Anomie and General Strain Theories of Crime Essay

Anomie/Strain Theory Historical Background The theoretical framework of strain theory can be credited to sociologist Emile Durkheim. Durkheim research on formed a platform for other sociologist to further develop strain theories of crime. One of which is Robert Merton. One of Durkheim’s major works that opened the door to further research on strain theories was his book, Suicide. In this book Durkheim sough to understand the why led to one’s own self-destruction. Emile Durkheim studied suicide rates and its association with crisis. Durkheim noticed trends in suicide rates that were associated with economic prosperity and economic crisis. â€Å"According to Durkheim, the state of normlessness that people find themselves in as a result of a†¦show more content†¦The difference in Durkheim and Merton’s model of the theory is Durkheim’s model puts emphasis on the failure to regulate the goals and Merton’s model puts emphasis on the failure to regulate the means. In Merton’s version of the anomie/strain theory he pointed out five adaptations to strain: conformity, innovation, rebellion, ritualism, and retreatism. Conformity means that one accepts both the goal and the means. They may try to attain the goals with limited means. This adaptation is most common in society. Innovation means that one accepts the goals but rejects the means. This individual has a â€Å"by any means necessary† attitude when it comes to the attainment of goals. Rebellion means that one rejects both the means and the goals. They may substitution those goals and means with their own goals and means. Ritualism means that one rejects the goals and responds to the means in a slavish and conforming attitude. Retreatism means one rejects both the goals and means, but they do not replace with their own goals and mean. Instead, they will drop out of society and into things such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and homelessness. This adaptation is the least common i n society. Merton’s anomie/strain theory was a very popular explanation for crime and deviance during the 1950’s and 1960’s. (Paternoster, Bachman 2001) Its popularity began to diminish in the late 1960’s due to the theories lack of empirical evidence. The theory didShow MoreRelatedDurkheim s Theory Of Social Bonds1339 Words   |  6 Pagesestablished many sociological theories throughout his time that still are relevant today and have been studied by many sociologists during his time and now currently. One of the more popular theories that has been altered slightly but still used today is Durkheim’s Anomie Theory. The Anomie Theory has been studied by many other famous sociologists such as Robert King Merton and Robert Agnew. It eventually branched into what is now known as the Strain Theory. 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