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Anomie -------- Merton, 1938

Concepts

1.	Disjunction between goals and means
a.	There are two systems:
i.	Cultural system
1.	provides values
2.	Why are most criminals found in the lower class?
a.	Society sets goals, the goal of monetary success is most important (The American Dream)
b.	Society sets the means for achieving the goals, the primary means of achieving monetary success is the work ethic
3.	goals are universal (consensus)
4.	means are not limited to one alternative
ii.	social structure
1.	provides legitimate opportunities
2.	not everyone is afforded the same opportunities to achieve the goals, therefore there is disjunction between goals and means
2.	Strain (frustration)
3.	Modes of adaptation (5)
a.	Conformists – most of the population
b.	Innovators – mostly in lower class because of limited opportunities
c.	Retreatists – social dropouts
d.	Ritualists – mostly in lower middle class
e.	Rebels – reject traditional culture and create their own goals and means

Mode | Goals | Means
Conformists | Accept | Accept
Innovators | Accept | Reject
Ritualists | Reject | Accept
Retreatists | Reject | Reject
Rebellion | Reject/replace | Reject/replace

**Merton concentrated on innovators as the most deviant, but did not ignore retreatists because of illegal drug use

Propositions

i.	If there is disjunction between goals and means, there is increased strain
ii.	If there is increased strain, there is increased adaptation in the form of deviant or illegal behavior

Disjunction Between                      Strain                         Adaptations
Goals and Means

Theoretical Rationale

You are promised that you can achieve the American Dream, but opportunities limit you from achieving it, therefore, innovators attempt to achieve the goal by alternative means.

Scope/boundaries

•	Rates of deviance within or across society
•	Limited to street crime 
•	Not concerned with individuals, but aggregates of individuals on a societal level.

Question… Why does American society have more crime than Japanese society?
Question…Why do certain segments of society seem to commit more crime than others?

Assumptions

1.	Culture creates anomie
2.	Crime is deterministic because of goals and means and position in society
3.	There is a consensus that the primary goal of life is to achieve the American dream