Merton's strain theory attempts to address criticisms of Durkheim's theory of crime and deviance. Merton argued that an over-emphasis on cultural goals like material wealth without equal access to legitimate means to achieve them can lead to a situation of anomie or normlessness where people turn to deviance. Different social classes experience this strain differently based on their socialization and access to opportunities, leading some to engage in deviant behaviors like crime. While evidence from periods of social change support Merton's theory, it has also been criticized for assuming a value consensus and failing to explain non-materially motivated crimes.

1. Sociology of Crime and Deviance: FUNCTIONALISM
Robert K. Merton (1938) (A01)
Merton’s theory attempts to address TWO of the criticisms of Durheim’s theory:
1 Is a different level of exposure to the collective conscience a satisfactory explanation of the causes of
crime and deviance?
2 Why do people resort to different types of deviant behaviour?
Merton based his theory in his observations of 1930s USA. He looked closely at the ‘American Dream’, a
shared value which asserts that anyone, regardless of class background ,ethnicity, religion or gender can
be successful in life if they work hard enough at it. He suggested that society has certain cultural goals (e.g.
material wealth) and institutionalised means of achieving these goals (e.g. hard graft).Merton argued that
because people are located in different positions in the class structure, not everyone has the opportunity to
realise society’s cultural goals via the accepted channels (institutionalised means), and this can lead to
deviance. Merton argued that an over-emphasis on cultural goals at the expense of institutionalised means
leads to a situation of anomie, or normlessness, where rules cease to exist and this pressure combined
with a person’s position in the class structure could lead to deviance.
This type of theory shows us why people deviate and the types of deviant behaviour they get involved in.
Because it stresses that crime is the outcome of a strain between what people wish to achieve and what is
possible, the theory is often known as STRAIN THEORY. Merton explains that different types and levels of
ritualistic and innovative behaviour by social class is the reflection of different emphases on socialisation
between middle and working class people. According to Merton, the working class person, having been
socialised in a less rigid way, can violate conventional expectations of behaviour with less anxiety and guilt.
Socialisation channels people into various responses by limiting the choice of deviant adaptions open to
people. Socialisation varies from one group to another and this determines the response to anomie.
Evaluation of Merton (AO2)
Evidence For Evidence Against
1 In 1980s and 1990s
Britain Thatcherism and the
New Right encouraged
individual success (and
greed) and this was
accompanied by a rise in
property crime
2 Former communist states
which have now embraced
free market economies
(Poland, East Germany,
Russia etc) have
experienced soaring crime
rates. Between 1989 and
1990 the official crime rate
in Poland went up by 69%
3 Hannon & Defronzo
(1998) studied 406
metropolitan counties in the
US and found that those
with higher welfare
provision had lower levels
of crime. They concluded
that welfare facilitated
opportunities to climb the
ladder through legitimate
means without resorting to
crime.
1 Assumes there is value consensus in US society and that folk only deviate
because of structural strain Valier (2001) criticised the stress on the
existence of common goals in society. He argued that there are a variety of
goals that people strive to attain at any one time.
Examples might be:
- some groups of people (hippies) purposely reject the American Dream
- some individuals are politically motivated and commit crimes on this basis
(Black Panthers Freedom Fighters in 1960s/70s USA)
Counter evaluation – Merton’s rebellion response quite accurately describe
the Black Panthers and the hippies?
2 Fails to explain why only some people who are denied material success
commit crimes.
3 Cannot explain ALL types of crime e.g. crimes like vandalism and joy-riding
in stolen cars are not motivated by monetary gain. Also it cannot account for
state crime like genocide and torture.
4 Takes criminal statistics at face value (lower classes commit more crime).
Assumes that the lower classes commit more crime and builds an explanation
as to why – however white collar and corporate crime are extensive and self-
report studies have shown that crime is present across the social spectrum
5 Gender bias/malestream sociology – Merton was essentially writing about
men. What about women?
6 Marxists argue that it ignores the power of the ruling class to make and
enforce laws as a means of controlling the working class and ensuring that
they do not become a revolutionary force. For example by using by using
crime as a diversionary tactic – criminals are the problem in society not the
ruling class who have stolen the wealth of the world from the workers.
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