Strain and Anomie: Key Concepts and Theories

Merton's Anomie Theory (1938)

Social conditions pressure individuals to achieve success, but not everyone has equal access to the socially approved means for doing so. This disparity leads to deviant or criminal behavior.

Merton's view of human desires vs. Durkheim's

• Durkheim believed humans have unlimited desires that need societal control

• Merton believed desires are socially created.

Primary cultural goal in American society according to Merton

The acquisition of wealth, symbolized by the 'almighty dollar,' with success emphasized more than the means to achieve it.

Class structure influence on strain

• The upper class has better access to legitimate means of success (education, social connections)

• Lower class faces barriers, leading to higher rates of crime and deviance.

Anomie according to Merton

A state of normlessness that occurs when society sets universal goals but limits legitimate ways to achieve them, creating strain.

Merton's five modes of adaptation to strain

1. Conformity: Accepts goals and follows approved means. 2. Innovation: Accepts goals but uses illegitimate means.
3. Ritualism: Follows rules but abandons goals.
4. Retreatism: Rejects both goals and means.
5. Rebellion: Rejects goals and means, substituting new ones.

Most common adaptation associated with criminal behavior

Innovation, where individuals accept cultural goals but use illegitimate means to achieve them.

Cloward and Ohlin's Opportunity Theory

They add that access to illegitimate opportunities also varies, allowing organized crime in communities lacking legitimate resources.

Criticisms leading to the decline of traditional strain theory

• Focus on lower-class delinquency

• ignoring goals beyond financial success

• failure to consider barriers beyond social class,

• inability to explain why only some people turn to crime.

Three types of strain in Agnew's General Strain Theory (GST)

1. Failure to achieve goals.
2. Removal of positively valued stimuli.
3. Presence of negatively valued stimuli.

Agnew's GST view on emotional responses to strain

Strain produces emotions like anger, frustration, and depression, which may lead to crime, especially if the strain is perceived as unjust or uncontrollable.

Difference between objective and subjective strain

• Objective strains: disliked by most people

• Subjective strains: personal and disliked specifically by the individual experiencing them.

Key characteristics of strain likely to lead to crime

Strain is more likely to cause crime when it is perceived as unjust, severe, associated with low social control, or seen as solvable through crime.

Messner & Rosenfeld's explanation of America's high crime rate

Through the American Dream, which emphasizes material success and individual competition, leading to widespread strain and deviance.

Four cultural values of the American Dream that foster crime

1. Achievement: Success is prioritized over effort.
2. Individualism: Personal success is paramount.
3. Universalism: Everyone is expected to pursue success.
4. Materialism: The accumulation of wealth is the main measure of success.

Policy ideas from Merton's Strain Theory

One suggestion is to lower societal aspirations to reduce strain, though it may be unpopular as it goes against the American dream of success.

Policy changes proposed by Messner and Rosenfeld to reduce crime

Strengthening social institutions like family and education through policies like family leave, job sharing, flexible work schedules, and affordable childcare.

Critique of strain theory's focus on class and crime

It is criticized for assuming a strong link between lower-class status and crime, but self-report studies show this relationship is more complex.

Findings of Messner and Rosenfeld about countries with strong social welfare systems

These countries tend to have lower homicide rates, supporting their Institutional Anomie Theory (IAT).