Robert Merton's concept of anomie
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Robert Merton's concept of anomie
Robert Merton was an American sociologist who developed a theory of anomie in the mid-20th century. Anomie is a state of normlessness, or a lack of clear social norms. Merton argued that anomie can lead to deviant behavior, such as crime and delinquency.
Merton identified five types of anomie:
- Culturally induced anomie:Â This occurs when there is a gap between the cultural goals of a society and the institutionalized means of achieving those goals.
- Structural anomie:Â This occurs when the social structure of a society makes it difficult for people to achieve the cultural goals.
- Individual anomie:Â This occurs when an individual is unable to achieve the cultural goals because of personal factors, such as lack of ability or motivation.
- Depressive anomie:Â This occurs when a society experiences a period of economic decline, which leads to a decrease in the availability of legitimate means of achieving the cultural goals.
- Reactive anomie:Â This occurs when a society experiences a period of rapid social change, which leads to a breakdown of traditional norms and values.