Crime is a common yet concerning structure of society. With many types of crimes, sociologist work to discover why certain crimes occur. Through research and examination, we get sociological theories of crime. The theory I chose to explore in hopes to explain property crime was Anomie. Anomie is thought to be the instability a society or individual holds due to a lack of values or inability to meet societal pressures. Anomie can be caused by unemployment, racial or immigrant inequality, or other status symbols just not quite matching up to what society values or accepts. Cochran and Bjerregaard (2012), also visited this topic, and found that the type of local economy along with several other factors can contribute to crimes. They discussed
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Since the base of property crime is theft of sorts, Chamlin and Cochran (2007) questioned why although socially accepted methods for acquiring property exist, property crime is common. For individuals faced with anomie, the desired property often comes through status, if they do not have the skills or status to reach their desires, they turn to a less socially acceptable method of obtaining their goals. The use of anomie in these circumstances suggests an understandable motive, especially since we would assume individuals who are possibly unemployed, are facing the pressures of pursuing the image that they do not care what society thinks and would go to any means to get what they want (Chamlin & Cochran, 2007). Yet other scholars would suggest this is a prejudiced way of analyzing crime. Hovermann, Zick, and Messner (2015), argue that the goals of a materialistic nature of society is what pushes people of lower socioeconomic status to feel a disconnection from society since they have no means to achieve them. Other literature recognizes that there is a gap in available resources and opportunities but states that the problem lies in the values of the individual, causing anomie (Chamlin & Cochran, 2007). Krohn (1978) and Chamlin and Cochran (2007), agree that anomie may already be a permanent state of industrial society caused by the concern for material success, becoming normal rather than being a strange
Since the base of property crime is theft of sorts, Chamlin and Cochran (2007) questioned why although socially accepted methods for acquiring property exist, property crime is common. For individuals faced with anomie, the desired property often comes through status, if they do not have the skills or status to reach their desires, they turn to a less socially acceptable method of obtaining their goals. The use of anomie in these circumstances suggests an understandable motive, especially since we would assume individuals who are possibly unemployed, are facing the pressures of pursuing the image that they do not care what society thinks and would go to any means to get what they want (Chamlin & Cochran, 2007). Yet other scholars would suggest this is a prejudiced way of analyzing crime. Hovermann, Zick, and Messner (2015), argue that the goals of a materialistic nature of society is what pushes people of lower socioeconomic status to feel a disconnection from society since they have no means to achieve them. Other literature recognizes that there is a gap in available resources and opportunities but states that the problem lies in the values of the individual, causing anomie (Chamlin & Cochran, 2007). Krohn (1978) and Chamlin and Cochran (2007), agree that anomie may already be a permanent state of industrial society caused by the concern for material success, becoming normal rather than being a strange