Strain theory

• Strain theory


  Material success in society is unable to provide the legitimate means for us all to achieve such successes (as not everyone can gain qualifications and not everyone can access jobs)
• Merton's argument


  Society encourages us to subscribe to the goals of material success
• Working class people are more likely than others to be denied these material benefits
• Strain and anomie


  We strive for goals of material success, but we don't have the opportunities to reach the goals through legitimate means
• Anomie


  Lack of the usual social and ethical standards in an individual or group
• Merton's 'strain' response


  • Innovation
  • Conformity
  • Ritualism
  • Retreatism
  • Rebellion
• Innovation


  Accepting goals and pursuing them through approved means
• Conformity


  Dropping out of conventional society, and rejecting goals and the means to reach them. May become drug addicts, tramps, or commit suicide.
• Ritualism


  Plodding on in meaningless jobs, working hard but never thinking about the end goal, giving up on striving for success.
• Retreatism


  Seeking to replace the shared goal with alternative, opposing goals and values, and trying to achieve them by more revolutionary means eg political radicals.
• Rebellion


  Accepting cultural goals, and wishing for material success, but seeing unconventional and illegal ways to achieve this