Criminology - U2 - Merton's Strain Theory Evaluation

Strength: Shared Goal of Wealth

Both normal and deviant behavior aim for the same goal: money and wealth.

Strength: Differing Routes to Success

Conformists and innovators pursue the same goal of money, but by different means.

Strength: Supports with Statistics

Property crime, including fraud, has the highest rates and connects to the desire for money and wealth.

Weakness: Ignores Crimes by the Wealthy

Merton's theory overlooks crimes committed by the wealthy, who have easier access to success.

Weakness: Over-Prediction of Working-Class Crime

The theory over-predicts the amount of crime among the working class.

Weakness: Focus on Individual Deviance

Merton's theory focuses on individual deviance, ignoring group deviance.

Weakness: Focus on Utilitarian Crime

Merton's theory focuses on crimes with economic benefits (e.g., property crime), neglecting crimes without such benefits (e.g., assault, vandalism).