VI. DURKHEIM'S ANOMIE
Another theory in criminology is known as 'Durkheim's Anomie' which was conceived by Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist who first introduced the anomie in the work entitled: "The Division of Labor in Society" in which the anomie was utilized in provides a description of a "condition of deregulation that was occurring in society." (Criminological Theory, 2001) This anomie was used to describe how that the mores' of behavior in society was unclear and due to this breakdown in a code of proper social behavior resulting was the 'anomie' or the failure to know what to expect between individuals. It was posited by Durkheim that: "...societies evolved form a simple, nonspecialized form, called 'mechanical' toward a highly complex, specialized form, called 'organic. In the former society people behave and think alike and more or less perform the same work tasks and have the same group-oriented goals. When societies become more complex, or organic, work also becomes more complex. In this society, people are no longer tied to one another and social bonds are impersonal." (Criminological Theory, 2001) Social periods of disruption are noted by Durkheim to result in higher crime rates and higher rates of deviation. (Criminological Theory, 2001; paraphrased) an American sociologist, Robert K. Merton adapted Durkenheims concept of the anomie in formulating the 'Strain Theory' that while different from Durkheim's argued that the problem is noted derived from social change of a sudden nature but rather by a "social structure that holds out the same goals to all its members without giving them equal means to achieve it." (Criminology Theory, 2001)
Deviant behavior derives from the lack of integration between the cultural demands and the structural permits. Within this view deviant behavior is a social structural problem indicators. Merton's theory provides five adaptation modes to strain resulting from access being restricted to goals and means that are socially acceptable. The following is a listing of these five in terms of the form of adaptation and the means and goals.
Adaptation Means - Goals
Conformist Accepts - Accepts
Innovator Rejects - Accepts
Ritualist Accepts - Rejects
Retreatist Rejects -- Rejects
Rebel Revolts -- Creates New
During the middle part of the 1970s, decade criticism harshly fell upon strain theory however; Robert Agnew proposed a 'general strain theory' in 1992 that has as its focus three primary measures of strain. Agnew held that "actual or anticipate failure to achieve positively valued goals, actual or anticipated removal of positively valued stimuli, and actual or anticipated presentation of negative stimuli all result in strain." (Criminological Theory, 2001) the focus of Agnew's theory is negative relationships and negative affective states resulting from these relationships. This type of negativity results in high pressure and results in the individual seeking alternative methods that are outside of legitimacy in achieving the goal that is set out. According to Agnew's work, the criminologist would be well served to pay closer attention to the "magnitude, recency, duration and clustering of such strainful events..." And further "proposes a series of factors that determine whether a person will cope with strain in a criminal or conforming manner, including temperament, intelligence, interpersonal skills, self-efficacy, association with criminal peers, and conventional social support." (Criminological Theory, 2001)
Due to the diversified nature of criminal activity in the contemporary era 'subculture' theories in criminology have arisen as a method for accounting delinquency rates among males that were lower class. It is the belief of subculture theorists that "the delinquent subcultures emerged as a response to the special problems that the members of mainstream society do not face." (Criminological Theory, 2001) the subculture is a "subdivision within the dominant culture that has its own norms, values and belief system." (Criminological Theory, 2001) Subcultures do not exist apart from society but instead exist within society. (Criminological Theory, 2001; paraphrased) Cohen wrote a "Delinquent Boys" in 1955 in what was an attempt "to look at how such a subculture began." (Criminological Theory, 2001) the work of Cohen states findings that "delinquency among youths was more prevalent among lower class males and the most common form of this was the juvenile gang." (Criminological Theory, 2001) Cohen describes the: (1) corner boy; (2) college boy; and (3) delinquent...
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