Analysis Of Merton's Social Structure And Anomie

1065 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects of crime on society

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY Exam 1 Please answer four of the following questions. Your responses should be exhaustive and address all parts of the question. While there is not a minimum length, to adequately answer each question, I would expect each response to be 2-3 paragraphs. 1. Please outline Strain Theory. Strain Theory is when people who experience a strain (event or conditions that are disliked by the individual) engage in crime. Robert Agnew used the example of a person who is desperate need of money or they believe they are being mistreated by their family members; thus becoming upset, experience rage of all these negative emotions. They may cope with these negative emotions through crime, although we all experience strains but …show more content…

There are two types of punishment they are positive and negative; whereas positive punishment is undesirable like serving time in jail or prison and negative punishment is removing something pleasant like social status, loss of status in a gang. Punishment is more effective when it is swift. Social function of punishment is giving an effect to the emotions rage of society’s norms that have been affected by criminals. 4. Please summarize Merton’s Social Structure and Anomie. Social Structure is the framework of social institution family, education, religion, and political views shape the relationships members of society have with one another. Social structure suggests that society prepares crime and those who commit the crime give it life. Structural theorist follows two general models of society, the consensus perspective or the conflict perspective. Merton expanded the Anomie theory to develop an expansion know as strain theory. He argued that acceptance of middle class values that created crime by putting the emphasis on financial success. The center of his theory was that American’s should all aspire to live the American Dream (monetary success) by which is obtained by legal means. Merton’s views on Anomie differed from others because he had more of a structuralist view; he had an unconstrained vision that led him to view society as a motivator for such

Show More
Related

  • Explaining John Dillinger's Criminal Behavior through Agnew's General Strain Theory

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many criminological theories that attempt to explain criminal behavior or crime patterns. For instance, Agnew’s General Strain Theory can be applied to explain why the criminal John Dillinger committed various crimes. Agnew’s General Strain Theory assumes that all individuals experience strain, which, in turn, causes negative emotions that can result in legitimate or illegitimate coping, depending on an individual’s constraints or dispositions. Thus, the continuous criminal behavior throughout John Dillinger’s life can be explained using Agnew’s General Strain Theory in relation to strain, negative emotions, and dispositions.

    Read More

  • Merging Agnew's General Strain Theory and Hirschi's Social Bond Theory

    1899 Words  | 4 Pages

    The proposal of Robert Agnew’s General Strain Theory in explaining criminal deviance is based on three concepts. The first concept is that people are not naturally inclined to commit crimes. Rather, their transition towards deviant behavior begins when they experience strain. The second concept is that once strain is present, depending on the severity of the stain, a person becomes victim to their own negative emotions like anger, jealousy, and frustration. Their response to those negative emotions may expedite their transition. The third concept looks at a person’s ability to cope with the strain and negative emotions. If a person has poor coping abilities they tend to become overwhelmed by the strain and the negative emotions they are feeling as a result of strain. Poor coping abilities may cause someone to commit crime in hopes of rectifying their situation. (Agnew, 2011)

    Read More

  • Strain Theory And Strain Theory

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to Robert Agnew, “Strain Theory is based on the idea that delinquency results when individuals are unable to achieve their goals through legitimate channels, achievement or strike out at the source of their frustration in anger”. (Agnew, R. (1985). A Revised Strain Theory of Delinquency. Oxford journals. 64(1).151-166). The norms are violated to alleviate the strain that accompanies failure. When a good look is taken at the theories the strains might not only come from peoples frustrations with acquiring “ The American Dream”, but it becomes a mixture of strains such as economic deprivation, abuse, neglect, or the loss of a loved one. However, most people that experience strains do not commit crimes.

    Read More

  • General Strain Theory Essay

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    General Strain Theory was discussed by Robert Agnew, and first published in 1992. According to General Strain Theory individuals engage in crime because of strains or stressors which produce anger and anxiety (Agnew, 1992). Crimes become the outlet that the individual uses to cope with or remedy the strains or stressors. Agnew states that there are three different types of deviance producing strains.

    Read More

  • H. Hh Holmes: The Anomie Theory

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    The strain theory as defined by Frank Schmalleger (2017) is “a sociological approach that posits a disjuncture between socially and sub-culturally sanctioned means and goals as the cause of criminal behavior” (p. 164). That is to say that there is a relationship between the legitimate goals, which every human desires (e.g. wealth, happiness, status) and the socially accepted means to achieve such goals (e.g. education, work). The strain theory states that the legal and accepted means to reach these goals are often limited – therefore, crime occurs when as an alternative mean to reach some goal. Theorists of the strain theory would describe H. H. Holmes as an innovator. That is to say, he desired legitimate goals such as wealth, but it was combined with the lack of access to reach the means. In response, he participated in illegal activity – selling stole cadavers, swindling insurance companies, killing women for their money (Schmalleger, 2017, p.

