The Origins of Anomie Theory

Durkheim

What are

NORMS

Socially expected and Socially Accepted Behavior

Anomie is:

A state of normlessness, when norms weaken and breakdown

What leads to Anomie? 

Periods of Social Change and Upheavel that upset the balance of norms lead to Anomie

Durkheim (1850's-1900)

Durkheim found that:

It is difficult for people to guide their behavior

Durkheim Studied:

Suicide on the MACRO level

4 Types of Suicide

Emile Durkheim: Anomie/Strain Theory

He found that: Anomie suicide-

found that Anomie suicide-was high during periods of economic crisis or war;

• Occur when there are: Rapid spcial changes (war/economic downturns) which lead to breakdown in norms
• Occur when: People feel less attached to society

WHY IS THIS SO? (ACCORDING TO DURKHEIM) ANOMIE SUICIDE HAPPENS BECAUSE:

ANOMIE AND CRIME

ACCORDING TO MERTON

(MERTON'S ANOMIE)

Success

Who is/might be considered successful 

Answer:

Doctors, Lawyers, politicians, college grads, Bill Gates

Economics

Education

Access

Prestige

Robert Merton (1938)

SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND ANOMIE

Desires and Goals are:

Socially Generated

Robert Merton (1938)

SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND ANOMIE

1) Do all societies have success goals?

2) How are Desires and Goals met?

1) Yes, true. All societies have success goals.

2) They are Socially Generated.

WEALTH DISTRIBUTION AMONG THE US GRAPH

Blau & Blau's Relative Deprivation Theory

• 1. Why do some cities have higher levels of crime than others? (macro)
• Important variation (difference) in violent crime rates across cities:

1. INEQUALITY accounts for the difference

Blau & Blau's

Which Theory did they Posit?

ANSWER:

BLAU & BLAU'S RELATIVE DEPRIVATION THEORY

What was Blau & Blau's Hypothesis?

ANSWER:

A focus on the role of RELATIVE DEPRIVATION (Their measure of anomie) for understanding crime rate differrences across aggregate units, like cities.

Minorities ESPECIALLY (racial inequality)

Blau and Blau (1982) tested the following hypothesis:

Racial Inequality>Anger & Hostility>Violence (non-realistic conflict)

RACE IS AN ASCRIBED STATUS (SEX & AGE)

CITIES W/HIGHER RACIAL INEQUALITY WILL HAVE 

HIGHER LEVELS OF CRIME

What did these findings mean for Blau & Blau?

Their Conclusion:

CRIME IS THE PRICE WE PAY FOR RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES

9.30.14

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ANOMIE IN ACTION: 

ANSWER:

Militias-

White men feel anonmie due to this rise of minorities and women in power.

TERRORISM-

American society makes others feel pissed because people in other countries do not have what Americans have. 

The research was inclonclusive.

ANOMIE

ROBBERY: WHAT 2 TYPES OF ROBBERY ARE MOST COMMON?

ANSWER:

1. STRONGARM-40%

(USE FORCE BY HAND NOT BY A WEAPON

2. WEAPON-60%

*40% OF ALL ROBBERIES USE GUNS

9.30.14

What type of Injuries Occur in Robberies:

ANSWER:

Injuries: 1/3 result in injury 

most people do not resist and the injuries are very minor

2 to 3% involve hospitalization

10% of all Homicides occur during robberies

Where do Most Robberies Occur?

ANSWER:

Highway - 50%

Residence - 11%

Gas Station - 2%

Commerical Place - 12%

Convenience Store - 5%

Bank - 1 to 2%

*Decline in bank robberies

ANSWER:

Most victimes are young

about 40% are ages 12-24

Most offenders are young

High levels of Black involvement

Related to relative Deprivation

Anomie   

Relationship between ___________ and crime is the strongest for robbery.

ANSWER:

SOCIAL CLASS

Other Robbery Facts

What are some other Robbery facts?

