Theme 6 Social structure perspective
1. Durkheim’s anomie theory (10)
The field of sociology had been established by August Comte early in the nineteenth
century to explain social events in a rational manner.
Durkheim’s focus was upon how the organization of society can propel people toward
violating norms.
I.O.W he saw behaviour as socially rather than individually determined.
For Durkheim, anomie represented a state of “normlessness”, because it is norms, or
socially expected behaviour, that control how people act, their breakdown represents a
threat to social control.
He hypothesized that anomie contributes to suicide – the most individual form of
deviance.
He divided his findings into four categories of suicide related to the social configuration
of society:
1. Egoistic – suicide resulting from a weakening of commitment to group values and
goals, especially when the individual has come to rely primarily upon his or her
own resources.
2. Altruistic – suicide precipitated by an over-commitment to group values and
norms.
3. Fatalistic – suicide derived from excessive regulation. (imprisonment)
4. Anomic – suicide that occurs when rapid or extreme social change or crisis
threaten group norms.
These categories are on a macro-theoretical level because Durkheim explained deviance
in terms of the organization of society and social institutions.
Anomie refers to a state or condition in society in which the norms are no longer effective
in regulating behaviour. It is also the result of a disjunction between people’s aspirations
and their ability to achieve these goals. Usually brought about by rapid economic growth.
He also noted a lower suicide rate among the lower classes and suggested that poverty
insulated the poor from experiencing anomie, and thus, suicide.
2. Merton’s theory of social structure and anomie (15)
Social conditions place pressures on people differently throughout the class structure, and
people react individually to these conditions.
Assumed that humans are naturally inclined to have unlimited desires that must be
socially controlled, such desires are socially generated.
All societies have a cultural system that denotes socially approved values and goals and
that details acceptable norms or institutionalized means for achieving these goals.
Not only do these prescribed goals and means enable people to pursue success in
appropriate ways, but at times they also exert pressure on some segments of society to
engage in nonconforming behaviour in an effort to achieve success.
This happens when the goals of success are emphasized more than the acceptable ways of
seeking that success.
While there are culturally approved means for obtaining wealth, they are given less
emphasis, and of course, not everyone succeeds through legitimate endeavours.
This may result in shortcuts or in nonconforming behaviour to obtain money.
The legitimate means for obtaining wealth are differentially available throughout the
class structure. - Upper class: greater access to education, important interpersonal
1. Durkheim’s anomie theory (10)
The field of sociology had been established by August Comte early in the nineteenth
century to explain social events in a rational manner.
Durkheim’s focus was upon how the organization of society can propel people toward
violating norms.
I.O.W he saw behaviour as socially rather than individually determined.
For Durkheim, anomie represented a state of “normlessness”, because it is norms, or
socially expected behaviour, that control how people act, their breakdown represents a
threat to social control.
He hypothesized that anomie contributes to suicide – the most individual form of
deviance.
He divided his findings into four categories of suicide related to the social configuration
of society:
1. Egoistic – suicide resulting from a weakening of commitment to group values and
goals, especially when the individual has come to rely primarily upon his or her
own resources.
2. Altruistic – suicide precipitated by an over-commitment to group values and
norms.
3. Fatalistic – suicide derived from excessive regulation. (imprisonment)
4. Anomic – suicide that occurs when rapid or extreme social change or crisis
threaten group norms.
These categories are on a macro-theoretical level because Durkheim explained deviance
in terms of the organization of society and social institutions.
Anomie refers to a state or condition in society in which the norms are no longer effective
in regulating behaviour. It is also the result of a disjunction between people’s aspirations
and their ability to achieve these goals. Usually brought about by rapid economic growth.
He also noted a lower suicide rate among the lower classes and suggested that poverty
insulated the poor from experiencing anomie, and thus, suicide.
2. Merton’s theory of social structure and anomie (15)
Social conditions place pressures on people differently throughout the class structure, and
people react individually to these conditions.
Assumed that humans are naturally inclined to have unlimited desires that must be
socially controlled, such desires are socially generated.
All societies have a cultural system that denotes socially approved values and goals and
that details acceptable norms or institutionalized means for achieving these goals.
Not only do these prescribed goals and means enable people to pursue success in
appropriate ways, but at times they also exert pressure on some segments of society to
engage in nonconforming behaviour in an effort to achieve success.
This happens when the goals of success are emphasized more than the acceptable ways of
seeking that success.
While there are culturally approved means for obtaining wealth, they are given less
emphasis, and of course, not everyone succeeds through legitimate endeavours.
This may result in shortcuts or in nonconforming behaviour to obtain money.
The legitimate means for obtaining wealth are differentially available throughout the
class structure. - Upper class: greater access to education, important interpersonal
