Policy Paper One Raquel Lozano Sam Houston State University The two theories I have chosen are the differential association theory and the strain theory. These two theories are well thought out theories but one I feel is a stronger theory that explains why people turn to substance use and at times abuse substances. The differential association theory was first proposed in 1939 by a sociologist named Edwin Sutherland. This theory is a general theory used to describe deviance. Sutherland’s theory was used as the groundwork for some of the most important researches used to describe illicit drug use. Sutherland’s theory states that drug use is a learned behavior. This behavior is often taught by a person’s interaction and their …show more content…
The term used to later describe a person that fits this category was introduced in 1893. A sociologist by the name Emily Durkheim introduced the term anomie as it implies the one gains the feeling of frustration and at time feel separated because they feel they lack the criteria to fit the definition of being a good members of society. This often leads to studying suicide. However, the term was later used in 1968 to describe deviant behavior by Robert Merton. Merton categorized the 5 possible adaptions to anomie. This adaption can explain why a person does and does not achieve the goals in an acceptable manner. The first adaption is conformity. This adaption states the main goals people strive for within their society and how to obtain them. Such goals can be economic success and happiness. Often people strive for the “American dream”. The second adaptation is innovation. Innovation according to Merton is when one seeks monetary success by using illegal behavior to obtain these goals. An example can be someone wanting to be involved with drug cartels to be able to obtain money instead of seeking education and hard work. Next is the third adaption which is ritualism. This adaptation is reaching for more obtainable goals while seeing societies views of the “American dream” as unobtainable. Such as waking up every morning to continue their employment as a customer service agent and then running their daily errands and going home. At …show more content…
Every day one deals with stress. According to the Scholastic website titled “Stress and Drug Abuse: The Brain Connection” when teens were asked why they turn to drugs one stated that the need to be successful was too stressful. The main reason for people seeking employment opportunities with cartels is for the need to obtain quick money. Many people become so overwhelmed that the need to obtain the luxuries associated with living the American dream become irrelevant and they turn to drug use. The PyschCentral website gives five steps to stop drug addiction before it starts. The first reason is finding alternative ways to cope with stress. Stress is often related to obtaining goals that society has in place to determine if a person is successful. Other steps include living a lifestyle that makes you happy and being aware of your family’s history with substance abuse. While I feel the differential theory is a less valid reason for drug use. Although peer pressure and learned behavior can be a strong factor it also can be a factor in which one avoids drugs. I feel just because one associates and sees drug use often does not mean they will turn to drugs. If you are aware of your loved one’s substance abuse issues you should avoid such pressure or relationships. I feel in the end it is one’s personal choice. Ultimately the person must choose to accept that drug use can lead to dangerous
Within the case study, it was about a young man that chose to take drugs over the love of his family. Junior was given an ultimatum by his wife; he could either be a full time father without the use of drugs, or he could be a part time father and continue to feed his addiction even more. In order to feed his addiction, Junior would steal things and cash them in to get the money for his drugs. Finally, one day Junior was caught coming out of one of the stores with merchandise that he did not pay for. As a repercussion, he was faced with jail time or an alternative to go to counseling for his drug problem. He chose to go to the rehabilitation center, but didn’t last a short three weeks there. I believe that this perspective of the movie closely correlates to the Anomie/Strain theory.
The most popular argument is that drugs are addictive and users become dependent on its effects to function. If the dependency is not satisfied, it can disrupt the life of the user so that this individual forms a threat to society. Addicted user...
Sociologist Robert K. Merton picked up on Durkheim’s concepts of anomie and strain to develop his own perspective. He is most credited for the development of this theory. Merton based his version of the theory on the fact that American society puts its value in material wealth and that all people should strive to attain material wealth. “In Merton’s view, A...
Various theories can be used to explain the causes and explanations for different forms of juvenile delinquency. Agnew’s Generalized Strain Theory and Gottfredson and Hirschi’s Self-Control Theory are used in this paper to analyze the murder of sixteen-year-old Bailey Gwynn.
