ched to the group under any circumstances. Subversive tendencies, no longer having the same consequences, occur more frequently. More and more losing the transcendent character which placed it in a sphere higher than human interests, social organization no longer has the same force of resistance while it is breaking down. . . . It thus becomes more dangerous (Durkheim 380).
Merton takes the concept of anomie further, focusing on the gap between society's "generalized rules" (195-6) or standards of material achievement on one side and on the other the ability (more exactly lack of ability) of the majority of people in society to reach those standards and conform to the moral values of a culture. Merton also notes, following Max Weber (205), that Western society is increasingly bureaucratic and rule-driven and that this structure has an influence on individual personality. The individual who follows the social rules and yet experiences failure of achieving his goals will be much more prevalent than the one who closes the gap between his dreams and reality. In other words, anomie itself is generalized.
Five kinds of social actors are identified by Merton: conformists, innovators, ritualists, retreatists, and rebels. Typically, an individual will be obliged to adapt or conform to social and cultural realities, following social rules even though doing so may not carry with it a reward. An innovator may resort to criminal behavior to achieve social (material) benefit. A ritualist may conform to all the social rules, with the difference that he may abandon individuated dreams and slip into the bureaucratic mold. When Merton describes the dangers of overconformity, he cites the behavior of a bureaucratic "functionary," who "is tacitly expected to and largely does adapt his thoughts, feelings and actions to the prospect of this career" (Merton 197), and timidly gives himself over to "strict adherence" to the rules. A retreatist may not on...