Anomie is a condition of normlessness. People in modern society move about too rapidly to be bound to the norms of any particular group. Many a times the individual does not know which norms to follow, whether to follow the norms of the family or of the school. Anomie arises from the confusion and lack of clarity of norms.
In the words of R.K. Merton, “Anomie may be conceived as breakdown in the cultural structure occurring particularly when there is an acute distinction between cultural norms and goals and the socially structured capacities of members of the group to act in accordance with them.” Merton argues that deviance result not from ‘pathological personalities’ but from the culture and structure of society itself. Merton distinguishes between two key elements of the social structure : the goals and rewards which are recognised as appropriate and commendable objects for individual striving, the attainment of which confers status, and those methods of achieving them which are regarded as legitimate. The structural pressures towards deviance arise from discrepancies between culturally determined goals. On the one hand, and the availability of legitimate means for attaining them on the other.
‘Cultural goals’ refer to those rewards, objectives and ambitions which the individual is encouraged to regard as worthwhile ends through socialization. Complimentary to these goals are the prescribed means of achieving them which Merton calls institutionalized means. In Merton’s words. ‘The social and cultural structure generates pressure for socially deviant behaviour upon people variously located in that structure’. Taking contemporary American Society as an example, Merton says that it is becoming more anomie because there has been high stress on goals such as monetary success and unlimited social climbing, without an adequate provision of legitimate means of achievement. Following Durkheim, he defines anomie as a breakdown in the cultural structure, occurring particularly where there is an acute disjunction between cultural norms and goals and the socially structured capacities of members of the group to act in accord with them.
Anomie is a condition of normlessness. People in modern society move about too rapidly to be bound to the norms of any particular group. Many a times the individual does not know which norms to follow, whether to follow the norms of the family or of the school. Anomie arises from the confusion and lack of clarity of norms.
In the words of R.K. Merton, “Anomie may be conceived as breakdown in the cultural structure occurring particularly when there is an acute distinction between cultural norms and goals and the socially structured capacities of members of the group to act in accordance with them.” Merton argues that deviance result not from ‘pathological personalities’ but from the culture and structure of society itself. Merton distinguishes between two key elements of the social structure : the goals and rewards which are recognised as appropriate and commendable objects for individual striving, the attainment of which confers status, and those methods of achieving them which are regarded as legitimate. The structural pressures towards deviance arise from discrepancies between culturally determined goals. On the one hand, and the availability of legitimate means for attaining them on the other.
‘Cultural goals’ refer to those rewards, objectives and ambitions which the individual is encouraged to regard as worthwhile ends through socialization. Complimentary to these goals are the prescribed means of achieving them which Merton calls institutionalized means. In Merton’s words. ‘The social and cultural structure generates pressure for socially deviant behaviour upon people variously located in that structure’. Taking contemporary American Society as an example, Merton says that it is becoming more anomie because there has been high stress on goals such as monetary success and unlimited social climbing, without an adequate provision of legitimate means of achievement. Following Durkheim, he defines anomie as a breakdown in the cultural structure, occurring particularly where there is an acute disjunction between cultural norms and goals and the socially structured capacities of members of the group to act in accord with them.