sociological theories of criminality Merton's theory Flashcards
What is an American dream ?
The idea that every citizen of the United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.
What is blocked opportunities ?
Lack of access to legitimate means for achieving social goals (e.g having a good job, or generally achieving economic success).
What is Strain ?
A situation in which one role is a source of tension and distress because of the existence of partially competing demands or expectations.
What is Anomie ?
A breakdown of social norms, values, and expectations within a society.
What is conformity ?
Pursuing cultural goals through socially approved means.
What is Innovation (most important one )?
Using socially unapproved or unconventional means to obtain culturally approved goals for example theft, drug dealing.
What is Ritualism ?
Using the same socially approved means to achieve less elusive goals.
What is retreatism ?
To reject both the cultural goals and the means to obtain it, then find a way to escape it.
What is rebellion ?
To reject the cultural goals and means, then work to replace them.
Explain why it failing to explain crime that does not have a monetary gain a weakness?
It only explains economic crime, that as people have ‘blocked opportunities’ to acquire this wealth and status, it doesn’t really explain violent crime, that is not a result of blocked opportunities. Therefore, it is limited explanation as it cannot explain why all types of crime occur.
Explain why not all working class individuals turn to crime a weakness ?
Despite all working-class individuals experiencing blocked opportunities , not all will turn to crime. Therefore, this is a limited explanation, and we need something else to explain why some of them do turn to crime and some of them do not.
Explain how this theory overestimates the extent of working class crime?
It cannot account for rimes committed by the middle class who do not experience blocked goals, such as collar crime. Therefore, it is a limited explanation as it cannot explain the crimes of other groups in society.
