Functionalist Subcultural Theories - Merton: Strain Theory

Question 1

Why does Merton argue people commit crime?

Answer 1

Argues people commit crime when they want the cultural goal but cannot achieve it

Question 2

What does Merton argue people do when they cannot achieve the cultural goal legitimately?

Answer 2

Not everyone can achieve the goal legitimately so turn to illegitimate means such as crime and deviance

Question 3

What does Merton call the pressure to deviate?

Answer 3

Strain to anomie

Question 4

What are Merton’s five adaptations to strain?

Answer 4

Conformity

Innovation

Ritualism

Retreatism

Rebellion

Question 5

What does Merton say conformity is?

Answer 5

Where they can gain the cultural goal through legitimate means

Question 6

What does Merton say innovation is?

Answer 6

Where they want the cultural goal but can’t gain it through legitimate means

Question 7

What does Merton say ritualism is?

Answer 7

Where they reject the cultural goal but do everything legitimately

Question 8

What does Merton say retreatism is?

Answer 8

Where they reject both the cultural goal and the means of achieving them

Question 9

What does Merton say rebellion is?

Answer 9

Where they reject the goals of society and replace them with radically different new goals

Question 10

What are the criticisms of Merton’s strain theory?

Answer 10

Recognises many deviants share mainstream goals

Marxists argue it ignores the power of the RC to create and enforce laws and criminalise the WC

It’s too deterministic: not everyone will commit crime if they cannot achieve the cultural goal legitimately

It cannot explain non-utilitarian crime

Ignores group deviance