ate themselves from the rest of society (Perrucci & Knudsen, 1989).
Anomie refers to the disorganization that exists in individuals or society when norms are conflicting, weak, or absent (Hess, Markson, & Stein, 1989). Those who feel that they are denied access to or who reject the legitimate means and goals of their society also tend to turn away from former peer and reference groups and seek out new ones. Subcultures consequently arise for such disparate groups as the extremely religious, drug users, political radicals, a variety of criminals, and others.
In the case of Timothy McVeigh, McFadden (1995) has suggested that McVeigh's tendency to characterize himself as "a prisoner of war" and his quasi-military presentation during the period following his arrest and during his trial is evidence of his application of a set of a values (i.e., militaristic traits and behaviors and accompanying norms) to his own rejection of cultural and socially approved behaviors and institutions.
Biographers of McVeigh, including Serrano (1998), have characterized the young man as having been a "loner" during high school and while serving in the United States Army. McVeigh is said to have turned to the military service because of family difficulties and his own desire to escape negative community views of the behavior of his mother and father. In May 1988, McVeigh enlisted and was assigned ultimately to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry (Serrano, 1998).
McVeigh appears to have done relatively well in the Army, receiving the Presidential Citation, a Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and rising to the rank of sergeant. In addition, he wore on his uniform the Bronze Star for valor, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Commendation Medal with V Device and Oak Leaf Cluster (awarded for courage), the Expert Rifleman patch, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal (Serrano, 1998). While some of these meda...