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Anomie Theory Theories

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THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR GANG FORMATION
Merton, as cited in (Schneider & Tilly, 2004) suggests structural theories significantly emphasize the role of social and economic structures as the causes of delinquent behavior and tend to treat criminal behavior as the result of the undesirable and dysfunctional structures (P. 3) However, to some it is rather unbelievable people who join gangs belong to similar neighborhoods and socioeconomic backgrounds. This paper draws on existing sociological research in identifying a number of theories; this paper will discuss both social structure and social process theories used in explaining how gangs form.
According to Hagan, (2008.) Merton’s revision of Durkheim’s concept of the anomie theory speaks about the conditions that occur when differences exist between the things you want to acquire and the available means to get it, Strain being the discrepancy between goals and means (p. 148-149.) Strain theory also explains delinquency as a …show more content…

According to Cohen, (1955.) The boys who became part of the gangs aspire toward standards that were opposite to those of the middle class “lower class reaction to middle class values”, Cohen explains the delinquent subculture produced by gang involvement as “crimes committed by gangs not done to achieve monetary success, but rather status within the gang” (Cohen, 1955. P. 202).
Cloward and Ohlin’s differential opportunity theory suggest an emphasized role of social and economic structures as causes of delinquency, they asserted Anomie comes from within their own environment, which is usually lower class areas (slums) where a number of illegal opportunities exist, and their change in behavior depends on the resources available illegitimate or not (Hagan, 2008.

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In his strain theory, Agnew identifies several other sources of strain besides Merton’s disjunction between goals and means (Hemmens & Walsh, 2014). In this perspective, strain includes the negative emotions that arise from social relationships. According to Agnew, strain occurs when from the removal of positively valued stimuli such as the loss of a romantic partner, the presentation of negative stimuli such as negative school experiences and the prevention or a threat to prevent an individual from obtaining a positively valued goal (Hemmens & Walsh, 2014). In the case of Lafeyette, his strain came from all three sources. The removal of positively valued stimuli for him was losing Terrence to prison and his two friends to death (Kotlowitz, 1991).

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Criminal and conflict gang whose primarily intent of crimes for tangible gains. Social structure theorists consider that the main components to illegal behavior are the ascendancy of social and economic influences that are distinguished in rundown communities where the population is predominantly lower-class citizens (Siegel, 2010). This following theory goes into helping us comprehend ways the human behavior, is the result of physical

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References Egley, A., & Howell, J. C. (2012). Highlights of the 2010 National Youth Gang Survey. Retrieved from: https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/237542.pdf Sanders, R., & Moore, S. (n.d.). Mandatory Waiver for Juvenile Gang Members in Tennessee. Retrieved from: http://www.belmont.edu/burs/pdf/Social%20Work-%20Sanders%20and%20Moore.pdf Searles, K. (2017).

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Merton’s Anomie theory lent credence to various subculture theories such as Albert Cohen’s lower class reaction theory, Cohen suggests “formation of delinquent gangs is the result of status deprivation” (Hagan, 2008. P.151). According to Cohen, (1955.) The boys who became part of gangs aspire toward standards that were opposite to those of the middle class, meaning “lower class reaction to middle class values”, Cohen explains the delinquent culture produced by gang involvement as not done to achieve monetary success, but rather status within the gang (Cohen, 1955. P.

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This blatant lack of social control was used as a tool which encouraged youths to establish their own means of social order, they did this by either forming new gangs or joining existing gangs. The research which was done by Frederic Thrasher was substantially influenced most of the theories which emerged after it related to gangs. Albert Cohen, 1955 theorised that the emergence of gangs was directed to a subculture which had been created by the lower socioeconomic youths, and this was a result of their exclusion from mainstream middle-class culture. These youths noticed that they were unable to obtain the status of middle-class and created a gang culture that offered them an alternative source if

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Criticism of Merton’s Strain Theory One critique of the strain theory is how it overemphasis the position of the social class in regards to crime and deviance. As we know, the strain theory applies mainly to the American lower class as they struggle the most. Our lower class are faced with the lack of resources to help them reconcile their goals. However, by looking at the variation of deviant and criminal behavior, the strain theory does not adequately account for any type of crimes besides the normal street or neighborhood crimes.

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The set of the structural-functional theories are among the most widespread perspectives on the juvenile delinquency. The group of the theories regards that the behavior of the underage delinquent is caused by the breakdown of the social process that consequently results in the increase of conformity (Thompson & Bynum, 2016). The group of theories presumably blame institutions that are responsible for the socialization of the young delinquents for the way the socialize the individuals by causing them to conform to the values of the society. One of the central theories of the juvenile delinquency is the anomie theory that is rooted in the early studies by the sociologist Emile Durkheim.

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