Merton's Strain Theory
- Created by: Harriet
- Created on: 05-06-13 15:34
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- Merton's Strain Theory
- Deviance is the result of strain between..
- Structural Factors- Society's unequal opportunity structure
- Cultural Factors- Society's strong emphasis in success goals and weaker emphasis on using legitimate means to achieve it
- The American Dream
- Aims for 'money success' through legitimate means
- As it is not meritocratic, a strain between money success and lack of legitimate opportunities means they may result to illegitimate means
- Deviant Adaptations to Strain
- Confiormity
- indiviiduals accept the culturally approved goals and seek the legitimately
- Innovation
- Individuals accept the money success goals but use illegitimate means
- Ritualism
- individuals give up on the success goal but have internalised the legitimate means so follow rules for their own sake
- Retreatism
- Individuals reject both goal and legitimate means (drop outs)
- Rebellion
- they replace societies goals and means with new ones with the aim of creating social change
- Confiormity
- Evaluation of Merton
- looks at crime statistics and sees crime as a W/C phenomenom
- It only accounts for utilitarian crime
- It ignores the role of group deviance
- Deviance is the result of strain between..
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