Matthew Hunt
Outline and assess the view that deviance is the result of strain in society (60)
The view that deviance is the result of strain in society has been an ever present consideration in sociology for over a century. The basis of this view was first formed by Dukheim in 1897 with his theory of anomie. Anomie refers to a breakdown of social norms and the condition where norms no longer control the activities of members in society. Durkheim believed that individuals cannot find their place in society without clear rules to help guide them. Also according to the theory, sudden change within society leads to dissatisfaction, conflict and deviance. Regardless of the fact that the sudden change is a great prosperity or a great depression, anomie is the same result.
Durkeim’s theory was then modified in the 1930’s by Robert Merton when he wanted to define an explanation for deviance in a functionalist framework. Unlike Durkheim, Merton does not associate anomie with sudden change, but with strains built into a social system that remain constant. To Merton, anomie is a persistent structural strain, arguing that there are two elements of social and cultural structure which anomie has an influence on. The first structure is culturally assigned goals and aspirations. These are the things that all individuals are believed to want and expect out of life, such as success, money, material goods etc. The second aspect of the social structure defines the acceptable mode for achieving the goals and aspirations set by society. This is the appropriate way that people get what they would like out of life. Examples include obeying laws and norms, seeking an education and hard work. Merton argued that in order for society to maintain a function there must be a balance between aspirations and means. He believed that balance would occur if the individual felt they were achieving the culturally desired goal by conforming to the socially acceptable way of doing so. It is also important that the culturally desired goals be achievable by legitimate means for all social classes. If goals are not equally achievable through an accepted mode, then illegitimate means might be used to achieve the same goal. There often is a disparity between goals and means. Too much emphasis is placed on the goal and not enough emphasis is placed on achieving it through acceptable means. Merton stated that for some people there is a lack of opportunity. This leads individuals to seek out the goal by whatever means necessary. According to Merton crime and deviance occurs through this process. To put it simply, Merton believed that overemphasis on material success and lack of opportunities to achieve it leads to crime.
