Lecture 2 - upload

Page 1: Introduction

Anomie and Strain in criminological theory are introduced by Laura Bower. This section establishes the groundwork for understanding how societal structures influence crime.

Page 2: Self-Care Reminder

In this module, themes such as victimization, violence, and abuse are discussed. Personal well-being is emphasized, and students are encouraged to prioritize self-care and reach out to support systems such as the PDT, The Student Support Team, or their GP if needed.

Page 3: Key Questions

This section poses critical questions essential for understanding crime:

• What is the definition of 'crime'?

• What is the object and level of analysis?

• What assumptions about human action and social order are made?

• What key concepts are used?

Page 4: Sociological Positivism's Early Beginnings

Positivism focuses on observable reality. Key concepts include:

• Ontology: one social world.

• Epistemology: knowledge is produced through discovering observable social facts (Alharahsheh and Pius, 2020).

• Noted by 'moral statisticians' in the 1830s, two patterns were observed:

  • Variations in crime types and amounts across regions.

  • Consistency of crime rates within the same region over time.

Page 5: André-Michel Guerry

Guerry (1802-1866) analyzed criminal statistics with an ecological approach, using maps to visualize crime data. Key assertions include:

1. No significant correlation between poverty and crime.

2. Lack of education is not a consistent predictor of criminal behavior.

Page 6: Emile Durkheim's Relevant Works

Durkheim is noted for several significant works:

• The Division of Labour in Society (1893)

• Suicide: A Study in Sociology (1897)

• The Rules of the Sociological Method (1895)

• Moral Education (1902)

Page 7: Rejection of Biological Determinism

Durkheim explored the impact of social circumstances on behavior, emphasizing:

• Heredity influences general faculties but not specific aptitudes.

• Social circumstances markedly influence deviance, particularly under anomie.

• Social harmony emerges from a well-functioning division of labor.

Page 8: Anomie

Durkheim defined anomie as a state where individuals are free from social constraints, including moral ones. This often results in deviant behaviors, especially during times of rapid social, economic, or political change.

Page 9: Collective Conscience

Collective conscience refers to beliefs and sentiments shared across society. Durkheim noted:

• It contains societal appetites that require external constraints for moderation.

• This concept is fundamental to understanding social facts and their impact on individual behavior.

Page 10: Mechanical Solidarity

Mechanical solidarity characterizes societies with little social differentiation and a strong collective conscience, often rooted in religious norms. Individuality and deviation are minimal due to the overwhelming societal norms.

Page 11: Organic Solidarity

As societies evolve, individualism increases, resulting in organic solidarity where social cohesion is based on interdependence due to the division of labor, resembling a complex organism.

Page 12: Specialization

• Less specialization leads to mechanical solidarity, promoting sameness.

• More specialization fosters organic solidarity and diverse norms, creating subcultures.

Page 13: Anomie and the Cult of the Individual

Anomie arises when collective conscience fails to regulate individual appetites, leading to a culture that encourages excessive egoism and a disconnect between societal functions and individual actions.

Page 14: Conditions of Anomie

Durkheim asserted that anomic conditions arise from:

1. Lack of integration among work functions.

2. Conflicts between labor and capital.

3. Increased specializations.

Page 15: Individuals within Society

Durkheim posited that each individual possesses dual consciences:

• A collective one reflecting group norms.

• A personal one representing individuality.

• The transition to organic societies is driven by an increase in moral density, requiring mental frameworks to guide behaviors.

Page 16: Durkheim on Suicide

Durkheim outlined how societal pressures influence suicide rates through:

1. Egoistic suicide - too little social integration.

2. Anomic suicide - imbalance of societal means.

3. Altruistic suicide - too much social integration.

Page 17: Crime as a Normal Social Fact

Durkheim argued that all societies grapple with criminality as a social fact, essential for understanding collective life.

Page 18: Theoretical Exploration of Crime

He theorized that crime exists even in ideal societies, suggesting social constructions of crime depend on societal perceptions.

