NEW Notes Lecture Anomie Theory

8/11/2019 NEW Notes Lecture Anomie Theory

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Anomie Theory

I. Mertons Social Structure and Anomie

A. Two Elements of Social Structure

B. Polar Types of Society

C. Types of Adaptat ion

D. Criticisms

II. Differential Opportunity Theory

A. Legitimate opportunity structure

B. Illegitimate opportunity structure

C. Subcultures & neighborhood organization

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Mertons Social Structure and Anomie

Social structural theory explaining variations in crime rates across

societies and groups within society.

Merton: Structural functionalist

Consensus

Society consists of functional interrelated components

(institutions) How do social structures exert definite pressure on some groups

to engage in deviant behavior?

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Two Elements of Social Structure

Culturally-defined goals, interests, purposes

Shared goals transending class lines

Focus on economic activity: exchange of goodsand services

America: monetary accumulation is the keysymbol of prestige

American dream (ideology)

Institutionalized norms within social structure

Define, regulate, control acceptable modes ofachieving goals

Laws (codified norms) function to maintain anorderly social and economic structure

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Polar Types of Societies

Polar type: Anomic Societies

Emphasize goals, deemphasize norms

High crime rates

Volatile, changing

Polar Type: Ritualistic Societies

Deemphasize goals, emphasize norms

Original purpose is lost, ritualized. Very low crime rates

Stagnant, tradition-bound

Polar Type: Stable, Integrated Societies

Balance between stress on goals and norms Success defined as mere participation.

Positive incentives for all positions

Low crime rates

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Anomic Societies

When social structure extols common symbols of success for all,and effectively restricts access to legitimate modes for somesegment of the population, deviance ensues on a large scale.

American Society is Anomic

Structural barriers to women, blacks, poor

False ideology of meritocracy

Horatio Algers stories perpetuate myth

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Modes of Individual Adaptation

Conformity: Conventional role behavior

Accept goals, accept norms

Most common mode

Innovation: Adopt illegal means to attain goals

Accept goals, reject norms

Crime and delinquency

Lower class face barriers, turn to organized rackets

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Modes of Individual Adaptation

Ritualism: Lower ones goals

Reject goals, accept norms

Cope with failure, throw self into following norms

Characteristic of lower middle class

Retreatism: Drop out of society

Reject goals and norms Least common: psychotics, homeless, drunks, addicts

Highly condemned by society

Rebellion: Try to change society through revolt

Recognize failure is due to fault of the system

Organize a rebellion to attain a meritocracy

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Cloward & Ohlins

Differential Opportunity Theory

Integrated anomie & differential association theories.

Explain the origin and persistence of delinquent subcultures.

Delinquent subcultures: the subculture includes delinquency

as role behavior.

Posit two structures: legitimate & illegitimate opportunity

structure.

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Legitimate Opportunity Structure

Mertons structure: shared goals, institutionalized norms,

structural barriers

But aspirations are oriented to moving up the status ladder

one rung at a time

Disjuncture between goals and norms (structural barriers)

lead to pressures to deviate When those pressures are the same for a given social status,

pressure for a collective challenge is increased

Depends on illegitimate opportunity structure

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Illegitimate Opportunity Structure

Not everyone can succeed illegitimately

Borrowed from differential association theory

Learning structures (of subcultural delinquency)

Role behavior, criminal values, attitudes

Techniques and skills

Performance structures (of subcultural delinquency) Objective opportunity created by other members

Illegitimate opportunity varies by neighborhood

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Neighborhood Organization & Types of

Delinquent Subcultures

Type of Neighborhood IllegitimateSubculture Organization Opportunities

1. Theft Stability Organized theft &

(Criminal) Age grading rackets

Criminal-conventional bonds Criminals

2. Conflict Instability (brings heat) Only resource is

(Gang fighting) No age grading physical prowess

No crime-conventional bonds Turf gangs

3. Retreatist Depends on self blame Obtaining and(Drug) (any neighborhood) vs. consumming drugs

structure (disorganized) Double dropouts

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Innovation of a Delinquent Subculture

Requires a collective solution to the problem (no legitimate

opportunity).

Structurally, a collective solution is more likely when

blocked individuals occupy the same social status.

Individually, a collective solution is more likely when

blocked individuals attribute blame to an unjust system.

Innovation occurs through probing tentative conversation ofgestures (Albert Cohen).

Result: innovation of a new (illegal) solution to a problem

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Policy Implication: Mobilization for Youth

Increase Legitimate Opportunities for Youth**

Improve education: teacher training & improve

curriculum; preschool

Create jobs: Youth Jobs Center, vocational training

programs

Organize lower class community politically

Decrease Illegitimate Opportunities for Youth

Organize lower class community against gangs

Counseling services for lower class families

Youth services: detached social work programs for

gangs, Adventure Corps, coffee hangout

Notes

NEW Notes Lecture Anomie Theory

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