Strain Theories Of Crime

Question 1

Merton

Answer 1

Adaptation to Strain
Conformity - Most individuals accept societal goals and achieve them through legitimate means, avoiding crime.
Innovation - Some people accept societal goals but use illegitimate means, such as crime, to achieve success.
Ritualism - Individuals abandon societal goals but rigidly adhere to socially approved means, avoiding crime but lacking ambition.

Question 2

Miller

Answer 2

Focal Concerns
Excitement- Lower-class subcultures prioritize thrills and risk-taking, often leading to deviant behavior.
Toughness - Emphasis on physical strength and aggression fosters violent crime in some subcultures.
Smartness - Streetwise intelligence and the ability to outwit others are valued, encouraging fraud or deception.

Question 3

A.K. Cohen

Answer 3

Status Frustration
Working-class boys, unable to achieve success through legitimate means, develop delinquent subcultures with alternative status systems.

Question 4

Cloward and Ohlin

Answer 4

Subcultural Responses to Strain
Criminal - Organized crime provides opportunities for monetary gain through structured illegitimate means.
Conflict - Disorganized areas with limited access to criminal networks lead to gang violence and territorial disputes.
Retreatist - Those who fail in both legitimate and illegitimate means resort to drug use and petty crime.