Theoretical Perspective

Question 1

Merton’s Notes

Answer 1

• Society emphasizes certain goals in life (e.g. financial success)
• the US is in a permanent state of anomie due to its lack of means to achieve these goals
• This inequality exists because of the social structure itself

Question 2

Legitimate VS Illegitimate Means

Answer 2

Legitimate means are not necessarily the most efficient method of reaching the goals. These other means, however, go against society’s moral values

Question 3

Social Classes Differences

Answer 3

The success goals themselves are not necessarily applicable to all social classes; indeed, each class may have its own brand of success goals, which creates further conflict between classes

Question 4

Encouraging Illegal Means

Answer 4

Merton’s theory joins Sutherland’s in the sense that, at the neighbourhood level, the presence of values conducive to delinquency essentially tells those who live here that legitimate means are scarce and illegal means are the only way to reach their goals