Merton's Strain theory - theory and methods A2 Sociology

1. The Strain
Theory – Robert
Merton
By Millie Price

2. Robert Merton-
 Robert K. Merton
developed the
structural strain
theory as an
extension of the
functionalist
perspective on
deviance.

3. The Strain Theory-
 Robert Merton (1910-2003) argued that
society may be set up in a way that
encourages too much deviance.
 Merton believed that when societal
norms, or socially accepted goals
place pressure on the individual to
conform they force the individual to
either work within the structure society
has produced, or instead, become
members of a deviant subculture in an
attempt to achieve those goals. Merton
termed this theory Strain Theory

4. TYPOLOGY OF DEVIANCE AND
EXAMPLES:
 Merton's main concern was
that societies such as the
United States do not provide
the means (access to
education, employment,
etc.) to achieve cultural
goals (the American Dream).
 When individual's are faced
with a gap between 'what
ought to be' and 'what is',
that person will feel strained
and have a choice
between five modes of
adaptation.
Merton's mode of
adaptation

5. He used the lifestyle
concept of the American
dream which places great
emphasis on material
success.
The term “American
dream” is used in many
ways, but it essentially is
an idea that suggests
that anyone in the US
can succeed through
hard work and has the
potential to lead a
happy, successful life.
Many people have
expanded upon or
refined the definition to
include things such as
freedom, fulfillment and
meaningful relationships.
Someone who manages
to achieve his or her
version of the American
dream is often said to be
“living the dream.”

6. The 5 Modes Of Adaption:
Merton outlined five possible ways that
members of American society could
respond to success goals:
1. Ritualism
2. Retreatism
3. Innovation
4. Rebellion
5. Conformity

7. 1. CONFORMISTS
 Conformists are people who believe in
normative means for attaining goals
legitimately. They follow the rules of
society.
 An example would be a successful
investor or businessman who is
economically successful because of their
employment or hard work.

8. 2. RITUALISTS
 Ritualists are individuals who stop trying to
achieve goals but believe in using
legitimate means for attaining goals.
(follow rules)
 For example, Staying in a dead end job.

9. 3. INNORVATORS
 Innovators are those individuals that accept the
cultural goals of society but reject the
conventional methods of attaining those goals.
 They Use different ways to achieve those goals
(criminal)
 An example is a stockbroker who engages in
illegal insider trading. The cultural goal of wealth is
accepted, but nontraditional means of insider
trading are used. Drug dealers, thieves, and
prostitutes are also examples of innovators.

10. 4. RETRETISTS
 Retreatists are individuals who reject both the
cultural goals and the accepted means of
attaining those goals.
 They simply avoid both the goals and means
established by society without replacing those
norms with their own counter-cultural forces.
 For example- Severe alcoholics, some
homeless people, and hermits are examples
of Retreatists.

11. 5. REBELS
 Rebels not only reject both the established
cultural goals and the accepted means of
attaining those goals
 But they substitute new goals and new
means of attaining those goals to bring
about revolutionary change and create a
new society.
 Examples of rebels include the American Nazi
party, “skinheads,” and the Ku Klux Klan.

12. EVALUTATION
 Merton shows how normal and deviant behavior
can arise from having the same mainstream goals.
How does he explain patterns shown in official crime
statistics?
 Most crime is property crime, because American
society values material wealth so highly
 Lower class crime rates are higher, because they
have least opportunity to obtain wealth
legitimately.

13. How does this link to white
collar crime?
 Merton’s strain theory has been developed in an attempt
to explain white collar crime.
 People turn to illegal means to become successful and
attain monetary goals.
 They Experience strain to anomie which weakens the
mechanisms of social control.
 So Corporations may find that legal ways of maintaining or
increasing their profits are ineffective.
 Therefore there is pressure to turn to illegal means - fraud,
ignoring health and safety and environmental regulations.