DurkheimMerton Anomie or Strain Theories Emile Durkheim n

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Durkheim&Merton Anomie or “Strain” Theories

Durkheim&Merton Anomie or “Strain” Theories

Emile Durkheim n French Sociologist n Suicide n Crime is “Functional” n Mechanical vs.

Emile Durkheim n French Sociologist n Suicide n Crime is “Functional” n Mechanical vs. Organic Solidarity n Altruistic vs. Common Criminal

Durkheim as the Root of all Sociological Theory n Durkheim emphasized several different themes

Durkheim as the Root of all Sociological Theory n Durkheim emphasized several different themes – Social Integration – Humans as greedy, self-interested • “Insatiable Desires” – Anomie

Two Main Traditions in Sociolgoy n Chicago School of Crime/Social Disorganization – Social Integration

Two Main Traditions in Sociolgoy n Chicago School of Crime/Social Disorganization – Social Integration – Capping Human Desires • Differential Association • Informal Social Control (Control Theories) n Anomie/Strain – Industrial Prosperity – Anomie

Robert K. Merton n Social Structure and Anomie (1938) n From Durkheim: Institutionalized norms

Robert K. Merton n Social Structure and Anomie (1938) n From Durkheim: Institutionalized norms are weakened in societies that place an intense value on economic success n Applied this to the United States – The “American Dream” as a virtue and VICE

Anomie -- Macro Level n The “road not taken” n Explanation of high crime

Anomie -- Macro Level n The “road not taken” n Explanation of high crime rates in the United States? – Follows close to Durkheim – Gist = Unrestrained American capitalism and fetish with money creates anomie n Picked up by Messner and Rosenfeld

Strain Theory--Anomie at the Micro Level n Cultural Goals in U. S. ? –

Strain Theory--Anomie at the Micro Level n Cultural Goals in U. S. ? – The American Dream = $ = Universal n Institutionalized Means? – Given social structure in the U. S. , the means are to achieve $ are unequally distributed – Segment of society with no way to attain goal b/c they lack means

Strain Theory (Micro) MODES OF ADAPTATION CULTURAL GOALS INSTITUT. MEANS 1. Conformity + +

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

Support for Micro Strain Theory First tested as the disjuncture between educational or economic

Support for Micro Strain Theory First tested as the disjuncture between educational or economic “aspirations” and “expectations” n Little empirical support for this n – Delinquents tend to have low expectations and aspirations – BUT—is this really a great measure of strain?

More recent empirical studies n “Blocked Opportunities” – 50/50 odds study finds a relationship

More recent empirical studies n “Blocked Opportunities” – 50/50 odds study finds a relationship – Even here, weak association n Disappointment status with current financial – One study, but found moderate relationship, even after controlling for other theories

Criticisms of Merton and “Strain” Theory n Is crime a “lower class” phenomena? n

Criticisms of Merton and “Strain” Theory n Is crime a “lower class” phenomena? n Cannot explain “expressive” crimes – In Merton’s defense, this was a “mid-range” theory of crime n Why ritualist vs. innovator? n Weak empirical support n Hirschi = “Oversocialized Man”

ANOMIE—The Legacy n 1950 s-1960 s = “Subcultrual” theories – Mix anomie tradition with

ANOMIE—The Legacy n 1950 s-1960 s = “Subcultrual” theories – Mix anomie tradition with differential association n 1990 s = Revisions of Merton’s theory – Individual Level = “General Strain Theory” – Macro Level = “Institutional Anomie”