Alienation, Anomie, and Strain: A Theoretical Analysis

• In Event: 033 - Section on Crime, Law, and Deviance Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 12. Theoretical Criminology

Abstract

The paper dwells with the theoretical foundations of three theories, related to deviance, social deprivation, and disorganization. Whereas anomie and alienation (Seeman 1982, Schacht 1982), anomie and strain (Featherstone and Deflem 2003, Agnew and Passas 1997) were compared with each other, the three theories were never addressed together. However, I propose that such a theoretical comparison can, on the one hand, better contrast the theories, and on the other hand, offer possibilities for a better explanation of social disorganization. It is proposed to consider alienation as a possible consequence of social strain, when individuals not only feel frustrated (Agnew 1996), but also are likely to experience such attitudes, as a sense of powerlessness, meaninglessness, social isolation and self-estrangement. Thus, their behavior, contrasted to those experiencing normlessness, is less likely to end up with deviance.

Author

• Ekaterina Lytkina, Higher School of Economics, Laboratory for Comparative Social Research