Robert K Merton n Strain Theory Individual Level

Robert K. Merton n “Strain Theory” Individual Level n Gap between economic aspirations (which all are encouraged to pursue) and structural reality (limited opportunity) n n Policy Implications? Increase opportunity for lower class youth n “Mobilization for Youth” Program n

MERTON II n Culture n n Social Structure n n THE “American Dream” mentality Unequal distribution of means for achieving the “American Dream” Problems? n n n Preoccupied with Lower Class Addresses only “Economic Crimes” Everyone focused on the MICRO level theory

Messner and Rosenfeld (1995) n n CRIME AND THE AMERICAN DREAM “The Road not Taken” Focus on Anomie at Macro level n Why is U. S. so crime-prone? n n n Culture = American Dream Social Structure = more than $

The Culture: Elements of the “American Dream” n n n Achievement Individualism Universalism The “fetishism” of money These elements encourage “Anomic conditions”

THE AMERICAN DREAM PRODUCES ANOMIE n n MERTON: Pursuit of financial success is “limited only by considerations of technical expediency. ” Lombardi: Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.

Social Structure More than Distribution of Wealth n n Social institutions as the building blocks of society (make up social structure). Functions? Allow us to adapt to the environment n Mobilize and deploy resources to achieve collective goals n Socialize members to accept society’s normative patterns n

Institutions in U. S. ? n n The Economy The Polity The Family Education

Key Issue for M & R n n n 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”

The “Market Society” as a play on words n n A capitalist economy is referred to as a free market or “market” economy. The term “market society” suggests that the entire society is dominated by the free market economy.

Indicators of “Economic Dominance” or a “Market Society” n n n 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 n Weak institutional controls Family and School are handicapped in efforts to promote allegiance to social rules n Single parent families n Poorly funded schools n “Weak institutions invite challenge” n

Culture, Social Structure, and Crime Rates CULTURE SOCIAL STRUCTURE The American Dream Economic Dominance ANOMIE Weak Institutional Controls HIGH CRIME RATES

Empirical Validity of IA theory n New theory--only 2 good tests thus far n n Chamlin and Cochran n n Both support IA, but have limitations State level variations in non-economic institutions modify the effect of poverty on economic crimes Messner and Roesnfeld n The “decommodification index” across countries predicts homicide rates

Policy Implications of IA n The two main causes of crime are: n n n Change “money fetish? ” n n n American Dream ethos (cultural) Economic Dominance of other institutions (structural) Time for America to “grow up” Push culture towards valuing “spousing, parenting” Strengthen non-economic institutions? n Family, School. . .

EXAM I “IMPENDING DOOM” n n Concern = few assignments thus far Format = “Short Answer Essay” n n More than: Describe Merton’s theory For Each Theory Central Concepts (and how they relate) n Empirical status (and how you might measure concepts) n Criticisms n Policy Implications n