THE DARK SIDE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM Steven F. Messner Department of Sociology University at Albany State University of New York

Overview Background Empirical Foundations An Analytic Model of Social Organization and Crime Applications of the Theoretical Arguments in Cross-National Research Implications for Reducing Crime

Background: Standing on Merton’s Shoulders The Insights of SS&A Universalistic Goals Blocked Access to Legitimate Means Strain Towards Anomie Limitations of SS&A Restrictive Conceptualization of Social Structure Neglect of Complementarities of Culture and Social Structure

The Empirical Context: Quantitative Evidence International Comparisons of Robbery Rates International Comparisons of Homicide Rates Trends in U. S. Homicide Rates

The Empirical Context: Qualitative Evidence Crime in the Suites Extreme Losses Recurrent Scandals Crime in the Streets Zones of Devastation

Cultural Dynamics Working Definition of the American Dream “ … a broad cultural commitment to the goal of material success, to be pursued by everyone, under conditions of open, individual competition.”

Cultural Dynamics (continued) Value Foundations Achievement Orientation Competitive Individualism Universalism Monetary Fetishism Strain Towards Anomie

Structural Dynamics Institutional Foci Economy, Polity, Family, Education Structural Integration of Institutions Institutional Balance of Power Economic Dominance Devaluation Accommodation Penetration

MODERATING EFFECTS: Savolainan Rosenfeld and Messner Figure 5. Selected Empirical Applications of Institutional Anomie Theory (IAT) to Homicide MAIN EFFECTS: Messner and Rosenfeld Decommodification Homicide Rates MODERATING EFFECTS: Savolainan Income Inequality Homicide Rates Decommodification Rosenfeld and Messner Change in Unemployment Rate Change in Homicide Rate Decommodification

Implications for Crime Reduction Institutional Reform Revitalizing Non-economic Institutions Cultural Regeneration Reinventing the American Dream

Thank you!