Anomie theory

by Robert K. Merton
 CONTENTS

Merton's Merton’s
Robert King
Theory typology
Merton
of models
 01
Robert K. Merton
 Robert K. Merton

• Robert King Merton born in July 4, 1910

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S– died in
February 23, 2003 (aged 92) New York
City.

• He was an American sociologist who is

considered a founding father of modern
sociology, and a major contributor to the
subfield of criminology..
Continuation
• He served as the 47th President of the American
Sociological Association

• In 1938 he wrote a book called "Science, Technology

and Society in Seventeenth Century England." and in
same year he wrote a book called as "Social Structure
and Anomie."

• And In 1949. He wrote another book called as "Social

Theory and Social Structure "(revised and expanded
in 1957 and 1968)
 Continuation
Merton’s contribution to sociology falls into three
areas:
(1) Sociology of science
(2) Sociology of crime and deviance
(3) Sociological theory.

• He spent most of his career teaching at Columbia

University.

• In 1994 he was awarded the National Medal of

Science for his contributions to the field and for
having founded the sociology of science.
 02
Anomie Theory
 Theory

 Anomie theory is a sociology and criminology theory

developed in 1938 by Robert K. Merton.

Merton's theory on deviance stems from hishis 1938 analysis

of the relationship between culture,anomie and structure.

 Anomie means aa situation inin whichwhich societies bring

to bear pressure on individual thatthat can lead to rule
breaking behaviour.
 Theory
 Example; if a small boy a son of an accused
always blamed as a thief it creat pressure on the
boy and he eventually get involved in criminal
behavior

 The theory states that society puts pressure on

individuals to achieve socially accepted goals
though they lack the means. Eg; Americans dream

 Goals: culture norms about what, constitute

success in life

 Means : appropriate ways to achieve this goals

 Continuation
American Dream means theythey value big money as
success

Americans expected to achieve this by legitimate means

Believe in meritocracy- reality very different

Widespread inequality,discrimination,poverty

Goal of money and success, lack of opportunity or ways

leadlead to stresss and deviance

The norms to prevent deviance are not strong enough

success byby anyany means "to the victor the spoils"
 Continuation
 This leads to strain which may lead
individuals to commit crimes, like selling
drugs or becoming involved in prostitution as
a means to gain financial security.

 Merton believed that socially accepted goals

put pressure on people to change and fit in to
the society.

 His theory was developed largely due to the

social and economic circumstances occurring
in the United States during the early 1900s.
 Continuation
 Robert Merton's Anomie Theory developed from a fundamental
question that why the rate of deviance were so different among
different societies. He thought that there can be deviance because
each society has their own definition of success and proper means
to achieve goals.

 He found that the United States is a prime example of deviance

 Employees who have a college education are respected but the

robber barons who stole money were also admired, which
demonstrates that success is viewed as more important than the
actual means to achieve success.
 Continuation
In addition, he saw how minority groups had a
harder time acquiring a good education, and if
they could, they had a harder time acquiring a
respectable living; yet the same high standard
for success is enforced on everyone without
considering if they had the means to satisfy
such standards.
 03
Merton’s Typology
of Models
 Merton’s typology of
models
In order to be able to cope with this pressure, individual will
show one of the following 5 behavioural patterns;

1. Conformity
Pursuing cultural goals through socially
approved means. Example; working in a job.

2. Innovation
Accepting society's goals but designing their
own means for achieving them. Often using socially
unapproved or unconventional means to obtain culturally
approved goals.Example: dealing drugs or stealing
 Continuation
3. Ritualism
Individual accept both goals and method
to attain them, but reject the possibility of ever
achieving their goals.This individual no longer
accept the goals they no longer feel that they
can achieve but they try to achieve them life
become ritual to them they try to achieve
knowing chances are less

4. Retreatism
They reject both the cultural goals and the
means, then find a way to escape it.
Example; Drug Addict
 Continuation
5. Rebellion
They reject both goals and ways to achieve them
and replace them with different goals, values and means to
achieve.
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listening