mertons strain theory

mertons strain theory

The cause of crime lies in the relationship between culture and the social structure of society.

In capitalist societies, cultural institutions such as the mass media socialise individuals into believing that material success is a realistic goal.

However, in an unequal society, resources and opportunities are not always fairly distributed and not everyone can achieve this goal through approved means, success and paid work.

Those at the bottom of society may experience a strain between their goals and the legitimate means, as the chance of accessing these is blocked by those with economic and social advantages.

conformity

Most of the population cope by doing their best and making the most of what society offers them, using legitimate means to achieve cultural goals in society.

Example: The non deviant, non conformist citizen

Innovation

Commitment to cultural goals may remain strong, but some people reject the conventional means of acquiring wealth and turn to illegal means.

Achieving cultural goals through illegitimate means

Example: Factors like poor educational qualifications or unemployment mean some can’t achieve goals by approved means.

Ritualism

Some people have lost sight of material goals but derive satisfaction from fairly meaningless jobs.

Accepting legitimate means in society, however, without striving to achieve cultural goals.

Example: teachers who give up caring about students’ success.

Retreatism

A small number of people reject both goals and means by dropping out of society.

Example: dropouts like drug addicts or tramps who give up altogether.

Rebellion

People may rebel and seek to replace shared goals and institutional means with more radical alternatives and may use violent methods to achieve this.

Example: Reject existing social goals and means but substitute new ones to create a new society, like revolutionaries or members of some religious sects.

Strain theory strength

Explains crime related to financial factors, utilitarian crime.

Strain theory limitation

Only explains individual crimes and also doesn’t consider non-utilitarian crimes such as violence and vandalism.