⭐ 1. DURKHEIM’S ANOMIE THEORY – FULL DETAILED ANALYSIS
A. Background of Durkheim’s Theory
Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) is known as the father of sociology.
He believed that society is held together by shared norms, values, morality, and law.
When these values weaken → social disorder → Anomie.
Durkheim’s concept of Anomie was introduced mainly in his two works:
- The Division of Labour in Society (1893)
- Suicide (1897)
B. Meaning of Anomie (According to Durkheim)
“Anomie” = Normlessness.
It means:
- Social norms become unclear
- Rules fail to regulate behaviour
- People don’t know what is expected from them
- Moral boundaries collapse
- Society loses control over individual desires
Durkheim said humans naturally have unlimited desires.
Only society (through norms) can control these desires.
If norms break → desires become unlimited → crime increases.
C. Causes of Anomie (Durkheim’s View)
1. Rapid Social Change
Sudden changes disturb social order:
- Industrial revolution
- Urbanisation
- Globalisation
- Economic depression
- Sudden prosperity
These changes weaken old norms but new norms are not yet formed.
2. Weak Moral Regulation
When society fails to regulate desires and expectations.
3. Breakdown of Collective Conscience
When shared values become weak.
4. Economic Instability
Both extreme poverty and extreme prosperity create instability.
D. Anomie and Crime
Durkheim argued:
✔ Crime is normal and present in every society
✔ Crime increases when norms break down
✔ Crime has social functions (it helps society know what is right/wrong)
He did NOT say criminals are born criminals.
He said crime is a product of social conditions.
E. Anomie and Suicide
Durkheim identified anomic suicide — suicide caused by sudden changes in social or economic conditions.
Example:
- A businessman loses everything in a recession
- A poor person suddenly becomes rich and cannot adjust
In both cases, norms fail to regulate desires → confusion → suicide.
F. Criticism of Durkheim
- Too much focus on social forces, ignoring psychology
- Overgeneralised concept
- Did not explain why individuals react differently
- Limited empirical testing
⭐ 2. MERTON’S STRAIN THEORY (ALSO CALLED “MERTON’S ANOMIE THEORY”) – FULL ANALYSIS
A. Background
Robert K. Merton (American sociologist) modified Durkheim’s idea.
He said anomie is NOT only due to normlessness; it also arises when there is mismatch between goals and means.
B. Meaning of Strain
Strain = pressure, stress, or tension felt by individuals when:
✔ Society gives high goals (success, money, status)
BUT
✘ Society does NOT give equal means to everyone (education, jobs, resources)
This gap between goals and means produces frustration → deviance → crime.
C. Causes of Strain (According to Merton)
1. Cultural Goals
Examples: wealth, success, respect, luxury
2. Institutional Means
Legal paths: education, job, business, skills
3. Social Inequality
Not everyone has access to good education, jobs, networks.
When poor people see rich people’s lifestyle but can’t achieve it legally → strain increases.
D. Merton’s Five Modes of Adaptation (Very Important)
1. Conformity
✔ Accept goals
✔ Accept legal means
Most people follow this path.
2. Innovation
✔ Accept goals
✘ Reject legal means → adopt illegal means
This explains most crimes (fraud, theft, bribery).
3. Ritualism
✘ Reject goals
✔ Accept means
People follow rules but have no ambition.
Example: A clerk doing routine job without aim.
4. Retreatism
✘ Reject goals
✘ Reject means
Examples: drug addicts, drunkards, homeless wanderers.
5. Rebellion
✘ Reject old goals and means
✔ Create new goals and new means
Examples: political rebels, revolutionaries.
E. Crime According to Merton
Crime occurs because:
- Goals are universal (everyone wants success)
- But means are unequally distributed
- Poor people feel maximum strain
- This strain leads to innovation, i.e., illegal ways of achieving goals
So crime is a product of social structure, not personal weakness.
F. Criticism of Merton
- Focuses mainly on economic crimes
- Does NOT explain violent crimes (rape, murder)
- Assumes goals are same for everyone
- Does not consider cultural or emotional factors
- Does not explain why some poor people do NOT commit crimes
⭐ 3. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DURKHEIM’S AND MERTON’S THEORY (FULL ADVANCED VERSION)
| Durkheim’s Anomie Theory | Merton’s Strain Theory (Anomie) |
|---|---|
| Focus on society as a whole. | Focus on individual behaviour. |
| Anomie = normlessness. | Anomie = gap between goals and means. |
| Crime rises due to breakdown of norms during social change. | Crime rises due to blocked opportunities. |
| Norms collapse because of rapid social change. | Norms collapse because of unequal social structures. |
| Emphasis on moral regulation. | Emphasis on economic and class inequality. |
| Crime is normal and has social functions. | Crime is adaptation to strain. |
| More macro-level theory. | More micro-level and structural theory. |
| Less focus on individual psychology. | Explains why individuals choose different adaptations. |
⭐ 4. EXAM-READY CONCLUSION (Best for scoring marks)
Durkheim and Merton both explained how society produces crime.
Durkheim said crime results from normlessness caused by rapid social change and weak regulation.
Merton reinterpreted anomie as strain between cultural goals and institutional means, leading individuals to adopt deviant adaptations such as innovation, retreatism, rebellion, etc.
Together, both theories show that crime is not only the act of individuals but a product of societal forces and structural inequalities.
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