What is the difference between strain theory and anomie?
Do you look up to a role model?Have you ever described an event as a self-fulfilling prophecy?You have become familiar with the anomie and strain theory if that is the case.
Anomie is the lack of an ethical norm within a group.There is a strain on a society at local, regional, national, or global levels due to the choices made, requiring a response from the criminal justice system.
Robert Merton, a US sociologist, proposed the current theory that has become part of our society.Emile Durkeim wrote about why some people choose to be conformed while others choose criminal behavior.
Dr. Merton assumed that all Americans were trying to achieve the American Dream when he developed the current form of the anomie and strain theory.He looked at US culture, the structure of the country, and various strains that were placed upon it to make this assumption.
He realized that how an American works to achieve the American Dream can be very different.The definition of success is different due to the fact that there isn't equal access to opportunities in the US.
The inequalities that Merton believed led to certain individuals deviating from their norm when trying to achieve the American Dream.In order to achieve their definition of success, some people would turn to illegal activities.If deviant behavior doesn't create the desired success, these individuals will see the American Dream as something that is impossible.
They would eventually drop out of society because of this.
According to Dr. Merton, the ambitions of US society to achieve the American Dream, often considered a virtue, would also help to promote the deviance seen within American culture.There are two criteria that must be in place for deviant behavior to be promoted.
#1.To adhere to the goals of a culture, there must be some level of individualized motivation.#2.A core belief in how to get those goals must be held by an individual.
There are 5 different types of deviant behavior that can be embraced by an individual.
The pursuit of wealth is reflected in the American Dream.It is not always monetary wealth that is pursued, but there is a general goal of creating a good life for oneself and their family.This pursuit leads to greed and then one of the five different versions of deviance.
Conformity is considered a form of deviant behavior.A person's natural inclination is to find the best path to meet their needs.The decision to follow what society says is a form of deviance is when a person wants to take a different path.
When it comes to the pursuit of the American Dream, American society is very divided.People are criticized if they scale back their goals or spend more time pursuing them.People who scale themselves back are calledquitters,losers or worse.When compared to similar countries around the world, the US has a high rate of deviant behavior.
American attitudes toward crime promote deviant behavior.Society values hard work, ambition, and consistency.There is a certain level of admiration that is offered to a successful bandit or a rebel who breaks the rules.
The stay-at- home parent who raises their children with goals is often treated with contempt because they are seen as retreating from their own efforts to chase the American Dream.
Dr. Merton came to the conclusion that American society rates success higher than virtue.
The option to achieve success is offered to everyone according to the anomie and strain theory.Although we have made strides to create a more equitable society, we still see race, ethnicity, class, and gender discrimination in various levels of American society.The American Dream can only be achieved with equal access to resources.