Page 19: Crime and the Collective Consciousness

Durkheim emphasized crime's socially constructed nature, stressing that acts are deemed criminal based on societal condemnation rather than inherent qualities.

Page 20: Functions of Deviance

Durkheim argued crime serves crucial functions in society, including:

1. Generating and sustaining morality.

2. Clarifying moral boundaries.

3. Promoting social unity.

Page 21: Reflection on Deviance

He noted that deviance could help redefine collective sentiments, as exemplified by Socrates' condemnation for his independent thought, which ultimately served a higher moral purpose.

Page 22: Better Formulations

References to different conceptualizations of deviant heroes by notable theorists expand the understanding of social deviance.

Page 23: Examples of Anomie

Highlighted events demonstrating anomie include:

• Suffragettes

• Extinction Rebellion

• Loving v. Virginia

• Sophie Scholl

• Abu Ghraib and the Capitol Riots

• BLM and the Civil Rights Movement.

Page 24: Criticisms of Anomie

Critiques highlight the elusive nature of anomie, its fragmented explanations for crime causation, and its implications on legal frameworks.

Page 25: Commonalities Among Examples

Inquires into shared characteristics of various social movements and phenomena connected by the theme of anomie.

Page 26: Historical Context

The Great Depression is contextualized as a major economic downturn resulting from the 1920s Roaring economy and culminating in the Wall Street Crash.

Page 27: Robert K. Merton Overview

Merton introduced a modern variation of strain theory through his seminal work Anomie and Social Structure (1938) and was also a distinguished sociologist in the USA.

Page 28: Merton's Goals

Merton aimed to unravel class differences in criminal behavior, linking economic circumstances to class consciousness and societal role dynamics.

Page 29: Social Order Concept

Merton discussed the social structure in terms of hierarchies, examining how societal placement affects individuals’ advantages and opportunities.

Page 30: Merton’s Conceptualization of Anomie

Merton positioned anomie as integral to social reality, arguing that structural conditions induce deviation from accepted behavioral patterns.

Page 31: Merton’s Definitions of Anomie

He provided various definitions of anomie, indicating conceptual ambiguity, which reflects the complexity within his theoretical framework.

Page 32: Comparative Views on Anomie

Merton and Durkheim's differing perspectives are highlighted regarding the contexts and manifestations of anomie within society.

Page 33: Cultural Goals - The American Dream

Merton examined the American Dream as a societal commitment to material success framed within competition, influencing individual conduct and deviations.

Page 34: Cultural Aspirations

Cultural goals encourage certain aspirations, emphasizing persistence and resilience in pursuing success as intrinsic to American identity.

Page 35: Modes of Adaptation

Merton describes strain as a direct response to societal pressures, framing it as a driver of deviant behavior.

Page 36: Innovation in Response to Strain

Innovation often emerges when individuals emphasize cultural goals without understanding the institutional norms that should govern them, leading to potential deviance.

Page 37: Wealth Goals and Criminal Behavior

People’s inability to achieve financial success often propels them to illegitimate means to fulfill their aspirations, as indicated by Merton’s insight on social structure pressures.

Page 38: Critiques of Merton’s Approach

Merton's work receives criticism for oversimplification and ambiguous assumptions regarding strain's role in predicting delinquency.

Page 39: Robert Agnew's Contributions

Agnew identified three types of strain, focusing on the impact of societal pressures on individuals and their responses to strain beyond delinquency.

Page 40: Cumulative Effects of Strain

Agnew theorizes that strain can build cumulatively, often resulting in delinquency as a method of coping, while also recognizing alternative non-delinquent responses to strain.

Page 41: Conclusion

The presentation culminates with gratitude from Laura Bower for engaging with criminological theory insights.

Page 42-45: References

Extensive references provide foundational and contextual literature supporting discussions on anomie, strain theory, and their historical development within criminological discourse.