What is wrong with setting such a lofty cultural goal? Merton argued, much like Durkheim, that too much emphasis on the pursuit of money can weaken norms that dictate the proper way to achieve this goal.Thus, people will pursue financial success even if it means violence lating norms or laws. Simiarly, members of society will pay less attention to how wealth is achieved, in comparison to whether wealth is achieved.In this scenario, "The technically most feasible procedure whether legitimate or not, is preferred to the insti tutionally prescribed conduct."This is the very definition of anomie.