5.1 Strain and Anomie Theories

Strain and anomie theories explore why people turn to crime when society's goals don't match up with reality. These ideas look at how the pressure to succeed, combined with limited opportunities, can push folks towards illegal activities.

Robert Merton's strain theory and Agnew's general strain theory dive into different ways people cope with societal pressure. They examine how social structure, inequality, and personal experiences can lead to criminal behavior as a response to stress and frustration.

Strain and Anomie Theories

Concept of anomie in crime

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• Anomie refers to a state of normlessness or a breakdown of social norms and values that occurs when there is a disconnect between culturally defined goals (financial success) and the legitimate means to achieve them (education, hard work)
• Individuals may experience strain, leading to deviant or criminal behavior (theft, drug dealing) as a way to cope with the discrepancy between aspirations and reality
• Robert Merton's strain theory suggests that anomie arises from the imbalance between cultural goals (American Dream) and institutionalized means, with limited access to legitimate means for some individuals leading to strain and deviance
• Agnew's general strain theory expands on Merton's ideas, identifying three main sources of strain: failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of positively valued stimuli (loss of a job), and presence of negative stimuli (discrimination)
• Strain theories propose that crime and deviance are more likely to occur when individuals experience high levels of strain and have limited access to legitimate coping mechanisms (social support, mental health resources)

Merton's modes of adaptation

• Conformity: Accepting both cultural goals and institutionalized means, individuals pursue success through legitimate channels (education, career) and are least likely to engage in criminal behavior
• Innovation: Accepting cultural goals but rejecting institutionalized means, individuals seek alternative, often illegal, means to achieve success (fraud, embezzlement) and may engage in property crimes, drug dealing, or other illicit activities
• Ritualism: Rejecting cultural goals but accepting institutionalized means, individuals focus on following rules and norms (bureaucratic roles) without aspiring to achieve success and are unlikely to engage in criminal behavior
• Retreatism: Rejecting both cultural goals and institutionalized means, individuals withdraw from society (hermits, chronic drug users) and may engage in self-destructive behaviors involving substance abuse, homelessness, or mental health issues
• Rebellion: Rejecting both cultural goals and institutionalized means, while replacing them with new goals and means, individuals actively challenge the existing social structure (revolutionaries, political extremists) and may engage in politically motivated crimes or terrorism

Social structure and crime rates

• Social structure and inequality can limit access to legitimate means for achieving success, with poverty, lack of education, and limited job opportunities creating barriers to success and leading to higher levels of strain for disadvantaged groups
• Neighborhood disadvantage and social disorganization can contribute to strain and crime, as high poverty rates, residential instability (high turnover), and weak social bonds (lack of community involvement) undermine community control and increase crime rates
• Discrimination and marginalization of certain groups (racial minorities, immigrants) can create additional sources of strain, with racial, ethnic, or gender-based discrimination limiting opportunities and creating feelings of injustice
• Inequality in the criminal justice system can exacerbate strain and perpetuate cycles of crime, as disproportionate policing (racial profiling), sentencing disparities (harsher penalties for crack cocaine), and limited access to legal resources reinforce strain and deviance

Strengths vs limitations of strain theories

• Strengths:
  1. Strain theories provide a sociological explanation for crime that considers the role of social structure and inequality (poverty, discrimination)
  2. They offer insights into how the discrepancy between goals and means can lead to deviant behavior (financial success vs limited opportunities)
  3. Agnew's general strain theory expands on Merton's ideas, providing a more comprehensive understanding of sources of strain (failure, loss, negative stimuli)
• Limitations:
  1. Strain theories do not fully explain all types of crime, particularly crimes committed by individuals in positions of power or privilege (white-collar crime, political corruption)
  2. They may oversimplify the complex relationship between social factors and individual behavior, neglecting the role of personal responsibility and choice
  3. The theories do not adequately address the role of individual agency and choice in criminal behavior, focusing primarily on external pressures and constraints
  4. Strain theories have been criticized for being overly deterministic and neglecting the influence of other factors, such as social learning (peer influence) and control (parental supervision)