merton (strain theory) - structural theory Flashcards
what is mertons strain theory?
he states the root cause of crime is within unequal structures in society - like money success being the ultimate goal within society
what is a blocked oppurtunity?
not everyone has an equal change with acheiving societal goals, creating a strain making them commit crime/deviance to acheive it this way
what are the 5 repsonses to blocked oppurtunites?
conformists, innovators, ritualism, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion
what are conformists?
they acheieve the goals within society legitimately
what are innovators?
they accept the goals but find illegal ways of acheiving it by commiting utalitarian crime
what are ritualists?
they give up on societys goals
what are retreatists?
they are dropouts who reject both the goals and means
what are rebellion?
rebels rejecting the existence of the goals and means and replace them with new ones with the aims of changing society
