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Sociological terms - Anomie...

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Anomie Anomie can be defined as the breakdown of social norms and values within a society, The Editors (2010). Durkheim explored the concept of anomie closely and described it as people becoming confused about what values, beliefs and rules they should live by which results in conflict Moore, Aiken & Chapman. (1984, p. 26). In addition to this, functionalists like Durkheim suggest that social integration where individuals feel that they belong in society and without this process of social integration anomie would result, Waugh, C. (2009, p. 252). This is due to the fact that individuals would lack a sense of belonging and so are likely to rebel as a result of this confusion, Waugh, C. (2009, p. 252). Durkheim linked anomie to the weakening of the collective conscience which he refers to as the shared beliefs and attitudes that unite a society and to the division of labour, Bohm, R & Voge , B. (2010, p. 70) cites Durkheim (2010). Durkheim believed anomie is expressed in two ways, lack of regulation and lack of integration and he also argued that anomie is also a result of crime, Bohm, R & Voge , B. (2010, p. 70) cites Durkheim (2010). However in his theory of suicide he suggested that anomie can lead to higher rates of suicide as he believed both crime and suicide are ‘social ills’ they would both be effected by anomie in a similar way, Bohm, R & Voge , B. (2010, p. 70) cites Durkheim (2010). Merton also spoke about anomie and some theorists refer to Merton’s work on anomie as strain theory, Bohm, R & Voge , B. (2010, p. 80) cites Merton (1938). Although Merton rejected this label he argued that anomie and strain mainly effected those in the lower classes, Bohm, R & Voge, B. (2010, p. 80) cites Merton (1938). Merton took a similar standing as Durkheim as he too believed that some crime and delinquency was anomie and strain, Bohm, R & Voge, B. (2010, p. 81) cites Merton (1938).He believed anomie and strain was when there was a conflict between the cultural goal of achieving something like wealth and the institutional means of achieving this goal, Bohm, R & Voge, B. (2010, p. 81) cites Merton (2010). Albert Cohen adapted the term anomie and suggested it is experienced by juveniles who are unable to achieve status amongst their peers in a socially accepted way, Bohm, R & Voge, B. (2010, p. 81) cites Cohen (2010). Cohen believed like Merton that anomie can effect juveniles of any social class but that it disproportionately effects those in the lower classes Bohm, R & Voge, B. (2010, p. 81) cites Cohen (2010). Cloward and Ohlin also spoke about anomie and suggested that not all gang members are effected by anomie in the same way, Bohm, R & Voge, B. (2010, p. 81) cites Cloward & Ohlin (2010, p. 82).

Bibliography

Bohm, M, R & Voge, L, B. (2010). A Primer on Crime and Delinquency Theory (3rd ed). America: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Moore, S., Aiken, D. & Chapman, S. (1984). Collins A Level Sociology - Sociology AS for AQA: Hammersmith, London. The Editors. (2010, May 13). China’s School Killings… [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/chinas-school-killings-and-socialdespair/?ref=world Waugh, C., Robinson, H., Swann, F. & Thompson, V. (2008). OCR AS Sociology Student Book (OCR A Level Sociology): British Library....