Strain Theory

• Merton 1938: Adapted Durkeim's strain to anomie. Deviance is caused by

  Structural Factors: society's inequality

  Cultural Factors: society's emphasis on success
• Deviance the result of the strain between the goals that encourage success and what institutional structures of society allow to achieve legitimately
• Ideology of the American Dream tells all that society is meritocratic causing the emphasis on success being in all members of society.
• Pressure to deviate = the strain to anomie
• Pressure to deviate further increased by emphasis on success at any cost - winning the game becomes more important than playing by the rules.
• Cloward and Ohlin 1960 -

  Adaptations to the strain:

  1. Conformity
  2. Innovation
  3. Ritualism
  4. Retreatism
  5. Rebellion
• Adaptations to the strain:

  1. Conformity
  2. Innovation
  3. Ritualism
  4. Retreatism
  5. Rebellion
• Conformity: Individuals accept the culturally approved goals and strive to complete them legitimately
• Innovation: Individuals accept the culturally approved value of success except use 'new', illegitimate means to reach them
• Ritualism: Individuals give up on achieving success but have internalised the legitimate rules
• Retreatism: Individuals reject both goals. Merton describes these as 'psychotics, outcasts, vagrants, tramps, chronic drunkards and drug addicts'
• Rebellion: Individuals reject the value of success and replace it. Revolutionaries.