merton strain theory

what are structural theories?

• sociological theories of criminality are broken down in to structural, interactionist and realist theories.

• structural theories include functionalism and marxist theories of criminality, as well as some subcultural theories.

• prominent functionalist was merton, whose strain theory examined the different ways individuals respond to society’s unequal structure.

what is the american dream?

• merton examined the structure of american society, suggesting that there existed an american dream - a goal of financial success.

• the means of achieving this goal however depended upon the opportunities that people had - not all people could achieve this goal.

• this caused a strain to anomie - how people may turn to alternative means or reject social goals in response to this strain.

how does this cause crime?

• innovators are more likely to turn to illegitimate means in order to achieve financial rewards - that is crime.

• retreatists, whilst rejecting social goals, may turn to illegitimate means in order to alleviate sense of anomie - e.g. drugs, alcohol and this may be funded through petty crime.

• rebels look to use whatever means necessary in order to achieve their alternative goals - protest, disruption, criminal damage.

what is normlessness?

• where success is so important that getting there becomes less important.

what is conformity? (groups)

• people who achieve society’s goals legitimately and legally.

what is innovation?

• innovators accept the goal but find illegal ways of achieving it by committing utiliitarian crimes.

what is ritualism?

• ritualists give up striving for success. they plod along in dead end jobs.

what is retreatism?

• retreatists are drop outs who reject both goal and means. merton includes vagrants, drunkards and drug addicts.

what is rebellion?

• rebels reject the existing goals and means, replacing them with new ones with the aim of changing society. examples include political radicals and alternative cultures such as hippies

what are the strengths and weaknesses of strain theory?

• strengths: majority of crime committed is property crime (including fraud) - merton explains financial gain is main motivation for criminal behaviour.

• explains the way in which different people respond to crime and why some people choose not to commit crime.

• limitations: largely explains utilitarian crime - does not explain crimes such as assault.

• suggests that most individuals are motivated by social goals - individuals have their own motivations.