Chat with AIExam 6: Social Structural Theories
Define and discuss the five modes of adaptation according to Merton.What does Merton believe leads to antisocial behavior? Explain.
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Answered by Examlex AI CopilotRobert K. Merton, a prominent sociologist, proposed five modes of adaptation to explain how individuals respond to societal norms and values. These modes are conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
Conformity refers to individuals who accept societal goals and the means to achieve them. They follow the rules and norms of society in order to attain success and acceptance.
Innovation occurs when individuals accept societal goals but reject the traditional means of achieving them. Instead, they may turn to unconventional or illegal methods to reach their goals, such as engaging in criminal behavior.
Ritualism involves individuals who abandon the pursuit of societal goals but continue to adhere rigidly to the traditional means. They may become so focused on following the rules and norms that they lose sight of their original goals.
Retreatism refers to individuals who reject both societal goals and the traditional means of achieving them. They may withdraw from society and turn to substance abuse or other forms of escapism.
Rebellion occurs when individuals reject both the societal goals and the traditional means of achieving them, and instead seek to replace them with alternative goals and means. They may actively work to change the existing social structure and norms.
Merton believed that antisocial behavior, such as criminal activity, is often the result of a strain between societal goals and the means available to achieve them. When individuals are unable to attain success through legitimate means, they may turn to deviant or criminal behavior as a way to achieve their goals. This strain can lead to feelings of frustration, alienation, and a sense of injustice, ultimately contributing to antisocial behavior. Merton's theory highlights the importance of examining the relationship between societal goals, means of achieving them, and the resulting impact on individual behavior.
Briefly explain commodification and decommodification.
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VerifiedCommodification refers to the transformation of social relationships formerly untainted by economic considerations.Decommodification refers to policies intended to free social relationships from economic considerations by freeing the other social institutions form the domination of the economy.
Durkheim argued that crime is normal, inevitable, and socially useful.
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Discuss Albert Cohen's subcultural theory.What is short-run hedonism? What are middle-class measuring rods and how do they relate to status frustration?
(86) The zone inhabited by newly arrived individuals looking for work where social changes leading to delinquency mostly occurred was known as
(77) ______ is the shared power of a group of connected and engaged individuals to influence the maintenance of public order.
(78) Which of the following is a gang function for many of its members?
(88) Structural theorists are interested in seeking the social causes of crime rates, rather than why particular individuals commit crime.
(81) Briefly discuss what defines the neighborhood context of collective efficacy.
(85) According to Messner and Rosenfeld, high crime rates are intrinsic to American culture.
(87) The ______ perspective views society as a system of mutually sustaining parts and characterized by broad normative consensus.
(76) According to Merton, aberrant conduct may be viewed as a symptom of dissociation between culturally defined aspirations and socially structured means.
(77) Monitoring of spontaneous play groups among children, willingness to intervene to prevent acts such as truancy, and the confrontation of persons who are disturbing public space are all examples of
(81) The same things that predict an increase in collective efficacy are the same things that predict an increase in social disorganization.
(73) Agnew and his colleagues found that individuals with low levels of negative emotionality and high levels of constraint were most likely to respond to strain with criminal behavior.
(76) Mechanical solidarity is characterized by high degrees of occupational specialization, and a diversity of experiences and circumstances.
(81) Which of the following theorists is credited with the idea that strain results from a disjunction between goals and the legitimate means of attaining them?
(75) Briefly explain the difference between gang member violence and gang violence.
(87) Those who reject both cultural goals and the institutionalized means of attaining them are known as retreatists.
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