Social Heritage

Question 1

Two Theorists Closely Associated

Answer 1

Emile Durkheim and Robert K. Merton

Question 2

Date First Introduced

Answer 2

1893 in the book “The Division of Labour in Society”

Question 3

Definition of Anomie

Answer 3

A condition of deregulation occuring in society. The general procedural rules of a society have broken down and people do not know what to expect from each other

Question 4

Alternative Definition

Answer 4

A morally deregulated condition in which people have inadequate moral controls over their behaviour

Question 5

Mechanical / Organic Theory

Answer 5

Society evolved from a simple, non-specialized form toward a complex, highly specialized form. Thus people rely more heavily on each other; relationships become contracts and bonds are broken

Question 6

Factors Producing Anomie

Answer 6

Economic crises, forced industrialization, commercialization, …

Question 7

Redefined Anomie by Merton

Answer 7

A disjuncture between achievable goals and the acceptable means for achieving them as a result of the way society is structured (e.g. social classes)

Question 8

Link to Historical Events

Answer 8

The US’ New Deal efforts highly focused on rearranging society, closely tying to Meton’s and Durkheim’s causes for anomie