Merton,Strain theory

• Merton, hindering people attaining goals

  1. Structural factors = unequal opportunities in society
  2. Strong emphasis on success goals and weaker emphasis on using legitimate means to achieve them > due to structural factors they focus on end goal rather than how to legitimately achieve it
• Merton

  • Argues individuals become involved in deviant behaviour when they can’t achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means
  • Deviance is result of strain between the goals a culture encourages individuals to aim for and what the structure of society actually allows them to achieve = blocked opportunities
• The American Dream

  • Emphasis on money & success > expected to pursue this through education & work
  • Ideology = society is meritocratic but poverty and discrimination block opportunities > strain between cultural goal and lack of legitimate opportunities > frustration and pressure to resort to illegitimate means > increased pressure, more important to achieve success than to achieve it through legitimate means
• Merton

  Saw American society as heading towards anomie (homelessness) as the norms are too weak to stop some people from using deviant means to achieve them

  • Don't feel connected to institution > break norms and values
• Deviant adaptations to strain: Merton

  An individuals position in social structure affects how they respond to strain anomie
• Deviant adaptations to strain: Conformity

  Individuals accept culturally approved goals and strive to achieve them legitimately (m/c)
• Deviant adaptations to strain: Innovation

  Individuals accept money success goal but use illegitimate means to achieve them (w/c)
• Deviant adaptations to strain: ritualism

  Individuals give up goal but have internalised legitimate means and follow rules for their own means
• Deviant adaptations to strain: retreatism

  Individuals reject both goal and legitimate means, drop out of society (drug addicts)
• Deviant adaptations to strain: rebellion

  Individuals replace existing goals and means with new ones with the aim of bringing social change (BLM protests)
• Strengths of Merton

  • Explains why rates of w/c crime are higher, have least opportunity to obtain wealth legitimately
  • Most crime is property crime because society values material wealth highly
• Criticisms of Merton

  • Takes official stats at face value
  • Too deterministic, not all w/c people commit crime
  • Ignores power or ruling in making and enforcing laws (Marxism)