Robert K. Merton

Sociology 3315
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UMD ANOMIE THEORY
Robert K. Merton SOCIAL THEORY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE. NEW YORK: FREE PRESS. 1968 [ORIGINAL 1949]

I. EXPLAINS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR BY EXAMINING FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE OF U. S. SOCIETY.

CULTURAL STRUCTURE
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
EQUALITARIAN BELIEFS.

II. AMERICAN PUBLIC IS TOLD AND BELIEVES THE "AMERICAN DREAM." CULTURAL STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY

A. APPROPRIATE VALUES, BELIEFS, EXPECTATIONS, ETC.

1. WEALTH

2. ALSO INCLUDES:
STATUS, POWER, AND PRESTIGE

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, BY HUNTER THOMPSON

III. LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITIES MUST EXIST TO REACH CULTURAL GOAL

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

IT IS THE "LADDER" BY WHICH ONE "CLIMBS TO SUCCESS."

IV. EQUALITARIAN BELIEFS

THE MAJOR GOALS IN CULTURE ARE APPROPRIATE GOALS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY RICH OR POOR
EVERYBODY WANTS MORE AND MORE MONEY
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS
1. INSATIABLE GOAL
2. ANYBODY CAN ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM IF THEY WORK HARD
3. OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR ALL

WHEN THESE THREE FACTORS ARE COMBINED,

A. CULTURAL GOALS (MORE AND MORE MONEY),

B. SOCIAL STRUCTURE (LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITIES), AND

C. EQUALITARIAN BELIEFS (ANYBODY CAN ACHIEVE IF THEY TRY HARD - AND THEY SHOULD!)

THE RESULT IS

ANOMIE

THE CONCEPTION OF SOCIETY DOES NOT FIT THE REALITIES OF A FAIRLY IMMUTABLE CLASS STRUCTURE.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURAL GOALS AND LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT CLEARLY DEFINED AND IN FACT MAY BE INCONGRUENT.

INDIVIDUALS MUST ADAPT TO THE STRUCTURALLY PRODUCED STRAIN (ANOMIE) IN SOCIETY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THEIR LIFE'S JOURNEY. THE ALTERNATIVE COULD BE SUICIDE (SEE DURKHEIM).

ACCORDING TO MERTON,

INDIVIDUALS ADAPT IN ONE OF FIVE WAYS:

CONFORMITY
INNOVATION
RITUALISM
RETREATISM
REBELLION.

OPPORTUNITY THEORY

RICHARD CLOWARD AND LLOYD OHLIN

DELINQUENCY AND OPPORTUNITY

TYPE OF SUBCULTURE DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF COMMUNITY, AGE STABLE, NORMS AND VALUES SHARED, ETC., THEY DRAW ON DISORGANIZATION THEORY A BIT TO EXPLAIN TYPE OF COMMUNITY

THEY DRAW ON DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY TO PROVIDE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TYPE OF COMMUNITY AND FORM ADAPTATIONS TO STRAIN WILL TAKE

CHILDREN ADAPT TO STRAIN COLLECTIVELY NOT INDIVIDUALLY

ILLEGITIMATE MEANS ARE OFTEN BLOCKED FOR YOUTH JUST LIKE LEGITIMATE MEANS ARE BLOCKED

CRIMINAL SUBCULTURE

STABLE, INTEGRATED CONVENTIONAL AND CRIMINAL SYSTEMS, ROLE MODLES

CONFLICT SUBCULTURE

LACK OF INTEGRATED AGE SYSTEMS, ABSENCE OF CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION, INSTABILITY

RETREATIST SUBCULTURE

IN EITHER TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOOD, DOUBLE FAILURE, RESIDUAL ADOLESCENTS

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