1. The main thesis of Anomie is that societies that place a higher emphasis on culturally agreed goals, such as monetary success, than on legitimate means to achieve them, tend to have higher crime rates. In these societies, some individuals will be prevented from legitimately achieving the goals everybody is striving for, and this generates a great deal of strain or pressure on them. What are some potential solutions that countries like the United States that tend to place a high emphasis on monetary success can do to shift the focus away materialistic accumulation?
2. What types of crimes do you think can be best explained by Anomie/Strain theory? Why?
3. When experiencing strain in your own life (stress from work, school, family, etc.), what coping strategies (cognitive, behavioral, emotional) do you tend to utilize? (Be specific) Why?
4. Merton argues that many of those who have the same cultural goals as the majority of society, but dont have the means to achieve them, often resort to innovation and engage in criminal behavior to achieve the cultural goals. Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?
5. Agnew argues that men & women have different emotional responses to strain. Males and females are just as likely to respond with anger, but they experience it differently. According to Agnew, women have fear, anxiety, guilt, and shame, whereas men have moral outrage and blame others. Think about interactions you have had with your spouse/partner, family, friends, and colleagues. Based on your interactions with these parties, do you agree with his analysis about gender as it relates to anger? Why or why not?
6. Agnew also argued that males are more likely to respond to anger with crime. Males have more opportunities for crime and male peer associations and networks accept support for male deviant coping skills, whereas females tend have higher social support. For example, a male employee (John) is passed over for a job promotion and lost out to it by a rival colleague (Ted), despite the fact that John was the better qualified candidate. Later that evening, John may go drinking with the guys (emotional coping strategy) who inevitably encourage John to pull a prank on Ted as revenge (prank – key Teds car). On the other hand, if a female employee (Jane) had been in the same position as John and was passed over for the promotion, she would have likely called a friend or family member to vent as a coping strategy. Do you agree with this analysis? What would your reaction have been if you were John or Jane?
