Assumptions of Merton’s theory (10):
According to Merton, an integrated society maintains a balance between the social
structure (approved social means) and culture (approved goals). This statement
contains two main elements:
a) A society has cultural goals that are generally regarded as being worthwhile.
b) A society has institutionalised means or approved methods whereby these
objectives
may be realised, such as educational qualifications (going to a
university/college) and
steady employment. People should, therefore, be prepared to start at the
bottom and to succeed through hard work.
The cultural emphasis on the goal to succeed is stronger than the emphasis on
approved means to achieve success.
This imbalance between goals and means results in anomie. People are
encouraged and eventually socialised to pursue success (success is idolised in
the media, emphasised in schools and encouraged by governments).
The value of success is passed on from one generation to the next.
Material and monetary success is measured by the material things that people
are supposed to acquire by honest, hard work.
However, due to limited opportunities and the pressure to achieve success
people are willing to commit crime to achieve it (the hunger for success
encourage people to obtain it at any means possible).
Wealth and success are the central focus, how one goes about acquiring this seems to
be of less importance for some people and it is this imbalance that results in anomie.
Because wealth and success are seen as being of such great importance it is passed
on from generation to generation and the pressure of upholding these expectations
usually means that it is done at any cost, even by using illegal means to obtain it. for
example, by stealing it
Crime as a lower-class phenomenon
Merton turned his attention to patterns of crime and delinquency. According to official
statistics, most offences were committed by lower class people. Merton explained the
higher incidence of crime among the lower classes as follows:
Those in the lower class (or disadvantaged minority groups) want to achieve
wealth and financial success just as much as the people from the middle and
upper classes.
People from the lower classes do not have access to the legal institutionalised
means to realise their ambitions (e.g. education and career opportunities).
The resulting anomie leads to strain and pressurises these groups into using any
means to obtain an income, including illegal means (e.g. theft).
This is particularly true of societies in which there is little emphasis on obeying the
law.
Social inequalities exist (e.g. in America) because the society is structured in such a
way that it limits the access of the lower class or minority groups to the approved
means to success.
According to Merton, it is the structure of the society itself that is anomic.
This does not mean that anomic conditions remain constant. The degree of anomie
will vary according to changes in society (e.g. changes that reduce or increase social
inequality).
According to Merton, an integrated society maintains a balance between the social
structure (approved social means) and culture (approved goals). This statement
contains two main elements:
a) A society has cultural goals that are generally regarded as being worthwhile.
b) A society has institutionalised means or approved methods whereby these
objectives
may be realised, such as educational qualifications (going to a
university/college) and
steady employment. People should, therefore, be prepared to start at the
bottom and to succeed through hard work.
The cultural emphasis on the goal to succeed is stronger than the emphasis on
approved means to achieve success.
This imbalance between goals and means results in anomie. People are
encouraged and eventually socialised to pursue success (success is idolised in
the media, emphasised in schools and encouraged by governments).
The value of success is passed on from one generation to the next.
Material and monetary success is measured by the material things that people
are supposed to acquire by honest, hard work.
However, due to limited opportunities and the pressure to achieve success
people are willing to commit crime to achieve it (the hunger for success
encourage people to obtain it at any means possible).
Wealth and success are the central focus, how one goes about acquiring this seems to
be of less importance for some people and it is this imbalance that results in anomie.
Because wealth and success are seen as being of such great importance it is passed
on from generation to generation and the pressure of upholding these expectations
usually means that it is done at any cost, even by using illegal means to obtain it. for
example, by stealing it
Crime as a lower-class phenomenon
Merton turned his attention to patterns of crime and delinquency. According to official
statistics, most offences were committed by lower class people. Merton explained the
higher incidence of crime among the lower classes as follows:
Those in the lower class (or disadvantaged minority groups) want to achieve
wealth and financial success just as much as the people from the middle and
upper classes.
People from the lower classes do not have access to the legal institutionalised
means to realise their ambitions (e.g. education and career opportunities).
The resulting anomie leads to strain and pressurises these groups into using any
means to obtain an income, including illegal means (e.g. theft).
This is particularly true of societies in which there is little emphasis on obeying the
law.
Social inequalities exist (e.g. in America) because the society is structured in such a
way that it limits the access of the lower class or minority groups to the approved
means to success.
According to Merton, it is the structure of the society itself that is anomic.
This does not mean that anomic conditions remain constant. The degree of anomie
will vary according to changes in society (e.g. changes that reduce or increase social
inequality).
