Anomie Theory In Criminology By Larry J. Siegel

In Larry J. Siegel’s book, Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies, the author provided a definition of strain theory stating that it is a “branch of social structure theory that sees crime as a function of the conflict between people’s goals and the means available for the people to obtain those goals legally”. The people of the lower class are unable to meet their goals legally, and they have feelings of anger, frustration, and resentment that begin to build up. These feelings are known as “strain”. The people feel the “strain” of unequal distribution of wealth and power, or even of not having adequate educational opportunities open to them. Those people then come to a fork in their path. One road that they can choose is to continue

“The roots of strain theories can be traced to Emile Durkheim’s notion of anomie (from the Greek a nomos, “without norms”). According to Durkheim, an anomic society is one which rules of behavior (values, customs, and norms) have broken down or become inoperative during periods of rapid social change or social crisis such as war or famine…. Anomie undermines society’s social control function. Every society works to limit people’s goals and desires. If a society becomes atomic, it can no longer establish and maintain control over its population’s wants and desires. Because people find it difficult to control their appetites, their demands become unlimited. Under these circumstances, obedience to legal codes may be strained, and alternative behavior choices, such as crimes, may be inevitable. (Siegel,

From the interactionist criminology of the Chicago School and Edwin Sutherland to the subcultural theories of Cohen, Cloward, and Ohlin, and others, criminologist have long acknowledged that actions and identities labelled “criminal” are typically generated within the boundaries of deviant and criminal subcultures. (Ferrell, 1995). The theory of anomie by Robert Merton and the concept of anomie by Emile Durkheim are both based on the fact/belief that an individual’s culture and society places a lot of expectations and goals on said individual, such as acquiring more wealth, increasing their social standing, or even better education. When that individual is unable to meet those expectations and goals that were placed upon them they experience strain, and that strain increases the likelihood that one will commit a crime to try and achieve the expectation and goals. In many run-down communities with extremely low incomes there are increases in gang violence, thefts, burglaries, and drug trafficking. There is a lack of people finishing their education and turning to crime to try and make their way in