A test of Merton’s anomie theory The case of Ahvaz male high school students

Document Type : علمی وپزوهشی

Authors

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is testing Merton’s Anomie theory (1968). It is focused on some key concepts in Merton’s anomie theory, which researchers pay less attention to them. We have extracted eight hypotheses from Anomie theory and attempted to test among a sample of male adolescences in Ahvaz South of Iran.
We surveyed a sample of 480 male students in nine high schools to gather needed data using a self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire measured objective and subjective socioeconomic status, relative deprivation, and aspirations, perceived opportunities, the gap between aspirations and perceived opportunities and finally feeling of anomie. Results show that socioeconomic status- in both dimensions- is significantly correlated with feeling of anomie, but its effect in regression equation on feeling of anomie is insignificant. Our findings suggest that SES has an indirect effect via aspiration-opportunity gap and relative deprivation on feeling of anomie. The effect of relative deprivation is significant which is affected by aspiration-opportunity gap. Step by step regression shows that aspiration-opportunity gap, perceived opportunity and relative deprivation have greatest effect on feeling of anomie, respectively. The effect of other variables seems unimportant. Our theoretical model is tested by standardized regression coefficient (path analysis). Also, we found significant relationships between each gaps per aspiration and perceived opportunity. This is the first comprehensive study to test Merton’s Anomie theory in Iran. According to the logic of Merton’s theory, aspiration-opportunity gaps can be extended beyond the purely economic dimensions.

Keywords


  1. ابر کرامبی، نیکلاس، استفان هیل، برایان اس. ترنر. 1367. فرهنگ جامعه­شناسی. ترجمه‌ی حسن پویان. نشر چاپخش.
  2. پنجه پور، نسرین. 1381. «عوامل اجتماعی مؤثر بر آنومی در بین دانش‌آموزان». آموزه. شماره‌ی 15 پاییز.
  3. رفیع‌پور، فرامز. 1378. آنومی یا آشفتگی اجتماعی، پژوهشی در زمینه‌ی پتانسیل آنومی در شهر تهران. انتشارات سروش، تهران.
  4. علیزاده اقدم، محمدباقر، سعید سلطانی بهرام، آرمان احمدی. 1393. «بررسی پدیده‌ی آنومی اجتماعی در بین شهروندان حاشیه‌نشین شهر تبریز». مجله‌ی پژوهش‌های راهبردی امنیت و نظم اجتماعی. شماره‌ی 8. پاییز و زمستان.
  5. عنایت، حلیمه، مهدی کاوه. 1392. «مطالعه‌ی رابطه‌ی مصرف موسیقی با احساس آنومی بر حسب جنسیت». فصل‌نامه‌ی زن در فرهنگ و هنر (پژوهش زنان). سال پنجم. شماره‌ی 4.
  6. کرد زنگنه، منصور. 1385. «بررسی رابطه­ی زمینه­های اجتماعی با آنومی در میان دانش­آموزان پیش­دانشگاهی شهرستان رامهرمز». فصلنامه­ی دانشگاه آزاد واحد شوشتر. سال اول. شماره­ی 2. صص. 296-273.
  7. مرجایی. 1382. «سنجش و بررسی احساس آنومی در میان نوجوانان». مطالعات جوانان. سال اول. شماره­ی 5.
  8. نبوی، سیدعبدالحسین، علی‌حسین حسینزاده، سیده هاجر حسینی. 1387. «بررسی تاثیر پایگاه اجتماعی-اقتصادی، احساس بی­قدرتی و هویت قومی بر احساس امنیت اجتماعی». سال دهم. شماره‌ی 2. (پیاپی 39).
  9. نبوی، سیدعبدالحسین. 1374. «بررسی عوامل اجتماعی-اقتصادی مؤثر در شیوع جرایم در جامعه­ی شهری اهواز». پایان‌نامه­ی دکتری دانشکده­ی علوم اجتماعی دانشگاه تهران.

10. نبوی، سید عبدالحسین، ساجده علامه. 1392. «بررسی میزان و عوامل موثر بر احساس آنومی در محیط کار و ارتباط آن با کناره‌گیری روانی-اجتماعی از کار در کارمندان سازمان های دولتی شهرستان اهواز». فصل‌نامه‌ی علوم اجتماعی. شماره‌ی 22.