Merton primarily focuses on the materialistic goals all Americans are exposed to regardless of their position in society. The structure of society puts enormous pressure on people thus generating deviance. It also emphasizes certain means to attain the goals. Anomie occurs when there’s a breakdown of social norms and they are no longer present in society. This is known as normlessness. Merton suggests that anomie is the strain in the individual when norms conflict with society. Under norm conditions, crime and deviance increases. Norms and values govern people. In every society, there are values, goals and aspirations that are taught to the members. There are two phases of social structure. The first being the agreed upon goals that all the members should have
Which theory, control or differential association theory, better explains why someone exhibits deviant behavior? This is a difficult question as both theories have merit in explaining the deviant behavior being exhibited by individuals in society. Deviant behavior is difficult at times to explain using one theory. This paper will break down the key components of each theory while applying it to the Becker article in helping explain why someone becomes a marijuana user.
To own a home is always the desire of many people, especially migrants. But, it is easy to buy a house because it is so expensive. People have to earn a lot of money from their daily lives to buy it so that they also face to financial problems and psychological elements to get achieve their goals. In sociology, strain theory states that when individuals get their goals, they have to be under pressure of society. In addition, when they can not afford to achieve their goals and withstood the pressure at the same time, it leads to crime easily. According to “Strain Theory: How Social Values Produce Deviance” , Merton’ s strain theory has five types of deviance which are conformity, innovation,
This article examines the general strain theory by examining how undesirable interactions with others can result in criminal behaviors. The negative treatment that one receives from another person is what is being looked at by the strain theory. Strain theory is a sociological theory by the fact it looks at the criminal behavior and compares it to one’s interactions with others. Differential association and social learning theory also compares the same interactions but what makes the strain theory different from these previous theories is that it focuses on how pressure during these interactions result in criminal behaviors. Social learning theory and differential association tend to examine criminal behaviors and interactions with others by
Anomie is characterized as a feeling of normlessness. This results from a breakdown of social norms and without these norms to guide an individual they are unable to find a place in society or adjust to the constant changes in life. The consequence becomes the individual feeling a sense of dissatisfaction, frustration, conflict and ultimately deviance. Robert Merton addresses the five ways in which individual adapts to strain by limiting the socially approved goals and means. These five modes of adaptation include conforming, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. In Falling Down different characters can be linked to one or more of these five adaptations.
In the end all three theories of sociological deviance that I talked about explain the deviant behavior that I was partaking in. I feel that the one that fits the act the most is differential association. The reason that I feel this is that I do not feel that I would have participated in this behavior if it was not for the individuals I was hanging out with at the time.
Greco, R., & Curci, A. (2017). Does the General Strain Theory Explain Gambling and Substance Use?. Journal of gambling studies, 33(3), 919-936.
The effects of drug usage in this society as a whole cannot be overestimated. It has become a canker worm eating deep into the foundation of society. Many theories and solutions have been propounded to tackle drug usage. Drugs come in various forms. You have your gateway substances such as marijuana and alcohol, which are common among the majority, are considered “harmless” then you have your “harmful” frowned upon substances like cocaine and “meth” that are notoriously known for damages on the brain functionality. Two of those such theories that attempt to describe drug dependency and usage are the allostasis and incentive sensitization theory.
The first mode of Merton’s strain theory is conforming (or conformists). The best way to explain this would be that these individuals “that accept both the culturally-defined goals, and the societally-defined goals, and the socially-restricted means of achieving such goals, as legitimate. These are individuals that advance (or better themselves) through education or strive for advancements in their current occupations. They strive to become a social success by working hard and following the path that is socially acceptable to gain this success.
There are many theories regarding addiction. The Institute on Drug Abuse has their list of theories such as “the bad habit” and “the CAP theory (cognitive-affective pharmacogenic)” (n.d.). Hari, an author for the Huffington Post, writes about the Rat Park experiment in which a scientist put rats into “condos” in a nice cage
The disease theory suggests that drug use is a medical problem and should be viewed as a medical treatment process as opposed to a weak moral character or an excuse for bad behavior. Drugs do a lot of damage to your body and your brain. It alters yours state of mind and has visible affects on your brain and body. When there are changes in your brain, the brain does not function as it did before. The person is not able to make an educated decision for themselves in their state of mind. When this is the case, the person needs helps and needs to be seen as a patient as opposed to blaming moral character. When you put this into a medical perspective, the patient can look at it like there is an end to the bad. They feel as though there is help and there are other people that are receiving this treatment that need it. There are people that understand why they may be doing what they are doing and they are there to help no matter the issue. (404