Sociological Theory
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UMD

Robert K. Merton

Anomie Theory

ANOMIE THEORY
SOCIAL THEORY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE.
NEW YORK: FREE PRESS. 1968 [ORIGINAL 1949]

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

THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS
A. CULTURAL STRUCTURE

B. SOCIAL STRUCTURE

C. 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

A. THE MAJOR GOALS IN CULTURE ARE APPROPRIATE GOALS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, RICH OR POOR

B. EVERYBODY WANTS MORE AND MORE MONEY

C. FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS

1. INSATIABLE GOAL

2. BELIEF THAT ANYBODY CAN ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM IF THEY WORK HARD AND

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:

  1. CONFORMITY

  2. INNOVATION

  3. RITUALISM

  4. RETREATISM

  5. REBELLION.




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