Discuss Merton\'s Anomie Theory of Deviance, including the five forms of adaptat

Question

Discuss Merton's Anomie Theory of Deviance, including the five forms of adaptation. Do you think that society confuses certain people by misrepresenting an individual's chances of becoming successful? Give some examples to support your answer. Considering crime rates in the United States, is there evidence in favor of Merton's theory? In other words, does it appear that crime rates are higher among groups for whom access to cultural goals is limited? Are there groups for whom the theory does not seem to apply? Discuss Merton's Anomie Theory of Deviance, including the five forms of adaptation. Do you think that society confuses certain people by misrepresenting an individual's chances of becoming successful? Give some examples to support your answer. Considering crime rates in the United States, is there evidence in favor of Merton's theory? In other words, does it appear that crime rates are higher among groups for whom access to cultural goals is limited? Are there groups for whom the theory does not seem to apply?

Explanation / Answer

When R. K. Merton set out to give his theory of anomie, firs, he refuted the idea that biology of a person is responsible for deviant behavior. He belonged to the functionalist school of thought. His major idea was not to decipher why a person deviates rather find out why the rates of deviance differ from one society or even within one subgroup in a society. For Merton anomie meant the breakdown of cultural norms due to rapid social change. According to Mertons theory of anomie there are structurally permitted means to achieve culturally approved goals. Based on this, the five modes of adaptation are as follows:

1) Conformity- This one agrees to both Structurally permitted means and culturally permitted goals.

2) Innovation- This one agrees with the culturally permitted goals but finds a new path to achieve it.

3) Ritualism- This one agrees with the structurally permitted means but also somewhere believes that he will not be able to achieve his goals.

4) Retreatism- This one does not need to achieve any goal or is ready for any path. This one completely has withdrawn from society.

5) Rebellion- This set of people don't believe in achieving any goal set by society or wish to take the beaten path to achieve it. They refashion the whole of the social framework.

For some people like Black people, a racist society can reduce their chances by restricting the chances for them to educate themselves and thereby earn a respectable living. Other examples could be the caste structure in India. People are denied chances to achieve success based on race, ethnicity or class.

Criticism of the theory is that this theory seems to believe that people in the lower economic strata tend to pursue deviant activity whereas this is not so. In real life, several people in low socio-economic class have achieved what is called an 'American dream.'

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