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What does Strain mean?
A poor fit, mismatch or tension between the socially approved goals
Strain Theory
Merton's adaptation of Durkheim's concept of anomie (normlessness) to explain crime and deviance. It combines both structural and cultural factors
What is the american dream?
The socially acceptable ideolgy that says as an American, everyone should strive and be able to achieve good (become rich and successful). This is on the basic that society is meritocratic.
Effects of american dream
Intense pressure from society to strive towards this goal, causes pressure to deviate from the norms, causing anomie. Eventually, winning becomes more important that playing by the rules.
Five responses to the American dream
conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion
Conformity
wants to achieve cultural goals by institutionalised means.
Innovation
Wants to achieve cultural goals but not through institutionalised means.
Ritualism
doesn't necessarily want to achieve cultural goals, but still sticks to the institutionalised means of getting them
Retreatism
doesn't want the cultural goals and strays from institutionalised means
Rebellion
rejects both the goals and the means of achieving them, while replaced them with new ones.
Examples of a conformist
a teacher, a lawyer
Examples of innovatists
a drug dealer, a bank robber
example of a ritualist
a traffic warden, a petty bureaucrat
example of a retreatist
a drug abuser, a tramp
example of a rebel
a religious fundamentalist (terrorist bomber), hippies
roles that dont fit into strain theory
paedophile, a joy rider, a vandal
Evaluation of Strain Theory
It assumes there is a value consensus, that everyone strives for money success and ignores the possibility that many may not share this goal.
Counter evaluation
The whole theory is based on the idea that nit everyone shares the same goals, which is an explanation for their crime
Note 
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