Merton's Strain Theory
- Created by: Victoria Prior
- Created on: 04-11-13 19:59
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- Merton's Strain Theory
- The American Dream
- WINNING the game but not playing by the rules.
- ANALYSIS - Anomie - norms are too weak to restrain some people from using deviant means to achieve the materialistic goals that the American culture sets them.
- Cultural Goal - Money Success.
- Education and Hard Work.
- Many disadv. groups are denied opportunities to achieve legitimately.
- Lack of legitimate opportunities produce frustration.
- WINNING the game but not playing by the rules.
- Combines two elements ...
- Structural Factors - societies unequal opportunity structure.
- STRAIN - what the institutional structure of society allows them to achieve legitimately.
- Cultural Factors - the strong emphasis on success goals and weaker emphais on using legitimate means to achieve them.
- STRAIN - the goals that a culture encourages individuals to achieve.
- Structural Factors - societies unequal opportunity structure.
- 3. RITUALISM - Individuals give up on the goal, but have internalised the legitimate means so follow the rules for their own sake.
- EVALUATION
- + Most crime is property crime, because American society values material wealth so highly.
- - Determinisitic- WC experience most strain yet dont deviate.
- - Takes official crime statistics at face value.
- - Marxists argue that it ignores the power of the ruling class to make and enforce laws.
- The American Dream
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