Anomie theory by R. Merton

In the footsteps of Emile Durkheim went and the famous sociologist Robert Merton, who also dedicated some of its work to study and Supplement the existing systems, the theory of "anomie". He believed that the main cause of the deviation is the gap between institutional cultural goals and the availability of funds to achieve these goals. Merton identifies two particularly important element of the social structure. The first element is intentions and interests, which are determined by the culture of the society. The second element regulates the means of achieving these goals.

Based on his hypothesis, Robert Merton considers 5 types fit people to the set objectives.

Conformance.

Conformance, in some way, is the only type of behavior that is not deviant. Very conformal type of behavior prevalent in society depends on social order - stability and the stability of social development. When a large group of people oriented to universally accepted cultural values, which means that this group is a single society.

Innovation.

This type of behavior occurs when an individual took for himself a universally recognized cultural values as a life goal, but he believes that the means of achieving these goals that exist and are available to him are ineffective.

Ceremonialism.

This type, according to Robert Merton, "involves an abandonment or reduction is too high cultural objectives of high monetary success and rapid social mobility, where these aspirations can be met"16. In other words, people may abandon their goals and opportunities, if they come into conflict for him.

Retreatism.

This type of deviation is characterized by the desire to escape from reality, alienation. Such people are called "not of this world". This hermits, dreamers, poets. According to statistics, the number of such individuals may not be large in society.

Rebellion.

In societies that are in a state of deep crisis and on the verge of fractures this type of deviation as the rebellion circulated the most widely. Rebellion is an active refusal to adapt to the rules of life that apply in a given period of time.

Economic deviancy is a social deviation in the sphere of property relations, unauthorized by the society for the interaction of collective and individual economic entities, both among themselves and with the society as a whole, with the state. The problem of economic deviance in the era of consumption intersected with a whole range of discussion of the reasons for the research. In particular, the still questionable role of the state (and groups of States, supranational bodies) in the economy. There is no unity on the question of the relationship between public administration and self-organization. We have to admit the limitations of market and state: of them failed universal regulators. In the study of deviance a lot of attention is paid to the interaction of Economics with other social institutions. Today, the economic deviation – not just the individual random deviations from the norm. The most dangerous broadcasting unwanted patterns of economic activities.