Strain Theory

Question 1

What is this theory??

Answer 1

Social structure

Question 2

Who is the key theorist??

Answer 2

Robert Merton

Question 3

What is the strain theory??

Answer 3

• states that deviance occurs when individuals find that they cannot achieve the success of goals of society in the normal way. There is a strain between the goals and people’s abilities to achieve them.
• example of this is the American dream. Where the belief that regardless of where they were born or what class they are they can attain their own goals and success
• everyone has the same values like the American dream
• legitimate means of gaining this through talent, ambition and effort
• but due to inequality of opportunity this path is often blocked for those of poor backgrounds
• the result is a society where the rules are important and all the emphasis is on the and goals
• people then resort to crime and deviance in order to achieve these goals

Question 4

What is the strain theory (2)??

Answer 4

• people aim for success in a society but some always achieve t and according to erroneous when people face this strain they will develop five different strategies some which result in crime:
  1) conformists - lives to society’s aims, norms, values to achieve goals
  2) innovators - accepts society aims norms and values but has no legitimate way of attaining success so develop illegitimate ways to achieve goals
  3) ritualism - play by the rules but do expect to succeed so they go through the motions
  4) retreatism - give up on social goals and on striving for them
  5) rebels - set own goals and own methods of achieving them

Question 5

How does the strain theory explain criminal behaviour??

Answer 5

• argues that innovators and rebels are most likely to be criminal
• innovators will develop illegitimate ways so they may turn to crime doing this
• rebels will develop own rules meaning they are unlikely to accept or follow the laws
  — but retreatists could also engage to be criminally as they give up on goals they may become socially isolated which results in crimes such as vagrancy or antisocial behaviour or drugs

Question 6

What are the strengths of strain theory??

Answer 6

• supported by crime statistics - research in London found that 52% more crimes were recorded in 2022 in the most income deprived areas
• provides a range off strategies that can be used to explain range of crime and criminals - concept of rebellion also used to explain deviant groups that reject social norms like hangs and groups that use crime to push social change

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of strain theory???

Answer 7

• cannot be used to explain all crimes and focuses on lower crimes - ignore middle and upper classes as a result the theory cannot be used to explain white collar crimes
• lacks empirical evidence to support - whilst innovation is seen in London riots is useful and meaningful there is no empirical evidence gathered through scientific research