Merton - Strain Theory

Merton (American) Strain Theory:

Merton carried on Durkheims work of anomie (normlessness).  He concluded that society teaches us to aspire to certain goals, here he reffered to the American Dream.

American Dream:

- wealth/income

- house

- car

The media plays a huge role in advertising this mindset to society and helps socialise society to want certain goals.

MOST OF SOCIETY ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS LEGITIMATELY.

Merton argues that deviance is the result of a strain between…