American sociologist Dr. Robert Merton is considered by many scholars as one of the founding fathers of modern sociology. Dr. Merton is best known for coining the phrases “role model” and “self-fulfilling prophecy” which has become common terms in American culture.
Anomie
Dr. Merton expanded on the work of French sociologist Émile Durkheim on anomie with his theory on deviance and social strain.
Anomie in the simplest terms is a lack of social or ethical norms in an individual or group.
When Dr. Merton was developing his theory on deviance, he analyzed American culture, structure, and anomie. Dr. Merton believed that all United States citizens believed and strived for the “American Dream”; however, the ways in which citizens obtain the “American Dream” of success are not the same, simply because not all citizens have the same opportunities and advantages.
Dr. Merton believed that this leads to deviance in achieving the “American Dream” by some who turn to illegal activity while still believing in the dream of success but using illegal means to obtain the dream by such activity as illegal drug dealing to achieve financial success. Dr. Melton also suggested that for some they drop out of society becoming drug addicts or drifters realizing the “American Dream” is unattainable for them and this can lead to deviant behavior.
Dr. Merton expanded research on anomie in his deviance theory, is widely used today in criminology when studying Strain Theory.
Robert Agnew on Strain Theory and the American Society for Criminology
Merton’s Deviance Criteria
“A cardinal American virtue, ‘ambition,’ promotes a cardinal American vice, ‘deviant behavior.” ….Robert K. Merton
Dr. Merton believed there are two criteria that promote deviant behavior.
- A motivation of the person to adhere to cultural goals.
- A person’s belief in how to obtain these cultural goals
Dr. Merton believed that there are five types of deviance based on his criteria:
- Conformity: Is when the person or group accepts cultural goals and the means of attaining them.
- Innovation: The person or group accepting cultural goals; however, they reject the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals. An example would be organized crime families. They believe in the “American Dream”; however, use illegitimate and illegal means to obtain these goals.
- Ritualism: Involves the person or group rejecting cultural goals but accepting the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals.
- Retreatism: Is the rejection of both the cultural goals and the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals.
- Rebellion: Is when the person or group rejects both the cultural goals and the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals. An example would be Outlaw Motorcycle Club culture in which they reject society cultural goals and the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals by replacing both elements with their own goals and ways to achieve these goals.
The strain that society places on achieving the “American Dream”, leads to deviance according to Dr. Merton theory. There are plenty of examples of Dr. Merton’s theory in today’s news headlines with criminal cases involving banking investors, politicians, organized crime, etc. The need for greed to achieve the “American Dream” has caused many to intentional break laws to achieve financial success.
Merton’s Legacy
Sadly, Dr. Merton passed in 2003, but his legacy lives on through his criminology work that he has left us with anomie and strain theory.
The challenge for today’s criminologist continues through scientific research for a better understanding as to the causes of crime in our society so that policy-makers, mental health professionals, and law enforcement leaders have current information to help make our society safer.
About the Author
Mark Bond worked in law enforcement and has been a firearms trainer for more than 30 years. His law enforcement experience includes the military, local, state, and federal levels as a police officer and criminal investigator. Mark obtained a BS and MS in Criminal Justice, and M.Ed in Educational Leadership with Summa Cum Laude Honors. Mark has a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) with a concentration in college teaching and learning. Mark is currently an assistant professor of criminal justice at a university and adjunct professor of administration of justice studies at a community college.
FAQs
Mertonian anomie is a strain theory that proposes social structures within a society may pressure citizens to commit crimes. It arises when there's a disjunction between culturally prescribed goals (like wealth and success) and the socially acceptable means to achieve them.
What is anomie and strain theory in criminology? ›
Anomie and strain theories are among the first truly sociological explanations of the causes of deviant behavior. These theories seek to understand deviance by focusing on social structures and patterns that emerge as individuals and groups react to conditions they have little control over.
What is strain theory in criminology simple definition? ›
Strain theory is a sociological and criminological theory developed in 1938 by Robert K. Merton. The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (such as the American Dream), even though they lack the means to do so.
What is anomie theory explanation? ›
Anomie was a concept introduced to sociology by Emile Durkheim to mean normlessness; an upheaval in social values often associated with rapid social change and lack of order. He originally used the term in his famous study on suicide as one of the social conditions that could lead to increased suicide rates.
What are the 5 responses to strain theory? ›
Merton identified five ways in which individuals may respond to this strain or frustration: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Conformity occurs when individuals accept the goals of society and the means of achieving them.
What is an example of anomic? ›
When regulation is weak, anomic suicide occurs. An example of anomic suicide is when Liam completed suicide after his wife divorced him and took the children.
What is the strain theory of gender and crime? ›
This study applies Agnew's general strain theory (GST) to two fundamental questions about gender and crime, how to explain the higher rate of crime among males and how to explain why females engage in crime.
What is the strain theory for dummies? ›
Strain theory explains deviant behavior as an inevitable outcome of the distress individuals experience when they're deprived of ways to achieve culturally valued goals. For example, Western society places value on economic success, even though wealth is accessible to just a small percentage of people.
What is strain theory in criminology conformity? ›
Merton's Strain Theory assumes a universal pursuit of success and conformity to cultural goals. There is the argument that these theories primarily focus on explaining street-level crimes and neglect aspects of white-collar crimes and elite deviance.
What is the role strain theory? ›
Goode's theory of role strain maintains that role strain occurs when there is difficulty fulfilling the expectations of multiple roles. This causes the depletion of personal resources and negatively affects other roles that a person may be trying to fulfill.
Anomie was one cause of deviance: if people were not properly socialised into the shared norms and values of society, or if a society was changing so much that it was unclear what the shared norms and values were, then deviance (and hence crime) was much more likely.
What best describes anomie? ›
In sociology, anomie (/ˈænəmi/) is a social condition defined by an uprooting or breakdown of any moral values, standards or guidance for individuals to follow.
What are the stages of strain theory? ›
The five adaptations to strain as explained by Merton in his strain theory are conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Each of these adaptations is a result of the interaction a person experiences between culturally-accepted goals and the socially-accepted means of achieving those goals.
What are the 3 main sources of strain theory? ›
General strain theory proposes three types of strain: the inability to achieve positively-valued goals (goal blockage), the removal of (or threat to remove) positively valued stimuli, and the presence of (or threat to present) noxious stimuli (Agnew, 1992).
What is the functionalist strain theory? ›
For functionalists, society is based on value consensus, which deviance threatens, but it also performs positive functions such as reinforcing solidarity and adapting to change.. Strain theories argue that deviance occurs when people cannot achieve society's goals by legitimate means.
What is strain theory quizlet? ›
What is a strain theory? A theory that people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means.
What is the strain theory crime case? ›
This theory dictates that a person like Nicky Barnes enters a life of crime due to the strain that exist between them and their goals, more specifically the strain is caused by their ability to obtain those goals in a legal and socially acceptable way.
What is the institutional anomie theory of criminology? ›
Institutional Anomie Theory argues instrumental crime and violence are a result of weakened social controls that are caused by an imbalance of values favoring the economy.
What is the anomie theory of juvenile delinquency? ›
The anomie theory was first written in the 1940s by Robert Merton. Merton's theory explains that juvenile delinquency occurs because the juveniles do not have the means to make themselves happy. Their goals are unattainable within legal means so they find unlawful means by which to attain their goals.
What is anomie quizlet? ›
anomie definition. the breakdown of social norms and a condition in which those norms no longer control the activity of society members.
