The American Dream and Crime: an Intricate Relationship

Hope's ladder reaches toward American skies where dreams climb regardless of origin. The narrative of achieving prosperity through hard work, owning a house with a white picket fence, raising a family, and securing a comfortable retirement is heavily promoted. However, this idyllic portrayal often overshadows the reality for many who, despite their diligent efforts, fail to achieve anything resembling this dream. While success stories are glorified, those who fall short are frequently depicted in a negative light, often in the form of arrest reports and crime logs.

The Dual Role of the American Dream

The American Dream is not solely responsible for the celebrated success stories but may also play a role in the substantial crime rates the U.S. experiences annually. Steve Messner, a noted sociologist from the University at Albany, and Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri, suggest that America's own aspirations contribute to its higher crime rate compared to other similar nations. Their work, "Crime and the American Dream," offers a sociological perspective on crime in the U.S., attributing it to the macro-level implications of the American Dream.

Institutional Anomie Theory: A Deeper Look

Building on Robert Merton's anomie theory, Messner and Rosenfeld developed the Institutional Anomie Theory (IAT) to directly address the American Dream's role in fostering crime. Merton's theory posited that societies emphasizing ambitious goals without a corresponding focus on the means to achieve them experience higher crime rates. Messner and Rosenfeld expanded this idea, arguing that the American Dream nurtures a cultural environment where people adopt an 'anything goes' mentality to achieve elusive personal goals. This mentality, they suggest, results in a societal pressure that leads to crime.

Their analysis delves into two key components: the American Dream itself and the economic dependence of institutional structures in the U.S. They define the American Dream as a societal commitment to material success, pursued through open competition. This pervasive ideology exerts pressure on individuals, encouraging an exaggerated focus on monetary achievements while devaluing other success criteria. The authors identify four core values driving the American Dream: achievement, individualism, universalism, and the fetishism of money/materialism. These values collectively impose immense pressure on individuals, often leading to crime when legitimate means to success are inaccessible.

Economic Dominance and Institutional Failure

Messner and Rosenfeld argue that the American Dream's anomic pressures are sustained by an institutional balance of power dominated by the economy. They believe that social institutions meant to regulate behavior are interdependent yet subordinate to economic interests. The political system, family, education, and economy are all influenced by economic demands, creating a social structure incapable of restraining criminogenic cultural pressures. For example, underfunded schools in poor neighborhoods lack resources to equip children with essential skills, while parents working multiple jobs struggle to instill discipline and values in their children. This economic dominance results in the devaluation of non-economic institutional roles, forcing other institutions to accommodate economic priorities.

Critiques and Contributions

While Messner and Rosenfeld's theory is innovative and complex, it faces criticism for its lack of quantitative evidence. The Institutional Anomie Theory is challenging to test empirically, as it requires quantifying individuals' valuation of monetary success, which is inherently qualitative. Although their book provides extensive qualitative data emphasizing crime in the U.S., it fails to establish a direct link between crime and the American Dream or between crime and economic dependence of institutions. The work primarily explores these connections rather than empirically proving them.

Despite these limitations, "Crime and the American Dream" raises important questions about the interplay between societal values and crime. It invites further exploration into how cultural and economic factors shape criminal behavior and challenges readers to consider the implications of a society driven by material success. The book's exploration of the American Dream's darker consequences offers a thought-provoking perspective that can inspire future research and discussion.

Conclusion: A Complex Narrative

In conclusion, while Messner and Rosenfeld's work may not provide empirical proof of their theory, it does offer a compelling narrative about the American Dream's role in U.S. crime rates. Their exploration of cultural values and economic structures provides valuable insights into the unique social fabric of the United States. The book challenges readers to reconsider the American Dream's impact on society, raising critical questions about the balance between ambition and the means to achieve it. As we strive to understand the complexities of crime, this work serves as a foundational piece for ongoing discussions about the intersection of culture, economy, and criminal behavior in America.

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