Durkheim and Merton Anomie or Strain Theories, Slides of Criminology

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Durkheim&Merton

Anomie or “Strain”

Theories

Emile Durkheim

 French Sociologist

 Suicide

 Crime is “Functional”

 Mechanical vs. Organic Solidarity

 Altruistic vs. Common Criminal

Two Main Traditions in Sociolgoy  Chicago School of Crime/Social Disorganization

• Social Integration
• Capping Human Desires
  • Differential Association
  • Informal Social Control (Control Theories)  Anomie/Strain
• Industrial Prosperity
• Anomie

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

• The “American Dream” as a virtue and VICE

Strain Theory--Anomie at the

Micro Level

 Cultural Goals in U.S.?

• The American Dream = $ = Universal

 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 CULTURAL INSTITUT. ADAPTATION GOALS MEANS

**1. Conformity + +

2. Innovation + -
3. Ritualism - +
4. Retreatism - -
5. Rebellion +/- +/-**

More recent empirical studies

 “Blocked Opportunities”

• 50/50 odds study finds a relationship
• Even here, weak association

 Disappointment with current financial

status

• One study, but found moderate relationship, even after controlling for other theories

Criticisms of Merton and

“Strain” Theory

 Is crime a “lower class” phenomena?

 Cannot explain “expressive” crimes

• In Merton’s defense, this was a “mid-range” theory of crime

 Why ritualist vs. innovator?

 Weak empirical support

 Hirschi = “Oversocialized Man”