Subjects included 47 coal mine workers and 41 intellectuals. All subjects were men with families consisting of a wife and at least one child and were between 29 and 45 years of age. Analysis of interview data revealed that many people perceived the deteriorating economic situation as an important factor in the increased readiness of some individuals to violate rules in order to improve their economic situation. Crimes included theft, burglary, tax evasion, and smuggling. As a consequence of rule violations aimed at maintaining a reasonable standard of living, there was a continuous decline in social and legal order. Contrary to more peaceful strategies, such as using intermediaries for commodity shortage situations, money shortages evoked active destruction that was prejudicial to individuals, institutions, and society as a whole. Perceptions of the social and economic situation were similar for workers and intellectuals, probably because economic decline was a sudden and relatively recent occurrence in Poland and no single group had yet created specific adaptive strategies adjusted to their own lifestyles. 5 references and 11 tables