Author Question: Why does the United States seem to be in a permanent state of anomie? What will be an ideal ... (Read 19 times)

craiczarry · **on:** Aug 17, 2018

Why does the United States seem to be in a permanent state of anomie?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Compare and contrast Durkheims conception of anomie with Mertons conception of anomie.

What will be an ideal response?

blfontai · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 17, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: key points to be made
Answers will vary but may include:
There continues to be unequal access to goals and means particularly for minority groups & women through legitimate pathways
Wealth is not evenly distributed and workers are distanced from ownership
With melting pot of cultures, there are conflicting norms and disagreement about goals & means
Too many laws, overregulation

Answer to Question 2

Answer: key points to be made
Durkheim saw whole societies or countries as anomic studied France, Europe
Merton saw segments of society, mostly poor, minority as vulnerable to anomie U.S.
Durkheim focused on changing social conditions: economic depression
Merton blamed embedded social structure, long held traditions of cultural disparity
Durkheim focused on how anomie came about, the nature of anomie in society
Durkheim divided societies into two types: mechanical and organic
Merton focused on the way different people adapted to anomic states
Merton believed key to anomie was ability of social system to exercise control in the form of social norms
Merton divided social norms into two types goals and means