Abstract
This paper summarizes Durkheim's concept of anomie often used to explain crime, and refers to the youth gang phenomenon in central Canada that can be explained by referring to anomie. The paper addresses the benefits of the model and its defects and discusses how anomie does not always promote criminality as a period of normlessness or a society seeming to have no rules or predictability; it also produces new religious activities.

From the Paper
"Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) first expressed his concept of anomie appeared in his 1893 study, "The Division of Labour in Society", and again in 1897, in a chapter `Anomic Suicide' in "Suicide". Durkheim argued that in a period of sharp social change, as in one of sudden prosperity or depression, individuals cannot find their usual places or occupations, do not know what to expect of one another and cannot follow conventional courses of action they believed would arrange their economic or other lives. As a feature of deregulation and dislocation, criminality is a possible..."

Tags:durkheim, anomie, youth gangs

Abstract
The paper endeavours to answer the question of whether or not Emile Durkheim's concept of anomie can still explain suicide as effectively as it once did. The hypothesis at the heart of this paper is that the concept of anomie is still highly effective at illuminating why people take their own lives; the method by which this hypothesis is tested is a literature review examining the observations of modern-day scholars committed to learning more about anomie and its relationship to the commission of suicide.

From the Paper
"The following paper will endeavour to answer the question of whether or not Emile Durkheim's concept of anomie can still explain suicide as effectively as it once did. The hypothesis at the heart of this paper is that the concept of anomie is still highly effective at illuminating why people take their own lives; the method by which this hypothesis will be tested shall be a literature review examining the observations of modern-day scholars committed to learning more about anomie and its relationship to the commission of suicide."

Tags:durkheim, anomie, suicide

Abstract
Through the exploration of Durkheim's theory of anomie, addictive behaviors in society is viewed as stemming from societal factors including: feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and a sense of not knowing what to do. Feelings of anomie can lead to poor coping skills, particularily among those living in poverty or with mental illness which can result in abusing drugs and alcohol.

From the Paper
Anomie and Addiction Substance use and abuse has been described as a serious problem that affects the individuals that are addicted to drugs, alcohol and other substances, and society in general. Many theories have been used to describe why millions of North Americans are addicted to substances, but most of these theories focus on the individual. These individualistic theories label addicts as criminal, deviant or morally deficient (Osco, 2004) which perpetuates stigma, blames the individual and influences the establishment of treatment services that are ineffective. Durkheim's theory of anomie, however, places the focus of addictive behavior as

Tags:durkheim, addictions, anomie

Abstract
This article serves as a discussion of the French sociologist, Emile Durkheim's theory of anomie. The writer discusses the conditions under which it exists and looks at the consequences. Further, the writer explores the potential solutions in Durkheim's writings to the problem of anomie.

From the Paper
"In his book 'The Division of Labor in Society', French sociologist, Emile Durkheim introduced the concept anomie as a state where norms expectations on behaviors are confused, unclear or not present and therefore result in higher rates of crime, suicide and deviance. Anomie occurs during times of rapid social change either negative or positive, when the circumstances of the division of labor become abnormal and under which otherwise contiguous organs become separated thus preventing the adequate development of rules of conduct."

Tags:Durkheim, anomie, social structure, morality, conscience, division of labor

Abstract
In this article, the writer examines anomie theory and social disorganization theory and traced the intellectual development of each. The writer describes the ways in which the two theories are similar or dissimilar. Further, the writer looks at the strengths and weaknesses of these theories within criminal behavior.

From the Paper
"In so doing, time will be set aside to describing the ways in which the two theories are similar or dissimilar, what their strengths and weaknesses are as explanations of criminal behavior, and whether or not they can each be described as consensus-based or conflict-based - or as a combination of both. In the end, the two theories are quite alike. Anomie is most commonly associated with Emile Durkheim and with Robert K. ..."

Tags:anomie, structural, theory

Abstract
This paper explains that anomie, an anxiety that many see as a characteristic of modern civilization, is manifested in the degree of social solidarity that exists in a society; the more people are separated from one another, the greater the anxiety or anomie. The author points out that Durkheim identifies two types of social solidarity bonds, which define a society and its rules and regulations: mechanical, which brings about the division of labor and assumes that individuals are different from one another; and organic, which is the individual personality absorbed into the collective personality. The paper states that Putnam examines the same ideas in terms of changes in economic determinism, noting how local companies are often replaced by larger global companies in a given market to create a social disruption that can be profound.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Durkheim
Putnam
Durkheim and Putnam
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Durkheim makes distinctions as to the degree to which solidarity binds us together, and he finds that mechanical solidarity in general binds men together less strongly than does organic solidarity. At the same time, mechanical solidarity becomes increasingly looser as we rise on the scale of social evolution. The strength of solidarity is important as it indicates how easily the individual can break his or her ties with civilization. Durkheim equates mechanical solidarity with positive solidarity, and organic solidarity with negative solidarity. Both mark forms of social solidarity indicated by the presence of rules."

Tags:anxiety, social, solidarity, separation, determinism

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts social theorists' Emile Durkheim and Robert Merton's views on anomie. It explains the origination of the term and how each man took the theory in a different direction, depending upon the time in which he lived.

From the Paper
"French social theorist Emile Durkheim coined the term "anomie" in his book The Division of Labor in Society, published in 1893. He used anomie to describe the loss of norms that was occurring in society. Durkheim said that anomie is produced in times of rapid social change, when existing rules, habits, and beliefs no longer hold and alternatives have not yet been found."

Tags:change, conflict, culture, goals, norms, social, society, sociology, theory

Abstract
Discusses causes of urban poverty and an economic underclass. Cites work of several social theorists on the topic, mainly Willian Julius Wilson who analyzed the problems associated with the disappearance of work and intergenerational poverty in inner cities in his book WHEN WORK DISAPPEARS. Wilson's arguments compared to other interpretations of social structure.

From the Paper
"Work, Anomie, and Alienation in America

William Julius Wilson (1996), in When Work Disappears, argues that in order to fully understand many of the problems associated with seemingly intergenerational poverty in inner city American enclaves or ghettos, it is important to understand that many of these problems (e.g., crime, family dissolution, welfare, low levels of social organization, and so on) are fundamentally a consequence of the disappearance of work. Further, says Wilson (1996), the debate over the causes of the disappearance of work are ideologically driven in many instances. Ideology is seen as pitting liberal versus conservative perspectives against one another. Such a focus also results in giving insufficient attention to the interaction between such variables as social structural factors, race itself, and ..."

Abstract
This paper examines Durkheim's anomie concept in relation to human nature, its social context, and its relation to suicide. The paper also discusses Durkheim's contemporary protegees and takes a look at how the anomie concept is viewed today is assessed.

From the Paper
"In attempting to understand the origins and consequences of Durkheim's conception of anomie, it is important to consider his view of human nature. Coser (1962) points out that Durkheim believed there is no human nature without society. What people thought, how they perceived the world, how they conceived of their relationship to the world all these things were shaped by participation in society."

Tags:anomie, crime, durkheim, suicide, theory

Abstract
This paper offers a critique of the film "American Beauty" from the perspective of the social theory of anomie, developed by Robert Merton. It looks at the different responses of the characters to a sense of alienation and isolation.

From the Paper
American Beauty a film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball has been characterized as an assault on the emotional sleepwalking that all too often passes for life in the American suburb ..."

Tags:film, anomie, Robert Merton, American Beauty