Robert Merton: Anomie Theory & Deviance in the 1960s - Essay Sample

Introduction

Robert Merton is credited with developing the Anomie theory of deviance in the 1960s. He argues that deviance is as a result of confusion, which arises due to the social norms that do not exist or conflict (Fabauer 146). The term explains the variations between goals that are socially accepted and the existence of the means to achieve them. For instance, the theory can be employed to stress on wealth acquirement as a primary goal for the US general public. The country's citizens strive for economic success, which is regarded as essential in having a positive identity in a consumerist and capitalist economy (Crossman para.4). Handwork and quality education may assist them in attaining middle or upper-class status.

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However, not all the population in the US possess the means to attain wealth, more so the members of the disadvantaged groups and the minority. Besides, not everyone has schools to access quality education, leading to employment. A person's race, class, cultural capital, sexual orientation, and gender impacts an individual's prospect of climbing the socioeconomic ladder (Crossman para.6). Therefore, community members who are unable to pursue their goal of amassing wealth encounter anomie since a hindrance has obstructed their quest of a socially approved goal. In essence, the individuals might use deviant behaviors to accomplish their objectives, make a point, or retaliate against society. They feel a strain that may lead them in engaging in crime, including selling goods in the black market, embezzlement, theft, gang, and gang violence to acquire wealth.

Gang violence is an extensive and undefined kind of deviant behavior that impacts societies and the police force globally. Presently, gang crimes are the most reported and publicized crimes in the media. The lack of proper means to attain economic success in society ensures that members join gangs as a way of survival and to achieve economic success. Gangs today no longer have a fixed member based on territory, they frequently move around on the basis of where the gang leader sees the opportunities to make money, which makes it difficult for law enforcement to stop these kinds of criminals (Pyrooz 491). Viewing this theory through the anomie theory provides insights as to why gangs are formed, who are affected by gang crime, where it occurs, and how the society responds to it accordingly.

Gangs' crimes are defined as a federal felony that involves a crime of violence, a controlled substance, and the conspiracy to commit an offense (Pyrooz 491). People tend to localize them as street crimes. However, it is imperative to note the valid reasons why young people join gangs. First, individuals join groups due to lack of meaningful employment; thus, it seems like their only means of economic success as reflected by the anomie theory. People who do not succeed in their education and cannot get a job to meet their daily survival needs turn into gang crimes to get money. It is hard for convicted felons to achieve meaningful employment due to their criminal records once they get out of jail. Therefore, since they also want to achieve success and become respected members of the American capitalist and consumerist economy, they turn to crime to amass wealth.

Most people join gangs to engage in narcotics business and benefit from the groups' protection. Most certainly, marginalized people mostly by classism and racism are the most probable to encounter strain since they have the same goals as other Americans but do not possess the means due to systematic inequalities (Crossman para.7). As such, they are more likely to employ wicked ways to acquire economic success, which explains why African Americans and Latino gangs commit most of the gangs violence cases in the US. The discussion about anomie theory extends beyond acquisition crimes. Protests by African Americans against police violence is an example of a rebellion induced by strain. Presently and in the past, they have protested against social injustice to get the lawmakers to pass statutes that distribute the country's resources more evenly. Hence, economic empowerment is one of the affirmative action, and laws prohibit discrimination based on gender, religion, disability, and race. Thus, most gangs are formed by marginalized people who feel that the existing system discriminates against them and therefore seek alternative methods to acquire the property.

Therefore, the current increase in gangs and gang violence crimes can be held as a function of the conflict between the goals, which people have and the means they can utilize to acquire them legally (Siegel 4). For instance, most people in the US aspire to attain power, fame, and wealth even though their abilities depend on the class and those of the lower class struggle to reach their desires conventionally. Therefore, people are filled with desperations, prejudice, and frustration, forcing them to join gangs for power, fame, and wealth. Thus, according to anomie theory, people have a choice to be socially responsible by learning to live under their situation or else the can choose to engage in other socially unacceptable means to attain their desires including gangs' violence and crimes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, increased gang crime and violence in the US can be explained through the Anomie theory. The approach posits that deviant behaviors such as gang violence and crimes are as a result of lacking the means to acquire a socially accepted goal such as wealth. With the minority groups being biased against by the system, they tend to form violent gangs to retaliate against society and enrich themselves. The theory teaches about the forces of society beyond people's control and helping them better understand their behaviors and those of others.

Works Cited

Crossman, Ashley. "Deviance and Strain Theory in Sociology." ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/structural-strain-theory-3026632. https://www.thoughtco.com/structural-strain-theory-3026632

Fassauer, Gabriele. "Anomie-Driven Dynamics of Deviance." Self-Reinforcing Processes in and among Organizations. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013. 145-161. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230392830_8

Pyrooz, David C. "Structural covariates of gang homicide in large US cities." Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 49.4 (2012): 489-518. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022427811415535

Siegel, Larry. Criminology: Theories, patterns, and typologies. Nelson Education, 2012. https://jamiat.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/CRIMINOLOGY001.pdf