Merton's strain theory

• What is the strain between?

  goals that society encourages and an individuals means at achieving this goal
• Merton's strain theory definition


  people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means.
• Types of adaptation to strain

  1. conformity

  2. innovation

  3. ritualism

  4. retreatism

  5. rebellion
• Conformity as an adaptation to strain


  the individual accepts goals and strives to achieve them legitimately. Mostly middle-class people with opportunities
• Innovation as an adaptation to strain


  Accepts goals but uses new, illegitimate means to achieve them, such as fraud, selling drugs, theft
• Ritualism as an adaptation to strain


  give up on trying to achieve the goals but have internalised the legitimate means. Mostly middle class office workers
• Retreatism as an adaptation to strain


  rejects both goals and legitimate means so finds themselves on the outskirts of society. e.g. homeless, addicts etc.
• Rebellion as an adaptation to strain


  rejects existing goals and means but replaces them with new ones in a desire to change and create a new type of society.