Merton’s Theory On Crime

Question 1

What does Merton argue?

Answer 1

Argued that not everyone can achieve the ‘American dream’ and that can lead to crime due to anomie
Which leads to his theory called the strain theory - which is when people who are unable to achieve the socially approved goals in society turn to crime and deviance

Question 2

What are the 5 responses to the strain theory?

Answer 2

1. Conformity
2. Innovation
3. Ritualism
4. Retreatism
5. Rebellion

Question 3

What the innovator in the strain Theory?

Answer 3

• usually members of the lower w/c
• they innovate and turn to crime, by using whatever skills/attributes they have to get what they want eg: pick pockets, thieves, con men

Question 4

A02: for Merton’s theory

Answer 4

• Hanson and Defronzo - argued that those with higher welfare provision reduced the level of strain felt placed to achieve ,material success leads to a reductions of anomie = less crime committed
• savelsburg - argued that merton’s strain theory can help explain the rapid rise in the rime rate in post -communists countries
  = crime rates rised after communism fell, as then capitalism rised and crime went up due to anomie

Question 5

Strengths of strain theory

Answer 5

Is theory helps to make sense of acts that would otherwise to senseless such as vandalism

Recognises that the American dream is a central feature of American culture and class structure militates from it

Question 6

Weakness in strain theory

Answer 6

• Marxists : it ignores the power of the ruling class to make and enforce laws that end up criticising the poor but not the rich
• focuses on individual responses and ignore group responses