Mertons Strain Theory

Question 1

What did Merton say about the root cause of crime?

Answer 1

Lies within an unequal structure to society.
He focuses on USA however it can be applied anywhere
American society values economic success, so there’s pressure to pursue in this

Question 2

What are blocked opportunities?

Answer 2

Not everyone has an equal chance of reaching on successing to societies values. Opportunities for working class people are often blocked by poverty and inadequate schools. Thus creates a strain, causing crime and deviance.

Question 3

What are the 5 different groups in society?

Answer 3

Conformists
Innovation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion

Question 4

What are conformists?

Answer 4

Achieve society’s goals legitimately

Question 5

What is innovation?

Answer 5

Accept the goal but find illegal ways of achieving it by committing utilitarian crimes

Question 6

What are ritualists?

Answer 6

Give up striving for success

Question 7

What is retreatism?

Answer 7

Dropouts who reject both goals and means

Question 8

What are rebellions?

Answer 8

Rebels who reject any existing goals and means, replacing them with new ones with the aims of changing society

Question 9

Weakness: why is it deterministic? What crimes does it ignore?

Answer 9

Merton ignores crimes of wealth and overpredicts the amount of working class crime

Question 10

Weakness: it focuses on utilitarian crimes, what are other crimes it ignores?

Answer 10

Ignores crimes with no economic motive, for example vandalism