Since anomie has been brought to the table

[Paul Mackin]

On 1/8/2012 9:35 AM, Kai Frederik Lorentzen wrote:
>
> Don't know about your specific type of think tank, but of course 
> there's Robert K. Merton, one of the most important sociologists of 
> the 20th century, who referred to Durkheim's concept of anomie and 
> transfered it to his theory of deviance (still used in today's 
> criminology) in 1938. Merton defines anomie as "an acute disjunction 
> between the cultural norms and goals and the socially structured 
> capacities of the members of the group to act in accord with them". So 
> there is no continuity between cultural goals and the required means. 
> At least not when you stay with legitimate and legal means. So some - 
> think Pacino in Scarface - become criminals to fulfill their American 
> Dream --

This definition would seem to make the concept very applicable to 
industrial workers.

Cultural norms would include the idea that one way a man can show his 
worth is in making things. But in his factory job, it does not seem as 
if he himself really IS making anything. It is the machine that is doing 
the making, or the System. He personally is only going through totally 
prescribed motions.

The Foundation I was attached do during part of the 60s and 70s was the 
W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Their DC office closed 
in 1976.  We studied social and income maintenance issues associated 
with employment and unemployment. We weren't one of the monstrous places 
like the Brookings Institute or the Urban Institute. Also we weren't 
right wing outfits like the Heritage Foundation or the Cato Institute.  
Very small fish in a big pond. All I can say is that it was an experience.

P
>
>
> On 07.01.2012 16:35, Paul Mackin wrote:
>
>>>
>> The staff sociologist at the think tank i was at used to use the word 
>> to described the psychological state of workers brought about by the 
>> meaninglessness of industrial work.
>>
>> Lack of rule was extended to mean lack of meaning.
>>
>> He quoted Durkheim sometimes.
>>
>>
>>
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