9 - Anomie and Social Disorganization Theories Lecture Notes

This set of flashcards includes key concepts, definitions, and theories discussed in the sociology lecture about anomie and social disorganization as they relate to crime and deviance.

What is a social system?

A society, community, or subsystem that is socially organized and integrated with internal consensus on norms and values.

What does 'anomie' mean?

A state of normlessness or norm confusion within a society.

What do anomie and social disorganization theories propose?

Less solidarity and cohesion in a community leads to higher crime and deviance.

How do anomie and social disorganization differ?

They have different mechanisms by which disorder leads to crime.

What does social disorganization theory emphasize?

Disorder and rapid change weaken a community’s ability to control behavior.

What does anomie theory emphasize?

Malintegration weakens moral holds but crime occurs when access to economic goals is restricted.

What is the mechanism of social disorganization?

Social Control.

What is the mechanism of anomie?

Strain.

Who are the key figures in classic anomie/strain theories?

Merton, Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin, Miller.

What is Merton's view on social structure and anomie?

An integrated society balances social structure with culture.

What is 'the American Dream' according to Merton?

A societal emphasis on economic success that not everyone has access to achieve.

What causes strain according to Merton?

Disjunction between societal goals and means to achieve them.

What are the five behaviors Merton identifies in response to anomie?

Conformist, Innovator, Rebel, Retreatist, Ritualist.

What does a conformist do?

Accepts the state of affairs and strives for success within conventional means.

What characterizes an innovator?

Maintains commitment to success but uses illegitimate means.

What is a rebel according to Merton?

Rejects the system altogether and creates a new one.

What defines a retreatist?

Gives up on both goals and means, becoming a societal dropout.

What is a ritualist?

Gives up the struggle to get ahead but adheres to norms rigidly.

What does Cohen's theory focus on?

Status deprivation among juveniles unable to meet middle-class standards.

How does status frustration manifest in lower class youth?

They struggle to achieve status through conventional means.

What is the delinquent subculture?

A collective response to status frustration that opposes conventional standards.

What does Cloward and Ohlin's theory discuss?

Differential opportunity for access to legitimate and illegitimate means.

What are the three groups proposed by Cloward and Ohlin?

Criminal, Conflict, Retreatist.

What defines a criminal subculture?

Found in neighborhoods with adult criminal influences providing role models.

What characterizes a conflict subculture?

Youth who turn to gangs in socially disorganized neighborhoods.

What is the retreatist subculture?

Composed of individuals who have failed in both legitimate and criminal sectors.

What are Miller's focal concerns?

Values central to lower-class youth: Trouble, Toughness, Smartness, Excitement, Fatalism, Autonomy.

What is the crime and delinquency relationship according to anomie/strain theory?

An inverse relationship between social class and lawbreaking.

What is the connection between school dropout and delinquency?

Mixed results; dropouts may reduce offenses but still have higher rates than graduates.

What are aspirations?

What one hopes to achieve in life.

What are expectations?

What one believes is realistically possible to achieve.

What hypothesis exists about the discrepancy between aspirations and expectations?

Greater discrepancies increase probability of law violation.

What are contemporary anomie/strain theories?

Includes Mesner and Rosenfield’s Institutional-Anomie Theory and Agnew’s General Strain Theory.

What is Messner and Rosenfeld's argument about the American Dream?

It emphasizes material success which leads to normative breakdown.

How does the American Dream contribute to crime?

Fosters anomie and encourages crime as a means to achieve goals.

What are the four value orientations in the American Dream?

Achievement Orientation, Individualism, Universalism, Fetishism of Money.

What is the institutional balance of power?

The dominance of economic institutions over social ones leading to crime.

What changes do Mesner and Rosenfeld suggest for addressing crime?

Strengthening non-economic institutions.

What are Agnew's forms of strain?

Failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of valued stimuli, confrontation with negative stimuli.

How does strain relate to crime?

Strain can lead to crime, especially when it generates negative emotions.

What factors increase criminal adaptation to strain?

Low self-control, prior criminal learning, antisocial beliefs.

What types of strain most likely lead to delinquent coping?

Unjust, high magnitude, undermining social control.

What distinguishes subjective strain?

Strain identified by the individual.

What is objective strain?

Universal strain identified by society.

What are vicarious strains?

Strains that are witnessed by an individual.

What is anticipated strain?

Strain expected to occur by the individual.

What was the ultimate policy implication of structural theories?

Social changes are needed to address criminogenic features of institutions.

What does Agnew recommend for prevention programs?

Reducing adversity in the youth’s social environment and enhancing parenting skills.

What role does social support play in Agnew's theory?

Weakens the risk of criminal adaptation to strain.

How does Miller describe delinquent behavior?

As an adaptation to a distinct lower class culture.

What aspect of crime does the contemporary review of delinquency address?

The relationship between race, age, gender, and delinquency.