Merton's strain theory(Topic 1)

Question 1

Strain theorists

Answer 1

Argue people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals in legitimate ways ; become frustrated so turn to criminal means to get what they want

Question 2

Merton

Answer 2

Explains deviance in two ways

1. Structural factors - society unequal opportunity structure
2. Cultural factors- strong emphasis on success goals and weaker emphasis on using legitimate ways to achieve them

Question 3

Strain

Answer 3

Deviance is the result of a strain between

• Goals that a culture encourages to people to achieve
• What the institutional structure of society allows them to legitimately achieve e.g american culture values ‘money success’

Question 4

The American dream

Answer 4

Americans are expected to peruse the money success goal by legitimate means with self discipline, study, qualifications and hard work through the meritocratic society however in reality many disadvantages groups are denied that opportunity through poverty , discrimination etc which produces frustration creating pressure to resort to illegitimate means to succeed (‘the strain to anomie’)

Question 5

Responses to the strain of anomie

Answer 5

• Conformity: accept goal and achieves it legitimately
• Innovation:accept goal but use illegitimate means
• Ritualism:give up on achieving goals and just follow the rules
• Retreatism:reject both goals and legitimate means becoming dropouts
• Rebellion:reject goals and create new ones to bring about revolutionary change

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

• It takes official crime statistics as face value which over represent WC crime
• Marxists say it ignores the power of the ruling class who make and enforce the laws to criminalise the poor but not the rich
• It ignores the role of group deviance such as delinquent subcultures and only focuses on individuals