Durkheim & anomie

What does Durkheim mean by anomie?

• social norms become unclear during rapid social change

• Ppl feel disconnected and rebel

What did Durkheim think caused it?

• disconnection

• Moral compass breakdown

The strain theory theorist

Merton (in Great Depression)

Strain theory

• for a society to achieve value consensus

• It needs to set its members goals and means of achieving those goals

Merton’s definition of anomie

• product of a strain between socially accepted goals and the socially accepted means to achieve them

What does Merton mean by strain?

• people don’t have equal access to the means of achieving socially acceptable goals

Americans were sociallised into the American dream, what is it?

• value consensus

• Success and wealth is the goal

What are goals?

• something you strive for

• Result of work

What are means?

The way someone goes about achieving their goals

What are the 5 diff adaptations in response to the strain?

• Ritualism

• Retreatism

• Rebellion

• Innovation

• Conformity

Ritualism - goals and means

• Don’t accept the goals

• accept the means

Retreatism - goals and means

• don’t accept the goals

• Don’t accept the means

• Other forms of escapism, withdraw from society

Rebellion - goals and means

• Reject goals

• Reject means

• Seek to actively replace it

Innovation - goals and means

• accept goals

• Don’t accept means

• Unconventional or illegal means

Conformity - goals and means

• accept goals

• Accept means

E.g. of conventional goals and means

• career = education

• Family = marriage + kids

Durkheim says two main causes of anomie are..

• division of labour

• Rapid social change

Why is the division of labour a cause of anomie?

• weakens sense of identification with wider society

• Lead to social disintergration

What has rapid social change caused in modern society? (E.g. Industrial Revolution)

• loss of collective conscience

• Loss of homogenous norms and values = individualism

Definition of anomie - Durkheim

• society can’t put restraints on individuals

• Breakdown of norms due to rapid social change that leads in increase in crime

Explanation of rising crime rates

• if an individual lacks any sense of social restraint

• Self interests become the priority over the law