Anomie Theory

Anomie Theory is a sociological framework, developed by Émile Durkheim and expanded by Robert K. Merton, that explains deviant behavior as a result of a disconnection between societal goals and the means available to achieve them. According to this theory, anomie arises when individuals feel pressured to succeed but lack legitimate opportunities, leading to strain and, often, deviant actions. Merton’s strain theory identifies five responses to anomie: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Sociologists use anomie theory to study the root causes of crime, inequality, and social dysfunction, particularly in rapidly changing or stratified societies.