaken both societal goals and the means to attain them. This category encompasses individuals who withdraw from mainstream society, often into a world of drug abuse, alcoholism, or other deviant behaviors.
Lastly, rebels reject both societal goals and accepted means to achieve them. Instead, they substitute their own goals and means, frequently by joining rebel groups or engaging in unconventional activities.
Merton contends that deviance arises as a response to status frustration, a condition where approved avenues to success do not align with an individual's circumstances. This incongruence results in anomie, further fueling deviant behavior. Sociologists have observed that disadvantaged groups, particularly the underprivileged and lower working class, face limited opportunities to attain societal goals through conventional means due to educational disadvantages and low-paying employment. These individuals may resort to rule-breaking and deviance as a response to the strain created by their aspirations for success and their inability to achieve it through legitimate channels.
Laurie Taylor criticized Merton's analysis for its lack of elaboration and its failure to consider those who create and benefit from societal laws. Taylor questioned the fairness of a social structure rigged in favor of those in power, which guarantees their success.
Since Merton's original work, sociologists have endeavored to modify and expand his theory to offer more comprehensive explanations for crime and delinquency. Subcultural theories delve into deviance in terms of subcultures within social groups. Some theorists argue that working-class values differ significantly, making them more prone to engage in criminal activities.
Albert Cohen, for example, posits the existence of a delinquent subculture, challenging Merton's notion that delinquency stems primarily from individual responses to class positions. According to Cohen, individuals band together for acts like joyriding and vandalism, which do not yield monetary rewards. Nevertheless, Cohen acknowledges that Merton's theory can still help explain professional crime among adults and some professional thieves.
In contrast, many Marxists view crime as an inherent outcome of capitalist society. They argue that the capitalist economic system inherently generates criminal behavior. According to this perspective, those who own and control the means of production hold significant power, which is reflected in the superstructure of society. Marxists contend that the state, including agencies of social control, serves the interests of the ruling class and perpetuates their dominance while coercing and controlling the working class.
Sociologists like William Chambliss, Mankoff, Pearce, and Snider assert that the power dynamic in society is predominantly determined by those who control the means of production. This control is mirrored in the superstructure, including the legal and social institutions, which perpetuate the interests of the ruling class. From the Marxist perspective, the capitalist system inherently breeds crime as a means for the ruling class to maintain their control over the working class.
In conclusion, anomie and strain theory, as developed by Robert K. Merton, provide valuable insights into the relationship between societal expectations, opportunities for success, and deviant behavior. Merton's theory highlights the tension between cultural ideals and structural limitations as a catalyst for deviance. However, criticisms and modifications have expanded our understanding of deviance and crime, with subcultural theories offering nuanced perspectives on the influence of social groups on criminal behavior. Additionally, Marxist perspectives emphasize the role of capitalism in perpetuating crime as a means of social control. These various perspectives contribute to a richer and more comprehensive understanding of deviant behavior in society.
Anomie, Strain Theory, and Deviant Behavior. (2020, Jun 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/mertons-theory-of-anomie-essay
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