The concept of Anomie was first used by Emile Durkheim to refer to several aspects of social participation where the condition necessary for man to fulfill himself and to attain happiness were not present. These conditions were society guided by established norms, morally involved people etc. In this sense, Anomie refers to a situation of normlessness or anarchy where conscience collective is absent and social solidarity is weakened.
Robert K. Merton uses the term to refer to a state in which socially prescribed goals and norms governing their attainment are incompatible. Merton argues that this incongruity leads to deviant behavior on the part of actors. He maintains that deviance results not from pathological personalities but from culture and structure of society. the social and cultural structure generate pressure for deviant behavior upon people located in that structure. Merton outlines 5 ways in which member can respond to success goals:
- Conformity: Conforms to both success goal and normative means to reach them. This is by far the most popular response.
- Innovation: Rejects the means but turn to innovative or deviant means to achieve success goal. Generally, people from lower strata come into this category.
- Ritualism: Largely rejects success goals but ardently follows the normative means. This is the characteristic of lower middle class.
- Retreatism: Psychotics, pariah, out castes, vagrants, vagabonds, tramps, chronic drunkards and drug addicts fall into this classification. The are in society but not for society. They strongly internalize both means and goals, yet not able to achieve them. So, they abandon them both. No particular class is associated with this.
- Rebellions: Rejection of success goal and institutionalized means and replacement of these by new means and new goals. Example, Naxalites, Urban Guerrillas in Western Europe etc. Generally, rising class comes into this.
Albert K. Cohen criticizes Merton on two counts. He argues that delinquency is collective rather than an individual response to his position in class structure as argued by Merton. Second, Merton fails to account for non-utilitarian crimes such as vandalism and joyriding which do not produce monetary rewards.
Note: Merton says that deviant may also be conformist as they are functional to society. He says that all bureaucrats are not absolutely corrupt. Some are perpetually corrupt and some are occasionally. At times these corrupt bureaucrats are functional as they complete their work fast and achieve the institutional goals.
