5.1 Strain and Anomie Theories
3 min read•july 22, 2024
Strain and anomie theories explore why people turn to crime when society's goals don't match up with reality. These ideas look at how the pressure to succeed, combined with limited opportunities, can push folks towards illegal activities.
Robert Merton's and dive into different ways people cope with societal pressure. They examine how , , and personal experiences can lead to criminal behavior as a response to stress and frustration.
Strain and Anomie Theories
Concept of anomie in crime
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- Anomie refers to a state of normlessness or a breakdown of social norms and values that occurs when there is a disconnect between culturally defined goals (financial success) and the legitimate means to achieve them (education, hard work)
- Individuals may experience strain, leading to deviant or criminal behavior (theft, drug dealing) as a way to cope with the discrepancy between aspirations and reality
- Robert Merton's strain theory suggests that anomie arises from the imbalance between cultural goals (American Dream) and institutionalized means, with limited access to legitimate means for some individuals leading to strain and deviance
- Agnew's general strain theory expands on Merton's ideas, identifying three main sources of strain: failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of positively valued stimuli (loss of a job), and presence of negative stimuli ()
- Strain theories propose that crime and deviance are more likely to occur when individuals experience high levels of strain and have limited access to legitimate coping mechanisms (social support, mental health resources)
Merton's modes of adaptation
- : Accepting both cultural goals and institutionalized means, individuals pursue success through legitimate channels (education, career) and are least likely to engage in criminal behavior
- : Accepting cultural goals but rejecting institutionalized means, individuals seek alternative, often illegal, means to achieve success (fraud, embezzlement) and may engage in property crimes, drug dealing, or other illicit activities
- : Rejecting cultural goals but accepting institutionalized means, individuals focus on following rules and norms (bureaucratic roles) without aspiring to achieve success and are unlikely to engage in criminal behavior
- : Rejecting both cultural goals and institutionalized means, individuals withdraw from society (hermits, chronic drug users) and may engage in self-destructive behaviors involving substance abuse, homelessness, or mental health issues
- : Rejecting both cultural goals and institutionalized means, while replacing them with new goals and means, individuals actively challenge the existing social structure (revolutionaries, political extremists) and may engage in politically motivated crimes or terrorism
Social structure and crime rates
- Social structure and inequality can limit access to legitimate means for achieving success, with poverty, lack of education, and limited job opportunities creating barriers to success and leading to higher levels of strain for disadvantaged groups
- and can contribute to strain and crime, as high poverty rates, residential instability (high turnover), and weak social bonds (lack of community involvement) undermine community control and increase crime rates
- Discrimination and of certain groups (racial minorities, immigrants) can create additional sources of strain, with racial, ethnic, or gender-based discrimination limiting opportunities and creating feelings of injustice
- Inequality in the criminal justice system can exacerbate strain and perpetuate cycles of crime, as disproportionate policing (racial profiling), sentencing disparities (harsher penalties for crack cocaine), and limited access to legal resources reinforce strain and deviance
Strengths vs limitations of strain theories
- Strengths:
- Strain theories provide a sociological explanation for crime that considers the role of social structure and inequality (poverty, discrimination)
- They offer insights into how the discrepancy between goals and means can lead to deviant behavior (financial success vs limited opportunities)
- Agnew's general strain theory expands on Merton's ideas, providing a more comprehensive understanding of sources of strain (failure, loss, negative stimuli)
- Limitations:
- Strain theories do not fully explain all types of crime, particularly crimes committed by individuals in positions of power or privilege (white-collar crime, political corruption)
- They may oversimplify the complex relationship between social factors and individual behavior, neglecting the role of personal responsibility and choice
- The theories do not adequately address the role of individual agency and choice in criminal behavior, focusing primarily on external pressures and constraints
- Strain theories have been criticized for being overly deterministic and neglecting the influence of other factors, such as social learning (peer influence) and control (parental supervision)
Key Terms to Review (19)
Agnew's General Strain Theory: Agnew's General Strain Theory posits that individuals experience strain when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals, face negative experiences, or lose something of value. This theory expands on earlier strain theories by emphasizing that a variety of strains can lead to negative emotions, which may increase the likelihood of criminal behavior as individuals seek to cope with their feelings.
Anomie theory: Anomie theory refers to a concept in sociology and criminology that describes a state of normlessness or breakdown of social norms in society, leading to feelings of alienation and disconnection among individuals. This theory, developed by Émile Durkheim, connects the absence of social regulation and the resulting chaos to increased rates of deviance and crime, particularly during times of social change or crisis.
Conformity: Conformity is the act of aligning one’s beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors with those of a group or societal norms. It often occurs as individuals adjust their actions to fit in or avoid social rejection, highlighting the influence of peer pressure and cultural expectations on individual choices.
Discrimination: Discrimination refers to the unjust or prejudicial treatment of individuals based on certain characteristics, such as race, gender, age, or socioeconomic status. This concept is crucial in understanding how societal inequalities can impact individuals’ access to opportunities and resources, leading to a range of outcomes including crime and deviance. Discrimination can manifest in various forms, from systemic practices to individual biases, affecting marginalized groups and contributing to social strain.