  1. Adnanes, Martin. 2007. Social Transitions and Anomie among Post-Communist Bulgarian Youth. Nordic Journal of Youth Research. Vol. 15. No. 1, pp. 46-69.
  2. Agnew, Robert. 1980. Success and Anomie: A Study of the Effect of Goals on Anomie. The Sociological Quarterly. V. 21, N.10.
  3. Agnew, Robert. 1983. Social Class and Success Goals: An Examination of Relative and Absolute Aspiration. The Sociological Quarterly, V. 24, PP. 435-452.
  4. Agnew, Robert. 1987. On Testing Structural Strain Theories. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency. 24: 281-86.
  5. Baumer, Eric P. 2007. Untangling Research Puzzles in Merton’s Multilevel Anomie Theory. Theoretical Criminology. vol. 1, pp: 63-93.
  6. Bell, Wendell. 1957. Anomie, Social Isolation, and the Class Strucrure. Sociometry. 20 (2):105-116.
  7. Benett, W., Jr., N. Gist. 1964. Class and Family Influence on Student Aspirations. Social Forces. vol. 43, pp: 167-73.
  8. Bernard, Thomas, J. 1997. Merton versus Hirschi; Who is Faithful to Durkheim's Heritage. p. 81-90 in Freda Adler and William S. Laufer (eds), Advances in Criminological Theory, vol. 6, The Legacy of Anomie Theory. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction publisher.
  9. Bernburg, J.N., T. Thorlindson, I. Sigfusdottir. 2009. Relative Deprivation and Adolescence Outcome in Iceland: A Multilevel Test. Social Force. 87(3).

10. Bjarnason, Thoroddur. 2009. Anomie among European Adolescents: Conceptual and Empirical Clarification of a Multilevel Sociological Concept. Sociological Forum. vol. 24, no. 1.

11. Legge, Sandra. 2008. Social Structural Effects on the Level and Development of the Individual Experience of Anomie in the German Population. International Journal of Conflict and Violence. vol. 2(2) pp 248- 267.

12. Blau, J. R., P. M. Blau. 1982. The Cost of Inequality: Metropolitan Structure and Violent Crime. American Sociological Review. vol.47, No.1, PP: 114-29.

13. Cao, Liqun. 2007. Returning to Normality: Anomie and Crime in China. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. vol. 51. No. 1, pp 40-51.

14. Car, Leslie , and William Hauser. 1976. Anomie and Religiosity: An Empirical Reexamination. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. 15(1): 69-74.

15. Caro, Francis, G. 1966. Social Class and Attitudes of Youth Relevant for the Realization of Adult Goals. Social Forces. vol. 44, Issue.4, PP: 492-498.

16. Clark, J., E. Weninger. 1963. Goal Orientation and Illegal Behavior among Juveniles. Social Forces. 42: 49-59.

17. Dean, Dwight G. 1961. Alienation: Its Meaning and Measurement. American Sociological Review. 26:753-758.

18. Empey, Lamar. 1956. Social Class and Occupational Aspiration: A Comparison of Absolute and Relative Measurement. American Sociological Review. vol. 21 pp: 703-709.

19. Franworth, Margaret and Michael J. Leiber. 1989. Strain Theory Revisited: Economic Goals, Educational Means, and Delinquency. American Sociological Review. 54(2): 263-274

20. Goetz,Wilma. 1962. Occupational Aspirations of the Male Students in a Selected High School. American Catholic Sociological Review. vol.23, issue4, pp: 338-349.

21. Harold, Mizruchi Ephraim. 1960. Social Structure and Anomia in Small City. American Sociological Review. 25 (5): 645-654.

22. Hirschi, Travis. 1969. Causes of Delinquency. Berkeley, CA: University of Chicago Press.

23. Holloway, R., J. Berreman. 1959. Educational Occupational Aspirations and Plans of Negro and White Male Elementary School Students. Pacific Sociological Review. vol.2, pp: 56-60.

24. Hyman, H. 1953. The Values Systems of Different Classes: A Social- Psychological Contribution to the Analysis of Stratification. Pp.488-99 in R. Bendix and S.M. Lipset, (eds.) Class Status and Power. Glencoe. III: Free press.

