Merton's Strain Theory proposes that individuals respond to societal pressures or "strain" in different ways depending on their position in the social structure. There are five types of responses: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Conformity involves accepting both cultural goals and legitimate means, while innovation accepts goals but rejects means. Ritualism rejects goals but accepts means by rigidly following rules. Retreatism rejects both goals and means through dropping out, and rebellion does so by replacing existing systems with new revolutionary goals and means.

1. Merton’s Strain Theory
Deviant adaptations to strain
Strain theory attempts to explain patterns of crime and deviance found in society. Merton argues that an individual’s position in the social structure affects
the way they adapt or respond to the strain of anomie.
Each response depends on whether an individual accepts, rejects or replaces approved cultural goals and the legitimate means of achieving those goals.
Response
memory jogger RRRIC
Cultural Goals –
American Dream
Means of achieving
cultural goals
Examples
CONFORMITY
Merton sees this as the typical
response of most Americans.
Most likely among middle class
individuals who have good
opportunities to succeed.
Accepts Accepts
INNOVATION
Most likely among lower class
individuals who have blocked
opportunities and therefore under
the greatest pressure to innovate.
Accepts Rejects
RITUALISM
Most likely among lower-middle class
office workers in dead-end routine
jobs.
Rejects
Give up trying to achieve
the dream
Accepts
Very strongly
internalised so follow
the rules slavishly
RETREATISM
Dropouts
Rejects Rejects
REBELLION
Reject both the existing society’s
goals and the means but replace
them with new ones in order to bring
about revolutionary change
Rejects but replaces
with new ones
Rejects but
replaces with new
ones