Q1: First List And Describe The Main Assumptions Of Robert K

Q1first List And Describe The Main Assumptions Ofrobert K Mertons Th

List and describe the main assumptions of Robert K. Merton's Theory of Anomie. Then, using this theory, explain why, in your view, white-collar crime occurs and exists. Fully defend your supported view regarding this question.

Paper For Above instruction

Robert K. Merton's Theory of Anomie, developed within the framework of structural functionalism, offers a compelling explanation of societal pressures that contribute to deviant behavior, including white-collar crime. The theory posits that society sets culturally approved goals, such as economic success, but not all members have equal means to achieve these goals through legitimate avenues. This discrepancy between societal goals and the means available to achieve them leads to anomie, or a state of normlessness, which fosters deviance.

The primary assumptions of Merton’s theory revolve around the idea that social structure influences individual behavior. First, society defines certain cultural goals that are desirable, such as wealth and success. Second, there are prescribed means to attain these goals, including education, employment, and lawful practices. Third, when individuals are unable to access these legitimate means due to structural inequalities or barriers, they may resort to alternative, sometimes illegitimate, means to achieve societal success. Fourth, social strain results from the gap between aspirations and opportunities, which can lead to various modes of individual adaptation, including conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.

In terms of white-collar crime, Merton’s theory suggests that individuals occupying higher-status positions may feel pressure to succeed financially and socially, but may also perceive that legal avenues are inadequate or too slow to achieve their goals. Consequently, some individuals may turn to fraudulent schemes, embezzlement, or other forms of corporate misconduct to fulfill societal expectations of success. These behaviors are often rationalized as necessary for maintaining their social standing or as justified responses to their perceived plight or operational pressures.

White-collar crime, according to Merton’s framework, can be understood as an adaptation to social strain, where upper-class or professional individuals employ illegitimate means to secure societal goals. The assumption here is that the social environment, emphasizing success and material wealth, inadvertently fosters conditions that make white-collar crime not only possible but also rationalized among certain social groups. Moreover, the relative power and resources of these individuals often make detection and punishment more difficult, perpetuating their propensity to engage in such crimes.

Supporting this view, extant literature indicates that structural inequalities and normative ambivalence contribute significantly to white-collar crime. Shover (1996) emphasizes that corporate misconduct often stems from organizational pressures and the desire to meet performance expectations. Similarly, Cressey (1953) notes that individuals in high-status positions may rationalize their criminal actions to maintain social image and authority. The theory thus provides a cohesive explanation that links societal goals, structural constraints, and individual adaptation, elucidating why white-collar crime occurs within the broader social framework.

In conclusion, Merton’s Theory of Anomie underscores the importance of societal structure and collective objectives in fostering deviant behaviors such as white-collar crime. By understanding the social pressures and structural inequalities that influence individual motivations, one can better comprehend the occurrence and persistence of such crimes in contemporary society.

References

• Cressey, D. R. (1953). Other people’s money: A study in the social psychology of embezzlement. Montclair, NJ: Patterson Smith.
• Shover, N. (1996). White-collar crime and the structure of opportunities. Sociology of Crime, Law, and Deviance, 1, 31-58.
• Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672-682.
• Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30(1), 47-87.
• Clinard, M. B., & Quinney, R. (1973). Criminal behavior systems: A typology. Pacific Sociological Review, 16(3), 305-317.
• Messner, S. F., & Rosenfeld, R. (2001). Crime and the American dream (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
• Colvin, M., & Pauly, L. (1983). Corporate crime. Annual Review of Sociology, 9, 215-237.
• Chambliss, W. J. (1989). Crime and the construction of morality. Annual Review of Sociology, 15, 399-418.
• Robinson, M. (2004). Corporate misconduct: Causal explanations. Crime, Law and Social Change, 41(2), 127-146.
• Erickson, J. (1995). White-collar crime: Organizational and societal approaches. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.