25. Lee, Gary R. and Robert W. Clyde. 1974. Religion, Socioeconomic Status, and Anomie. Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion. 13 (1): 35-47.

26. Lee, Gary, R. 1974. Marriage and Anomie: A Causal Argument. Journal of Marriage and the Family. vol.36, No.3, pp: 523-532.

27. Lefton, Mark. 1968. Race Expectations and Anomie. Social Forces. vol. 46, pp: 347-52.

28. Legge, Sandra. 2008. Social Structural Effects on the Level and Development of the Individual Experience of Anomie in the German Population. International Journal of Conflict and Violence. vol. 2(2) pp 248- 267.

29. Liska, A. 1971. Aspiration, Expectation and Delinquency: Stress Additive Models. The Sociological Quarterly. vol.12, pp: 99-107.

30. Lopez Turley, R. N. 2002. Is Relative Deprivation Beneficial? The Effect of Richer and Poorer Neighbors on Children’s Outcomes. Journal of Community Psychology. Vol. 30, No. 6, pp: 671-686.

31. Meier, Dorothy L. and Wendel Bell. 1959. Anomie and Differential Access to the Achievement of Life Goals. American Sociological Review. 24(2): 189-202.

32. Menard, Scott. 1995. A Developmental Test of Mertonian Anomie Theory. Journal of Research of Crime and Delinquency, 32(2):136-174.

33. Merton, R.K., A. S. Rossi. 1968. Contributions to the Theory of Reference Group Behavior. Pp.279-440. In Robert K. Merton (ed.) Social Theory and Social Structure. The Free Press.

34. Merton, Robert K. 1938. Social Structure and Anomie. American Sociological Review. 3:672-682.

35. Merton, Robert K. 1968. Social Theory and Social Structure. New York: Free Press.

36. Messner, S., S. Rosenfeld. 2001. Crime and American Dream (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

37. Middleton, Russel. 1983. Alienation, Race and Education. American Sociological Review. vol.28, pp: 973-977.

38. Passas, Nikos. 1995. Continuity in the Anomie Tradition. P91-112 in Freda Adler and William S. Laufer (eds.). Advances in Criminological Theory, vol. 6, The Legacy of Anomie Theory. New Brunswick, NJ. : Transaction publisher.

39. Quicker, John, C. 1974. The Effect of Goal Discrepancy on Delinquency. Social Problems. vol.22, pp: 76-86.

40. Rhodes, Luis. 1964. Anomie, Aspiration, and Status. Social Forces. 42(4):434-440.

41. Rodman, H. 1963. The Lower Class Value Stretch. Social Forces. vol.42, pp: 205-15.

42. Rushing, William A. 1971. Class, Culture and Social Structure and Anomie. The American Journal of Sociology. 76(5): 857-872.

43. Sablunniere, Roxane Dela, Donald M. Taylor, Cristina Perozzo & Nazgul Sadykova. 2008. Reconceptualizing Relative Deprivation in the Context of Dramatic Social Change: The Challenge Confronting the People of Kyrgizestan. European Journal of Social Psychology. DOI: 10. 1002/ ejsp.

44. Shaar, John, H., Mc Closckey. 1965. Psychological Dimension of Anomy. American Sociological Review. V. 30, Nom.1, pp: 14-40.

45. Srole, Leo. 1956. Social Integration and Certain Corollaries: An Exploratory Study. American Sociological Review. vol. 21, pp: 709- 716.

46. Stephenson, R. 1957. Mobility Orientation and Stratification of 1000 Ninth Grade. American Sociological Review. vol.22, pp: 204-201.

47. Stiles, B., X. Liu, & H. Kaplan. 2000. Relative Deprivation and Deviant Adaptations: The Meditative Effect of Negative Self-feelings. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency. Vol.37, pp: 64-90.

48. Wassef, W.Y. 1967. The Influence of Religion, Socioeconomic Status and Education on Anomie. Sociological Quarterly, vol.8, pp: 66-88.

49. Wilson, Robert A. 1971. Anomie in the Ghetto: A Study of Neighborhood Type, Race, and Anomie. The American Journal of Sociology, 77:66-88.

50. Winslow, Robert W. 1968. Status Management in Adolescent Social System: A Reformulation of Merton’s Anomie Theory. The British Journal of Sociology, 19(2): 143-159.