ANSWER:

Primarily committed by males.

Urban

Average Payoff

Lecture 13       10.2.14

Messner & Rosenfeld's Institutional Anomie Theory 

Was developed to:

ANSWER:

Messner & Rosenfeld's Institutional Anomie Theory

was developed to: 

Understand differential levels of 

VIOLENCE

across countries

10/2/14 lecture 13

Graph of Robbery Rates in Sixteen Nations which showed?

ANSWER:

U.S. RATES are HIGHER than ALL other countries

US Rates of Homicide is HIGHER as well

MESSNER & ROSENFELD'S INSTITUTIONAL ANOMIE THEORY 

IS IT MACRO OR MICRO?

ANSWER:

MACRO

lecture 13 Institutional Anomie and Strain  

What is the MAIN

  argument

of

Messner and Rosenfeld's

Institutional Anomie Theory?

ANSWER:

The U.S. is organized for high crime because of 

THE AMERICAN DREAM

Commitment to the goal of material success, to be perceived by everyone in society, under conditions of open individual competition.

People are socialized early in life to pursue this ideal and that anyone can achieve this American Dream

lecture 13      10/2/14

Messner & Rosenfeld's Institutional Anomie Theory 

provides a revised version of 

________________________

ANSWER:

Merton's Anomie Theory

lecture 13        10/2/14

Social Institutions

are: 

lecture 13        10/2/14

ANSWER:

BUILDING BLOCKS OF SOCIETY

lecture 13        10/2/14

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS include what 4 things?:

ANSWER:

1. Economic Institutions

organize production of goods and services

2. Political systems

mobilize power to attain collective goals (e.g. public safety)

3. Family

socialize, nurture, and care for members of society: replace members of society

4. School

prepare people for occupation, socialize

lecture 13        10/2/14

All of these institutions necessary for a society to function?  True or False

ANSWER:  

TRUE

lecture 13        10/2/14

Emphasis on economic institutions

degrades all the other institutions? 

True or False

ANSWER:

TRUE

lecture 13        10/2/14

DIAGRAM OF MESSNER & ROSENFELD'S CRIME & THE AMERICAN Dream

_______________________                      __________________________________      Culture                                                          Social Sciences

The American Dream: Intense                         a. Dominance of the economy in the institutiona        cultural pressure for monetary                             functions and roles.

success.                                                        b. Other insitutions accomadate to the demands of 

                                                                        the economy

Belief that you can succeed no                        c. Penetration of economic norms into other 

matter where you are in the                               institutional domains

social Structure

______________________                        ___________________________________

                    ____________________________________

                                          Social Behavior

                                         HIGHER LEVELS OF CRIME

                      ________________________________

KEY TAKE AWAY:

• The over emphasis on the economic institutions degrades the other institutions function and roles.
• The economy is valued more than the other institutions.
• We are sacrificing the demands of the other institutions in order to pursue economic means
• The values that dominate the economic institutions are starting to infiltrate the other institutions

lecture 13        10/2/14

Strain Theory

What are the BASIC Ideas of 

Agnew's GST

"Bringing the Bad Back In"?

ANSWER: 

• Locus of criminality?
• Strains or stressors: strain refers to events or conditions that are disliked by an individual
• Micro level theory
• Based on Social Psychology

lecture 13        10/2/14

What do Strains or Stressors Refer to?

ANSWER

Refer to events or conditions that are dislike by an individual

lecture 13        10/2/14

Is Agnew's GST a micro or macro theory?

ANSWER:

MICRO LEVEL THEORY

lecture 13        10/2/14

What type of psychology is Agnew's GST based on?