Durkheim's Study on Suicide: Durkheim's study on suicide is a foundational sociological investigation that examines how social structures and contexts influence the rates of suicide in different groups. His work categorized suicide into four types—egoistic, altruistic, anomic, and fatalistic—highlighting how variations in social integration and regulation affect individual behaviors and mental states, which is essential for understanding strain and anomie theories.
Goals-means gap: The goals-means gap refers to the disparity between societal goals, such as wealth or success, and the legitimate means available to individuals to achieve those goals. This concept is essential in understanding how certain individuals may resort to deviant behavior when they perceive that the traditional paths to success are blocked or inaccessible, leading to strain and potential criminal activities.
Inequality: Inequality refers to the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges among individuals or groups within society. It highlights disparities in wealth, education, and social status, which can create barriers to success and contribute to feelings of frustration and disconnection from societal norms. In the context of strain and anomie theories, inequality plays a significant role in explaining how societal structures can lead to crime when individuals feel they cannot achieve culturally valued goals through legitimate means.
Innovation: Innovation refers to the process of developing and implementing new ideas, methods, or products that improve efficiency or effectiveness in achieving goals. In the context of strain and anomie theories, innovation is seen as a coping mechanism used by individuals who experience disjunction between culturally prescribed goals and the means available to achieve them, leading to deviance or nonconformity.
Marginalization: Marginalization refers to the social process through which certain groups are pushed to the edges of society, limiting their access to resources, opportunities, and participation in social, economic, and political life. This exclusion often results from systemic inequalities that reinforce power imbalances and hinder individuals from achieving their full potential, particularly in relation to societal norms and expectations.
Merton's Analysis of Social Structure and Anomie: Merton's analysis of social structure and anomie is a sociological framework that explores the relationship between societal goals and the means available to achieve them, highlighting how disconnection can lead to deviance. This theory builds on the concept of anomie, which describes a state of normlessness that arises when societal norms are unclear or absent, leading individuals to pursue alternative, often illegal paths to success. Merton identified five modes of individual adaptation to strain, reflecting how varying responses to societal pressure shape behavior and contribute to deviance.
Neighborhood disadvantage: Neighborhood disadvantage refers to the socio-economic conditions in a community that negatively impact its residents' quality of life and opportunities. These conditions can include high poverty rates, lack of access to quality education and healthcare, high unemployment, and elevated crime levels. Such disadvantages create an environment that can increase the likelihood of delinquent behavior, as individuals may feel trapped in a cycle of limited opportunities and negative influences.
Rebellion: Rebellion refers to an act of violent or non-violent resistance against an established authority or government. This concept often emerges in response to perceived injustice, oppression, or failure to meet the societal goals that individuals or groups aspire to. In the context of strain and anomie theories, rebellion is a critical response mechanism where individuals reject both the established means and goals of society, striving instead to create new values and norms.
Relative Deprivation: Relative deprivation refers to the perception of being worse off compared to others in a specific social context. This feeling can arise when individuals compare themselves to others who have more wealth, status, or opportunities, leading to feelings of frustration and discontent. It plays a crucial role in understanding how social structures and inequalities contribute to criminal behavior, as individuals may resort to illegal means when they feel deprived in relation to their peers.
Retreatism: Retreatism is a concept in sociology and criminology that refers to a response to strain or anomie where individuals reject both the cultural goals and the means of achieving them. Instead of striving for societal success or conforming to societal expectations, retreatists withdraw from social norms and may engage in behaviors such as substance abuse or social isolation. This concept highlights how some individuals may cope with failure or disillusionment by completely disengaging from society's values.
Ritualism: Ritualism is a concept within strain and anomie theories that describes a response to societal pressures where individuals abandon the goal of achieving success but continue to adhere to the prescribed means and rules of society. This means that while they may not strive for societal success, they still follow the rituals and norms of behavior expected within their community. This can manifest in behaviors that appear compliant on the surface but lack genuine ambition or goal-oriented behavior.
Robert K. Merton: Robert K. Merton was an American sociologist who significantly contributed to the understanding of deviance and social structure through his development of strain theory and the concept of anomie. His work explored how societal expectations and the pressure to achieve culturally valued goals can lead individuals to engage in deviant behavior when they feel they cannot achieve success through legitimate means.
Social disorganization: Social disorganization refers to the breakdown of social institutions and the failure of community cohesion, which can lead to increased crime rates and deviant behavior. This concept highlights how neighborhoods with weak social ties and limited shared values struggle to maintain order, ultimately impacting crime and criminal behavior within those communities.
Social Structure: Social structure refers to the organized pattern of social relationships and social institutions that together compose society. It influences the ways in which individuals interact and behave, shaping their opportunities, expectations, and experiences within a community. Understanding social structure is crucial in examining how societal norms and values can create pressures that lead to behaviors like conformity or deviance.
Strain theory: Strain theory is a sociological perspective that posits that societal pressures and the inability to achieve culturally approved goals can lead individuals to engage in deviant behavior, including crime. This theory highlights how the disconnect between societal expectations and the means available to individuals, particularly in disadvantaged groups, can result in feelings of frustration, anger, and ultimately, criminal activity. It connects various fields of criminology by explaining how social structures contribute to crime rates.