    Read More

  • The Merton's Strain Theory

    1490 Words  | 3 Pages

    Conformity is following standards and doing what everyone else, more seeing as a follower. Innovation is doing things that are not approved in society but still doing them to achieve goals. For instance, selling drugs or stealing to have money to continue achieving their goals. Ritualism is a sense of being modest and humble. Retreatism: is to reject the cultural goals and means and finding a way to escape from it. Rebellion is to reject the cultural goals and means then work to replace them. In the Merton’s strain theory one of the strength is that it is able to explain the different types of criminal and noncriminal responses to strain. Evidence that support the strain theory can be Philip Bourgeois when he said that even the most despised criminals have become successful in life and that is exactly what happened with Nathan McCall, from going to prison and then landing a career in the Washington Post, shows that anyone can live to the American Dream. Evaluation of strain theory Marxists says that lack of equality opporunties are at the heart of the Capitalist system and that there is not enough evidence to explain who will commit crimes or not. Not everyone who is lacking from oppurnities turn to crimes to

    Read More

  • Merton's Anomie Theory Analysis

    846 Words  | 2 Pages

    Furthermore, Merton presented a Strain theory, which was a micro-level approach that addressed the strain experienced by individuals who are in Anomie and their response in dealing with the disjunction between goals of success and the means available to attain them (Merton, 1964). As noted in the lecture, when individuals undergo the Strains of society and their interplay between scarce institutionalized means, they adapt in several ways (Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, Rebellion). Not all adaptations involve crime, however, some adaptations include criminal behavior (Lecture, 2016).

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Agnew And Merton

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both theories by Merton and Agnew are similar because their focus is that social situations and conflicts an individual’s comes in contact within his/her life, may produce crime by emphasizing the a goal of success, much more than the means to achieve it. With Merton’s theory he adopted Durkheim’s concept of anomie to explain deviance. Merton’s theory combined both structural and cultural factors. Merton insists that society promotes goals for their citizens and norms for other’s behavior in attempting to reach these goals. In Merton’s theory people do crime when they are unable to reach or accomplish goals. Merton’s theory also explains how an individual’s social structure prevents an individual from becoming economically fortunate. His theory of modern anomie and strain express that individuals respond to strain in 5 individual ways. Those five ways are conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. On the other hand Agnew general strain theory, feels strain comes from sources other than economic failure. Agnew general strain theory focuses on a few other types of strain and stress. Like the presentation of a negative stimuli, and the loss of a positive stimuli. Agnew feels that this sort of strain leads to a negative state of mind. The emotions like angry, frustration and fear, lead to crime and criminal behavior. One

    Read More

  • Robert Agnew's General Strain Theory

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    The General Strain Theory scope has an intention of providing a clear explanation for why and why not crime occurs across all levels of society, while maintaining that stress is a major cause of criminal involvement. When people experience negative emotions, such as anger, frustration, or depression, they are in result unhappy and upset, thus experiencing strains or stressors (Ganem, 2010). Crime is then a way of reducing or escaping from these strains, and it is their method of coping with their emotions. According to Agnew, “Strains refer to events or conditions that are disliked by individuals (1992,

    Read More

  • How Does Social Structure Theory Cause Crime

    1576 Words  | 4 Pages

    Social structure focuses on the trend or pattern between a social organization and the interrelationship among different institutions idea of a society. Social structure theory goes on to explains how crime is part of society. Social structure theorists focus on different relationships between social institutions and explain how certain behaviors create those institutions to characterize and group people together. This theory looks at not only a structure in a society but, the processes the society created and go through. Structure and processes help shape and impact social interaction.

    Read More

  • Social Disorganisation Theory And Strain Theory

    1235 Words  | 3 Pages

    In classic strain theory it is said that, Classic strain theory focuses on that type of strain involving the inability to achieve success or gain a middle class status. General Strain theory focuses on a broad range of strains, including the inability to achieve a variety of goals, the loss of valued possessions, and negative treatment by others. General Strain Theory has been applied to a range of topics, including the explanation of gender, race/ethnicity, age, community, and societal differences in crime

    Read More

  • The Look at three Integrated Theories

    2402 Words  | 5 Pages

    ... people commit crimes and are not limited to one aspect like the original theory. For example, Merton strain theory just looked one aspect of blocked opportunities to unable achieve economic success. Differential Opportunity theory helped explain the different illegitimate means that causes people to commit crimes for example poverty and high concentrations of youth living in slums (Murphy & Robinson, 2009). Agnew General Strain theory takes a micro approach into looking at the different types of strain that causes people to commit crimes (Lilly et al.2010). Even though these theories explain certain aspects of what causes crime, it does not explain the sole cause of why criminal behavior occurs or why one commits different crimes. However integrated theories are helpful to understand certain aspects of why people commit crimes and engage in deviant behavior.

    Read More

  • Strain Theories of Criminal Behaviour

    2001 Words  | 5 Pages

    To gain an accurate understanding of strain theories it is best to first examine their intellectual foundations. One of the most important influences on the development of strain theories was sociologist Emile Durkheim. A structural functionalist, Durkheim argued that deviance and crime were not only normal, but also served a function in society. Durkheim believed that crime served the purpose of displaying to members of society what behaviours and actions are considered unacceptable as determined by societal co...

    Read More

  • The Three Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

    1966 Words  | 4 Pages

    The structural-functionalist perspective looks at society as a complex system composed of various parts much like a living organism. Each aspect of society contributes to society's functioning as a whole. Social institutions play a key role in keeping a society stable. All societies need certain things to survive (Newman 2010).

    Read More

  • The Purpose of Punishment in a Modern Society

    2222 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to David Garland, punishment is a legal process where violators of the criminal law are condemned and sanctioned with specified legal categories and procedures (Garland, 1990). There are different forms and types of punishment administered for various reasons and can either be a temporary or lifelong type of punishment. Punishment can be originated as a cause from parents or teachers with misbehaving children, in the workplace or from the judicial system in which crimes are committed against the law. The main aim of punishment is to demonstrate to the public, the victim and the offender that justice is to be done, to reduce criminal activities and to deter people from wanting to commit any form of crime against the law. In other words it is a tool used to eliminate the bad in society or to deter people from committing criminal activities.

    Read More

More about Analysis Of Merton's Social Structure And Anomie

Open Document