Anomie And Strain Theory Case Study

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2. The leading theorists in the Anomie and Strain Theory are Émile Durkheim and Robert K. Merton. According to Reid (2012), Durkheim was born in 1858 and later died in 1919 (p. 1090. As French sociologist, Durkheim believed that “crime has functional (or positive) consequences, such as fostering flexibility” (Reid, 2012, p. 109). An excerpt from Jones (1986) notes that Durkheim grew up with a Jewish influence and later attended a rabbinical school for his early education (para. 1). Later, Durkheim broke away from Judaism later and attends college at Collège d 'Epinal, where he studied in Letter and Sciences (para. 2). In 1893, Reid (2012) points out that Durkheim “introduced his version of the concept of anomie” (p. 109). Durkheim expanded his version of anomie in a way that attempted to show the importance of social cohesion, or social solidarity, which promotes a collective conscience (p. 109). This theory would soon influence surrounding theorists of that time, and as individuals were being viewed as products of society and living through the Great Depression, Robert K. Merton came forward with a newly formulated outlook that included the anomie theory. Born in 1910 and later dying in 2003, Merton’s thesis “was that social structures exert pressure for change. Some of that change is helpful to society; some of it is not” (Reid, 2012, p. 110). …show more content…

Policy implications from Merton’s Anomie and Strain theory could result in almost anything that can reduce strain among individuals with a direct result in the reduction of crime. However, changing the systematic avenues of approach will seek to alleviate strains in society that ultimately reduce strains among individuals. Simply put, if Merton’s anomie and strain theory were to be implemented across the criminal justice system and society during its conception and in today’s system, it would have to being with changing both society and the individual. However, both are direct results of each

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