Merton's strain theory

What is strain theory

Strain theory is the idea that people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means.

Who was the first person to develop the strain theory?

Merton first developed this theory who adapted Durkheim’s concept of anomie which combined two elements:

1. Structural factors - society’s inequal opportunity structure

2. Cultural factors: The strong emphasis on success goals and the weaker emphasis on using legitimate meant to achieve them.

He argued, deviance is the result of strain between two things:

1. The goals that a culture encourages individuals to achieve

2. When the institutional structure of society allows them to achieve legitimately.

What are Merton’s 5 ways people adapt or respond to the strain of anomie?

1. Conformity: Accept the culturally approved goals and the means to achieve them legitimately. These are typically middle class individuals.

2. Innovation: They accept the goals of money success but through illegitimate means to get it such as fraud or theft. They are typically from the lower class who are under the pressure of society.

3. Ritualism: They give up on the goals of society but have conform to the legitimate means regardless. They are typically lower middle class office workers in dead end jobs.

4. Retreatism: They reject both the goals and legitimate means of society and become dropouts.

5. Rebellion: They reject societies goals and create their own ones with a desire to bring about revolutionary change. E.G. political radicals

Evaluation of Merton

Strengths:

• Lower class crimes are higher because they have least opportunity to obtain wealth legitimately.

Limitations:

• Merton uses too much of official stats which may not always be accurate. These stats over represent the working class. Not all lower class individuals are deviant

• Marxist argue it ignores the power of the ruling class.