🧩 Merton's Strain Theory

Question 1

Merton’s Strain Theory

Answer 1

Crime is the result of unequal access to society’s goal of wealth

Question 2

Merton’s Strain Theory - Blocked opportunities

Answer 2

Not all have equal chance to achieve wealth - this creates strain for working class people who cannot access wealth legitimately

Question 3

Merton’s Strain Theory - Innovation

Answer 3

Accept the goal but find illegal ways to achieve it - utilitarian crimes

Question 4

Merton’s Strain Theory - Ritualism

Answer 4

Give up striving for success. Plod along in dead-end job

Question 5

Merton’s Strain Theory - Rebellion

Answer 5

Reject goal and means to achieve.
Drop-outs e.g. drunks, vagrants

Question 6

Merton’s Strain Theory - strengths

Answer 6

Reject goal and means, replacing them with new ones in order to change society - political radicals and alternative cultures e.g. hippies

Question 7

Merton’s Strain Theory - limitations

Answer 7

Shows how normal and deviant behaviour arise from the same goals
Explains why most crime in statistics is property crime and why working class crime rates are higher.