(2) Functionalism: Merton's Strain Theory

Question 1

How does Merton attempt to do what Durkheim didn’t?

Answer 1

• provides a functionalist analysis of the origins and functions of crime and deviance and explain why certain types of crime/ deviance seem to be linked with certain groups in society

Question 2

Merton argues everyone in society is committed to shared values and goals, what are these goals in modern western society?

Answer 2

• wealth
• material possessions
• as indicators of success/ achievement

Question 3

What kind of accepted institutionalised means of achieving these goals does society provide?

Answer 3

• qualifications
• hard work/ motivation
• ambition
• career progression

Question 4

What does the ideology of the ‘American Dream’ say?

Answer 4

• their society is meritocratic and anyone who makes the effort can get ahead - there are opportunities for all

Question 5

In a balanced society, what does Merton believe there will be?

Answer 5

• the two aspects of making an effort and having opportunities will be emphasised
• people will be committed to the goals and will have equal opportunity to achieve them legitimately

Question 6

What imbalance does he observe in many societies?

Answer 6

• emphasis on cultural goals but access to legitimate means of achieving them is limited

Question 7

Give some examples of things/ circumstances that may deny disadvantaged groups from legitimate success?

Answer 7

• poverty
• inadequate education
• lack of employment opportunities
• discrimination

Question 8

How does Merton connect people being located in different positions in social structure and people becoming disenchanted?

Answer 8

• there is unequal access to the means of achievement - people are disenchanted as a result of the strain in the structure of society

Question 9

In Merton’s view - what has led to a situation of anomie and pressure to turn to deviance?

Answer 9

• society’s unequal opportunity structure

Question 10

Give an example of how American culture puts more emphasis on achieving success at any price? What does this do?

Answer 10

• adds more pressure to deviate
• winning the game becomes more important than playing by the rules
• will commit crimes to get the wealth that society deems as gaining success

Question 11

What influences how an individual adapts or responds to the strain of anomie?

Answer 11

• their position in the social structure

Question 12

How would a mc/ upper mc person respond?

Answer 12

• conformity - accept goals and means

Question 13

How would a wc person respond?

Answer 13

• innovation - accepted goals but rejects means (ie. turns to crime)

Question 14

How would a lower mc person respond?

Answer 14

• ritualism - reject goals but accept means

Question 15

How would a person of lower class respond?

Answer 15

• retreatism - rejects goals and means

Question 16

How would a person higher class respond?

Answer 16

• rebellion - can both challenge and accept both the goals and means

Question 17

How could the strain theory be considered too deterministic?

Answer 17

• he assumes the majority of crime is committed by the working classes

Question 18

Does Merton consider all factors that contribute to crime?

Answer 18

• no, only focuses on class

Question 19

How could his outlines of the adaptations/ responses be criticised?

Answer 19

• too generalised in relations to class
• assumes the middle classes conform which isn’t always the case - doesn’t consider why mc ‘white collar crime’ exists
• (ie. ignores crimes of the powerful)

Question 20

In his assumption that these responses always happen, what kind of alternatives/ deterrents does he ignore?

Answer 20

• social interaction
• group processes
• primary socialisation

Question 21

In what way does Merton assume a value consensus?

Answer 21

• not everyone is driven by wealth/ material goods

- nor might everyone see them as indicators of success

Question 22

Does Merton discuss non-utilitarian crimes?

Answer 22

• no, he doesn’t recognise that not all crimes lead to wealth/ are motivated by money
• theory is only plausible for utilitarian crime

Question 23

How does he over generalise the culture of class?

Answer 23

• different families have different morals

Question 24

What type of crime does he ignore along with mc crime and non-utilitarian crime?

Answer 24

• group crime

Question 25

How do Messner and Rosenfeld support Merton’s theory?

Answer 25

• also believe the obsession with money and ‘winner takes all’ mentality exerts pressure towards crime by encouraging an anomic cultural environment where people are encouraged to adopt an ‘anything goes’ mentality to gain wealth

Question 26

What observation would support Merton’s theory?

Answer 26

• in societies based on free-market capitalism + lacking adequate welfare - high crime rates are inevitable

Question 27

How do Downes and Hansen support Messner and Rosenfeld’s comment?

Answer 27

• show that countries that spend more on welfare have less crime and lower rates of imprisonment eg. Scandinavian countries

Question 28

How can Merton be applauded? ESPECIALLY AS A FUNCTIONALIST

Answer 28

• he recognises that there are inequalities in society and disadvantage can lead to crime