American sociologist Dr. Robert Merton is considered by many scholars as one of the founding fathers of modern sociology. Dr. Merton is best known for coining the phrases “role model” and “self-fulfilling prophecy” which has become common terms in American culture.
Anomie
Dr. Merton expanded on the work of French sociologist Émile Durkheim on anomie with his theory on deviance and social strain.
Anomie in the simplest terms is a lack of social or ethical norms in an individual or group.
When Dr. Merton was developing his theory on deviance, he analyzed American culture, structure, and anomie. Dr. Merton believed that all United States citizens believed and strived for the “American Dream”; however, the ways in which citizens obtain the “American Dream” of success are not the same, simply because not all citizens have the same opportunities and advantages.
Dr. Merton believed that this leads to deviance in achieving the “American Dream” by some who turn to illegal activity while still believing in the dream of success but using illegal means to obtain the dream by such activity as illegal drug dealing to achieve financial success. Dr. Melton also suggested that for some they drop out of society becoming drug addicts or drifters realizing the “American Dream” is unattainable for them and this can lead to deviant behavior.
Dr. Merton expanded research on anomie in his deviance theory, is widely used today in criminology when studying Strain Theory.
Robert Agnew on Strain Theory and the American Society for Criminology
Merton’s Deviance Criteria
“A cardinal American virtue, 'ambition,' promotes a cardinal American vice, 'deviant behavior.” ….Robert K. Merton
Dr. Merton believed there are two criteria that promote deviant behavior.
- A motivation of the person to adhere to cultural goals.
- A person’s belief in how to obtain these cultural goals
Dr. Merton believed that there are five types of deviance based on his criteria:
- Conformity: Is when the person or group accepts cultural goals and the means of attaining them.
- Innovation: The person or group accepting cultural goals; however, they reject the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals. An example would be organized crime families. They believe in the “American Dream”; however, use illegitimate and illegal means to obtain these goals.
- Ritualism: Involves the person or group rejecting cultural goals but accepting the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals.
- Retreatism: Is the rejection of both the cultural goals and the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals.
- Rebellion: Is when the person or group rejects both the cultural goals and the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals. An example would be Outlaw Motorcycle Club culture in which they reject society cultural goals and the traditional and/or legitimate means to obtain cultural goals by replacing both elements with their own goals and ways to achieve these goals.
The strain that society places on achieving the “American Dream”, leads to deviance according to Dr. Merton theory. There are plenty of examples of Dr. Merton’s theory in today’s news headlines with criminal cases involving banking investors, politicians, organized crime, etc. The need for greed to achieve the “American Dream” has caused many too intentional break laws to achieve financial success.
Merton’s Legacy
Sadly, Dr. Merton passed in 2003, but his legacy lives on through his criminology work that he has left us with anomie and strain theory.
The challenge for today’s criminologist continues through scientific research for a better understanding as to the causes of crime in our society so that policy-makers, mental health professionals, and law enforcement leaders have current information to help make our society safer.
About the Author: Mark Bond worked in law enforcement and has been a firearms trainer for more than 29 years. His law enforcement experience includes the military, local, state, and federal levels as a police officer and criminal investigator. Mark obtained a BS and MS in Criminal Justice, and M.Ed in Educational Leadership with Summa Cum Laude Honors. As a lifelong learner, he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in education with a concentration in college teaching. Mark is currently an assistant professor of criminal justice at American Military University.
Merton’s Strain Theory of DevianceArgues that crime is a result of people being socialized into expecting success but not achieving this success due to limited opportunities.AdvertisementsStrain Theory argues that crime occurs when there aren’t enough legitimate opportunities for people to achieve the normal success goals of a society. In such a situation there is a ‘strain’ between the goals and the means to achieve those goals, and some people turn to crime in order to achieve success.Strain Theory was first developed by Robert Merton in the 1940s to explain the rising crime ratesexperienced in the USA at that time. Strain theory has become popular with Contemporary sociologists.Merton argued that the cultural system of the USA was built on the ‘American Dream’ – a set of meritocratic principles which assured the American public that equality of opportunity was available to all, regardless of class, gender or ethnicity. The ‘American Dream’ encouraged individuals to pursue a goal of success which was largely measured in terms of the acquisition of wealth and material possessions. People were expected to pursue this goal through legitimate means such as education and work. The dominant cultural message was if you are ambitious, talented and work hard, then income and wealth should be your rewards.However, Merton pointed out that these goals were not attainable by all, that the structural organization of the USA mean that the means to get on were not fairly distributed and it was difficult, if not impossible for some to compete an achieve financial success.
Merton developed the concept of ‘anomie’ to describe this imbalance between cultural goals and institutionalized means. He argued that such an imbalanced society produces anomie – there is a strain or tension between the goals and means which produce unsatisfied aspirations.Merton argued that when individuals are faced with a gap between their goals (usually finances/money related) and their current status, strain occurs. When faced with strain, people have five ways to adapt:1.Conformity:pursing cultural goals through socially approved means.2.Innovation:using socially unapproved or unconventional means to obtain culturally approvedgoals. Example: dealing drugs or stealing to achieve financial security.3. Ritualism:using the same socially approved means to achieve less elusive goals (more modest and humble).4. Retreatism: to reject both the cultural goals and the means to obtain it, then find a way to escape it.5. Rebellion:to reject the cultural goals and means, then work to replace them.Explaining the Higher Rates of Offending Among Lower Social ClassesMerton developed his theory from a well-established observation from official statistics – that a higher proportion of acquisitive crime is committed by those from unskilled manual backgrounds(or ‘lower social classes’).Merton noted that American society promoted material success as a ‘legitimate goal’, and encouraged self-discipline and hard work as the ‘legitimate means’ of pursuing that goal, with