merton's strain theory

Question 1

who are conformist according to merton ?

Answer 1

people who achieve societal goals legitimately

Question 2

according to merton, the root of crime lies in …

Answer 2

the unequal structure of society

Question 3

what are opportunities for working class people blocked by

Answer 3

poverty and inadequate schools

Question 4

opportunities for working class is often blocked by poverty and inadequate schools, this creates …?

Answer 4

a strain between the goal society says one should achieve and the lack of legitimate means to do so.

Question 5

to merton crime causes?

Answer 5

deviance

Question 6

what are the four possible ways of adapting to strain according to merton ?

Answer 6

innovation
ritualism
retreatism
rebellion

Question 7

what are innovators ?

Answer 7

accept the goal by finding illegal ways to achieve it.

e.g gatsby

Question 8

what are ritualists ?

Answer 8

ritualists are who merton would call conformists. they strive for success by plodding along a dead end job

Question 9

what are retreatists ?

Answer 9

retreatists reject the goal and the means.

e.g dropouts, drunkards and addicts

Question 10

who are the rebels

Answer 10

the ones who, as well as the retreatists, reject existing goals and means but strive to change society by replacing them with new ones.

e.g radicals

Question 11

how do subculture theories apply to merton’s idea ?

Answer 11

the key idea is that subcultures enable members to gain status by illegitimate means