ANSWER:

Social Psychology

lecture 13        10/2/14

Robert Agnew's GST-MAIN MODEL

STRAIN >>>>>>>>>> >>>>NEGATIVE AFFECT >>>>>>>>ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR

LOOSE SOMETHING YOU                  -DEPRESSION                                    -DELINQUENCY

VALUE                                                                                   

PRESENTATION OF NEGATIVE            -ANGER                                           -DRUG ABUSE

STIMULI

FAILURE TO ACHIEVE GOALS

lecture 13        10/2/14

AGNEW'S GST

NAME 3 TYPES OF STRAIN:

ANSWERS:

1. Lose something you value-i.e., home, family member, job, relationship ends.
2. Presentation of Negative Stimuli-examples: taunts, physical assault, abuse
3. Failure to achieve Goals-(builds on Merton's Theory) Expectations are NOT met

lecture 13        10/2/14

How does strain increase Crime (Mechanisms)? 

NAME 3 WAYS

ANSWER:

1. Negative Affect

Feelings of anger, depression

2. Reduce Levels of Social Control

Attachment (interpersonal stakes in conformity)

Example: if the people we care about treat us poorly, then we stop caring about what they think of us, so we may engage in crimes

3. Foster the Social Learning of Crime

Example: people join gangs as the result of strain

lecture 13        10/2/14

When are STRAINS most likely to Cause Crime?

Name 4:

ANSWERS:

1. When Strain is seen as severe

-How Frequents?

-The magnitude?

-Does it threaten a core identity?

2.When Strain is seen as Unjust

-was there intent to harm? Strain?

3.When  Strain creates incentive or pressure for criminal coping

-Some strains are easily resolved through crime

4. When Strain is associated with low levels of social control.

-More likely to commit crimes if there is not external social controls

lecture 13        10/2/14

WHEN are STRAINS MOST LIKE TO CAUSE CRIME?

(AGNEW, 2006)

NAME 9

ANSWER:

1. Rejection by parents
2. Child Abuse
3. Abusive Peer relations
4. Chronic Unemployment
5. Marital Problems
6. Victimization
7. Live in Disadvantaged Areas
8. Homelessness
9. Discrimination

All the above can be seen as strains

and have EMPERICALLY been shown to

increase criminal behavior.

lecture 13        10/2/14

Children who lose parents are more likely to engage in criminal behavior?   

True or False

Answer:

TRUE

lecture 13        10/2/14

Name 3 reasons 

why some individuals

are

more likely to cope with strain

THROUGH CRIME:

ANSWERS:

BECAUSE....

1. They lack the ability to cope with strain in a legal manner

i.e., resources, individual traits/ability, fear of retaliation.

2. The Costs if criminal coping are low

i.e., fewer stakes in conformity (less to lose).

3. They are disposed to crime.

i.e., less self-control

lecture 13        10/2/14

PERK QUESTION

What are the 3 major types of strain according

to AGNEW?

ANSWER:

1. LOSE SOMETHING YOU VALUE

2. PRESENTATION OF NEGATIVE STIMULI

3. FAILURE TO ACHIEVE GOALS

lecture 14        10/7/14

REVIEW FROM LAST CLASS:

What is the most important way that strain causes crime?

ANSWER:

NEGATIVE AFFECT

Lecture 14        October 7, 2014

Who founded Differential Association Theory?

Answer:

Edwin Sutherland

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

What does the "Differential Association/Social Learning Theory" focus on?

ANSWER

Edwin Sutherlands Differential Association focus's on:

"Difference in Association"

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

What are the 3 KEY POINTS of Sutherland's Differential Association?

ANSWER/S:

1.Crime is LEARNED **

**Most important Point**

2. Crime is learned through

INTERACTION WITH OTHERS

• Criminals & Non-Criminals
• Direct vs. Indirect Learning

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

What is the difference between:

Direct and Indirect Learning?

Answer: 

Direct is

from other criminals

In-Direct is:

Learning the acceptance of Criminal Behvior

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

Who do criminals primarily learn

their behavior from

ANSWER:

Primarily from intimate contacts

i.e., Peers-People we are close to.

