Mertons Theory of Anomie

Question 1

What is the premise of Merton’s Theory of Anomie (strain)?

Answer 1

Anomie and crime result when society places an emphasis on achieving societal goals and limits the legitimate opportunities to achieve the goal

Question 2

Why does crime result from trying to attain America’s cultural goal?

Answer 2

Society’s goals and the system of legitimate means for achieving these goals are inconsistent. So people might look for more illegitimate ways to achieve their goals like selling drugs.

Question 3

What are Merton’s modes of adaption?(CIRRR)

Answer 3

Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, Rebellion

Question 4

Conformity

Answer 4

Individuals accept the goals and means of society
ex: having a job and making legitimate money

Question 5

Innovation

Answer 5

Individuals accept the cultural goals of a society but reject the means.
ex: Lower class having the goal of making money but stealing it instead of getting a real job

Question 6

Ritualism

Answer 6

Individuals reject the cultural goals but still follow the means of a society
ex: Middle class (neutral)

Question 7

Retreatism

Answer 7

Individuals reject the cultural goals of society and the means
ex: dropping out of society (drug addicts)

Question 8

Rebellion

Answer 8

Individuals reject both cultural goals and means of society and replace them with alternative goals and means.
ex: cults

Question 9

The most common mode deviant mode of adaption

Answer 9

Conformity

Question 10

The least common mode of adaption

Answer 10

Rebellion

Question 11

The most important policy to come out of Merton’s Anomie Theory

Answer 11

Greater/improved access to legitimate opportunities to achieve cultural goals