Merton's strain theory

Question 1

Goals and means

Answer 1

What we are socialised to
achieve and the structures we are
supposed to used to achieve the
goals.

Question 2

How does it explain criminality

Answer 2

Root cause lies in the unequal structure of society.
Not every1 has equal chance of achieving success (blocked opportunities).
Opportunities for working class ppl blocked by poverty and inadequate schools.
This creates a ‘strain’ between the
goals and the means.

Question 3

Different ways which people adapt to strain

Answer 3

Conformists - Achieve goals/means legitimately
Innovators - accept goal but find illegal ways to achieve them. Commit utilitarian crimes (financial gain). Usually from lower classes
Ritualist - give up on achieving success. Have dead-end job
Retreatists - Dropouts. Reject goals and means. E.g Vagrants, drunkards
Rebels - reject goals and means. Replace them with new ones.

Question 4

Strengths

Answer 4

Shows how
normal and deviant
behaviour arise from the
same goals and different
means.
ST explains the crime
patterns shown in
official statistics. Most
crime is property crime

Question 5

Weaknesses

Answer 5

ST ignores the crime of wealthy and over predicts w/c crime.
Ignores crimes with no economic motive (vandalism)