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

What are the Key Points of Sutherland's Differential Association:

Name 7 

ANSWERS:

1. Crime is LEARNED (MOST IMPORTANT POINT)
2. It is LEARNED through the interaction with others
3. Primarily learned from intimate contacts-peers: people one is close with
4. Learning criminal behavior involves:

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

What is DIFFERENTIAL SOCIAL ORGANIZATION?

ANSWER:

There are differences between individuals in the groups and settings that they are a part of and these differences are in social organization and may explain why some people are exposed to more crime favorable messages than others.

Your environments explain what messages you come into contact with:

• Your family
• Your family
• Religion
• Organizations

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

Name 3

STRENGTHS

OF THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION

ANSWER:

1ST STRENGTH: Teaches that criminality is learned

2ND STRENGTH: Can explain variation in offending when people experience the same structural conditions

3RD STRENGTH: Differential social organization helps explain why some people are more likely to be exposed to messages favorable to crime than others.

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

What are 4 Limits

or

Weaknesses

of the Differential Association

ANSWER:

1) Difficult to empirically measure or test

2) Causal order is difficult to show

3) Learning process was not well specified

4) Overemphasizes the role of SUBJECTIVE ACCEPTABILITY in explaining crime.

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Social Learning Theory

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

Who Founded this Theory?

ANSWER:

Aker

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014             Social Learning Theory

WHO'S THEORY DID

AKER'S SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

EXTEND UPON?

ANSWER:

AKER'S SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY EXTENDED UPON SUTHERLAND'S DIFFERENTIAL ASSOC.

BY DESCRIBING THE LEARNING PROCESS

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014             Social Learning Theory

NAME 4 KEY CONCEPTS of

AKERS SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY:

ANSWER:

1. Differential Associations

- The process whereby one is exposed to normative definitions/messages favorable or unfavorable to crime.

2. Definitions-attitudes that one has towards a given behavior.

GENERAL & SPECIFIC

GENERAL: BELIEFS SUCH AS RELIGIOUS AND OTHER MORAL VALUES THAT ARE UNFAVORABLE TOWARDS NON-CONFORMING BEHAVIOR

SPECIFIC: ATTITUDES ABOUT SPECIFIC ACTS.

3. Differential Reinforcement: The actual or anticipated consequences of engaging in a specific behavior.

Reward

Punishment

4. Imitation-

Lecture 14    October 7, 2014              Differential Association/Social Learning Theory

WHAT HAS RESEARCH SHOWN ABOUT DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION AND SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY?

ANSWER:

Research has been

SUPPORTIVE

of differential association and social learning Theory.

-Deviance of friends is a powerful predictor of crime

-Robust findings.

Lecture 15      10/10/14         Differential Association-Social Learning: Neutralizations

Objectively Possible/Subjectively Acceptable

What are the 2 issues that determine criminality and criminal behavior (Steffensmeier and Ulmer 2005)

1st Issue:  

Is crime objectively possible?

-            Does the person have the opportunity and ability to

             commit the crime?

-           When you learn criminal techniques, crime becomes more

             objectively possible.

2nd Issue:

Is crime subjectively acceptable?

-           Our orientations that make us more or less willing to  

            commit crime

-           Social learning theory-because we learn attitudes and 

             rationalizations for crime     

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

NAME 3 

Messages Against Crime

ANSWER: 

1st: Negative stereotypes are one form of messages against crime

             -Stigmatizing images, adjectives, or traits attached to

               criminals.

            -Society attaches labels to people which becomes their

              dominant and in turn deters crime and deviance (make less

              crime subjectively acceptable).

2nd: Overcome stereotypes with neutralizations

3rd: Or, internalize stereotypes (labeling)

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

What are Neutralizations?

ANSWER:

DEFINITION OF Neutralizations:

They are pre-behavioral justifications that protect an individual from self and social disapproval (an excuse to commit a crime before the crime is committed) BEFORE THE CRIME.

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

HOW DO NEUTRALIZATIONS DIFFER FROM RATIONALIZATIONS? 

