Robert K Merton:

• One of the most influential sociologists of the functionalist movement- Merton criticised the functionalist ideas of universal functionalism

• Merton’s views of crime and deviance were that they were a product of a dysfunctional society

• Suggested that society was structurally unequal and that the inability of some members to achieve the ‘American Dream’ led to a strain on anomie

Merton Strain Theory:

• Merton suggested that people would react in different ways to the American Dream

• Some would continue to accept socially approved goals and strive to achieve those through either legitimate or illegitimate means

• Others would reject socially approved goals and either deviate or conform to socially approved behaviours

Deviant adaptions to strain:

• Conformity

• Innovation

• Ritualism

• Retreatism

• Rebellion

Conformity:

• The majority of Americans conformed according to Merton

• They chased the American Dream and worked, gained an education and chose pathways that would lead to success

• Accepted social goals and pursued them through legitimate means

Innovation:

• Accepted the socially approved goals but found that legitimate opportunities to achieve them were blocked

• Innovated- Adopted illegitimate means to achieve socially-approved goals

• Organised crime, fraud, white-collar crime and corporate crime can be linked to innovation

Ritualism:

• Accepted that they were unlikely to achieve socially approved goals of wealth

• Conformed to the norms and values of society- continued to adopt legitimate means despite knowing it would not lead to their goals

• Routine occupations, Administration roles, Middle management

Retreatism:

• Seeing routes to achieve goals blocked, retreatists would reject the norms and values of society

• With little motivation or conformity, this group would drop out of society, according to Merton

• Alcohol and Drug abuse, Petty crimes

Rebellion:

• Challenged the socially approved goals and looked to set out their own vision of society

• Rejected the legitimate means of achieving these goals and would look to adopt alternative methods of achieving their vision of society

• Political dissidents, activities and protestors

Evaluations of Merton:

• Recognised the role of structural inequality in crime and highlighted the lack of opportunities available to some groups

• Strain is dependent upon people wanting to achieve socially-approved goals- is this reflective of 21st century society?

• Offers explanations for utilitarian crimes but doesn’t explain crimes of passion or why some choose to victimise others