Strain/Anomie Theory

Question 1

What does strain theory assume?

Answer 1

Humans are inherently good; consensus social order

Question 2

What does strain theory focus on?

Answer 2

How structural characteristics influence behavior

Question 3

What is anomie?

Answer 3

Social instability; breakdown in social norms

Question 4

What are Durkheim’s 3 steps?

Answer 4

Strain leads to anomie leads to crime

Question 5

Merton believed anomie is the product of what two things?

Answer 5

Social culture and social structure

Question 6

How is the American Dream disjointed?

Answer 6

Emphasis on the goals but no emphasis on how to achieve the goals

Question 7

What are Merton’s 3 steps?

Answer 7

Anomie leads to strain leads to crime

Question 8

What are Merton’s 5 types of adaptations to strain?

Answer 8

Conformist, innovator, ritualist, retreatist, rebel

Question 9

What is the conformist?

Answer 9

Accepts the goals and means (go to college to make money)

Question 10

What is the innovator?

Answer 10

Accepts goals but rejects means (wants to make money but not through college)

Question 11

What is the ritualist?

Answer 11

Accepts means but rejects goals (go to college because it’s a norm, not to get money)

Question 12

What is the retreatist?

Answer 12

Rejects goals and means (drop out of school, doesn’t care about money)

Question 13

What is the rebel?

Answer 13

Creates new goals and means

Question 14

What is a crIticism of Merton and the American Dream?

Answer 14

Too much emphasis on American Dream —> shouldn’t there be more crime?

Question 15

How does IAT redefine Merton?

Answer 15

The American Dream, but big emphasis on the economy

Question 16

What is the IAT assumption?

Answer 16

Crime stems from the cultural setting

Question 17

What are the 4 American values?

Answer 17

Achievement, individualism, universalism, fetishism of money

Question 18

What are the four major institutions of IAT?

Answer 18

Economy, polity, family, education

Question 19

What two aspects lead to crime in IAT?

Answer 19

Culture of the American Dream + social structure (dominance of economy)

Question 20

What was cheating most increased by in Muftic article?

Answer 20

Universalism and fetishism

Question 21

What was cheating decreased by in Muftic article?

Answer 21

Family and polity

Question 22

What does relative deprivation theory say?

Answer 22

When people compare what they lack to what others have, they feel injustice (strain) which leads to crime

Question 23

What are policy implications for IAT?

Answer 23

Deemphasize economic institution