ANSWER:

            Neutralizations occur BEFORE the crime

            Rationalizations occur AFTER the crime

                  1. NEUTRALIZE STIGMA

                  2. MAKE CRIME MORE SUBJECTIVELY

                      ACCEPTABLE

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

NAME THE 5 TECHNIQUES

SYKES & MATZA

OF NEUTRALIZATION

ANSWER:

1. Denial of Responsibility-point to external factors (outside of one's self) as cause of behavior

.i.e., seeing one's self as a victim of circumstances.

2. Denial of Injury-denies the extent of the harm your act caused.

3. Denial of the Victim-

     - Blameworthy victim: the behavior against the victime is seen as justified

        retaliation

      -Unfamiliar with victim: When the victim is not present the victim is not

        recognized as being affected by the criminal act (NOT THERE).

4. Condemnation of Condemners: The delinquent attacks the character of the

    people who are condeming them.

5. Appeal to Higher Loyalty: when the values of the subgroup are accorded more

    weight than the values of society.

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

What is the Definition of Embezzlement:

ANSWERS:

DEFINITION OF EMBEZZLEMENT:  When someone in a position of financial trust fraudently appropriates or steals money or property entrusted to them

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

Give 2 Types of Embezzlement 

ANSWER:

1. Low level: small monetary amounts (under $50 or so)

2. Lucrative: big money and very rare.

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

WHAT ARE THE 3 STAGES

LEADING TO LUCRATIVE EMBEZZLEMENT?

ANSWER:

3 Stages:

1. Get a non-sharable financial problem

2. Realize one solution is to embezzle

            (most people do not pass this stage).

3.  Use Neutralization to make crime more

     subjectively acceptable and allow people to

     commit embezzlement.

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

Neutralizations for Embezzlement

Give some examples:

ANSWERS:

EXAMPLES:

"They won't miss it", "I'll pay it back", "I deserve it", "This is temporary", "I don't get paid enough", "It's for my family", "My life depends on it".

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

COCKFIGHTING AS AN EXAMPLE:

GIVE REASONS

WHY THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

ANSWER/S:

1. Do it for Sport

2. Illegal in all states (felong in 39)

            - Possessing game cocks (illegal in 33 states)

            - Spectator (illegal in 41 states)

3. Moral arguments against it

           - Cruel to Animals

           - Riff-raff arguments-brings out the worst

             qualities in humans often associated with 

             other criminal activities

           - Cockfighting community uses neutralizations

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

COCKFIGHTING NEUTRALIZATIONS

IN THE FILM CLIP, HOW DID THEY 

NEUTRALIZE THE CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ARGUMENT?

ANSWER:

1. DENIAL OF VICTIM

2. CONDEMNATION OF THE CONDEMNER'S

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

Cockfighting Neutralizations

How did they neutralize the Riff-Raff Arguments?

ANSWER:

A) Honorable Activity

B) Other Neutralizations

REVIEW FOR EXAM

WHO STUDIED SUICIDE PATTERNS?

ANSWERS:

DURKHIEM - ANOMIE

Lecture 15   Differential Association-Social Learning: NEUTRALIZATIONS

Who built upon Durkhiem's work?

ANSWER:

ROBERT K. MERTON Built upon Durkhiem's work. 

Review for Test

Anomie is caused by what 2 factors?

ANSWER:

1. High Emphasis on Success goals

               2. Means deficiency

-The lower class are more susceptible due to lack

  of access

WHO STUDIED DIFFERENT CRIME RATES

IN DIFFERENTCOUNTRIES?

PERK QUESTION FOR LECTURE 15

WHAT ARE NEUTRALIZATIONS?

ANSWER

Neutralizations: They are pre-behavioral justifications that protect an individual from

self and social disapproval (an excuse to commit a crime before the crime is committed) 

REMEMBER**THEY OCCUR BEFORE THE CRIME.