Robert K. Merton developed strain theory to explain how societal pressures and inequality can lead to deviant behavior. The theory posits that society promotes certain goals, like financial success, but not all have equal access to legitimate means of achieving these goals. This disconnect between cultural goals and means creates strain, which some may relieve through criminal or deviant acts like theft, fraud, or drug use. Merton outlined five modes of adaptation to this strain: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. While influential, strain theory has also received criticisms around oversimplification and lack of empirical support. It remains relevant in examining links between social structures, expectations, and deviance.

1. STRAIN OR ANOMIE
THEORY-ROBERT. K MERTON
PRESENTED BY: FAHEEM, MUNEEB, FURQAN

2. CONTENTS:
ROBERT K MERTON
BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION TO STRAIN THEORY
CORE CONCEPTS
MODES OF ADAPTATION
CRITICISMS
CURRENT RELEVANCE AND APPLICATIONS

3. ROBERT K MERTON:
Robert K. Merton, born in 1910,
stands as one of the most
influential sociologists of the
20th century, renowned for his
insightful contributions that
reshaped the landscape of
sociology.
He was an American Sociologist
Founding father of modern
sociology.

4. MERTONS’ ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:
Robert K. Merton earned his Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University in 1936.
He later became a prominent figure in the field, teaching at institutions such as Harvard and Columbia
University. His research and writings significantly contributed to the development of sociological theory.
Educated at Columbia University, Merton was exposed to an era marked by significant societal changes and
challenges.
Merton’s has also contributed in the field of criminology and psychology.
Merton's significant contribution to sociology lies in his pioneering work on understanding societal
structures and human behavior within them. In 1938, his publication "Social Structure and Anomie"
introduced the concept of 'anomie,' shedding light on the disjunction between cultural goals and the
legitimate means available to achieve them within society. This seminal work laid the foundation for what
later became known as strain theory.
Robert K Merton died in 2003.

5. BACKGROUND OF
THE THEORY:
• The Strain or Anomie theory background was shaped by
Merton’s intellectual influences and sociocultural context of that
time which influenced him in the development of this
criminological theory.
• 1. Sociocultural Context:
• a. Time Period: Merton developed his strain theory during
the early to mid-20th century, a time marked by significant
social and economic changes, including the aftermath of the
Great Depression and World War II.
• b. American Dream: (material success) Merton’s work is
particularly situated in the American context, where the
prevailing cultural ethos emphasized the pursuit of the
"American Dream" — the idea that success and happiness could
be achieved through hard work, upward mobility, and material
wealth.

7. • Anomie and the American Dream:
 Critique of Cultural Emphasis: Merton critiqued the societal emphasis on the
American Dream, arguing that while the culture promoted success and achievement, not
everyone had equal access to the legitimate means (institutionalized paths) to achieve
these goals.
 Anomie as a Result: The disjunction between cultural goals (success, wealth) and
institutional means to achieve them led to a state of anomie, where individuals
experienced strain and turned to deviant means to attain societal success.

8. BACKGROUND: • 2. Intellectual Influences:
• a. Émile Durkheim: Merton drew inspiration from the
work of the French sociologist Émile Durkheim, especially
Durkheim's concept of anomie. Durkheim used anomie to
describe a state of normlessness in society, where
individuals experience a disconnection between societal
norms and their own aspirations.
• b. Functionalism: Merton was associated with structural
functionalism, a sociological perspective that views society
as a complex system with interrelated parts that function to
maintain stability and order. Merton's strain theory can be
seen as an application of functionalist principles to the study
of deviance.

9. STRAIN THEORY:
• The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (such
as the American Dream), even though they lack the means to do so. This leads to strain, which may
lead individuals to commit crimes, like selling drugs or becoming involved in prostitution as a mean to
gain financial security.
• Strain could be:
• Structural strain: Arises from societal conditions limiting means to achieve cultural goals.
• Individual strain: Stems from personal conflict between individual aspirations and societal
expectations.

10. CORE CONCEPTS:
Cultural Goals: Society establishes culturally approved goals that are highly desirable, such
as wealth, success, and status.
Means: Society prescribes the legitimate means to achieve these goals, including education,
hard work, and legal employment.
The Strain Between Goals and Means: The central idea of Merton's theory is that
experience a strain when the cultural goals they are encouraged to pursue are difficult to
attain through the prescribed institutionalized means. (leads to stress/strain)

11. MODES OF ADAPTATION:
• In Merton's Strain Theory, "strain" is the stress people feel when they can't achieve society's goals
using approved methods. This pressure can push individuals to adapt in different ways, from following
the rules to breaking them.
• Merton proposed five ways individuals adapt to this strain.
• 1. Conformity
• 2. Innovation
• 3. Ritualism
• 4. Retreatism
• 5. Rebellion

12. MODES OF
ADAPTATIONS

13. 1.CONFORMITY:
Conformity is a mode of adaptation where
individuals accept both the culturally
approved goals and the legitimate means to
achieve those goals. They work within the
established social system and follow societal
norms and rules to attain success.
Example: A person who values financial
success and follows the path of higher
education, hard work, and a legal career to
achieve wealth exemplifies conformity.

14. 2.INNOVATION:
Innovation is a mode of adaptation where
individuals accept the culturally approved
goals but reject or adapt the legitimate
means. They often resort to unconventional
or deviant methods to achieve societal
success.
Example: An individual who desires financial
success but turns to illegal activities like
Thefts, embezzlement (financial fraud) or
hacking to accumulate wealth is an
innovator.

15. 3.RITUALISM:
Ritualism is a mode of adaptation where individuals abandon the pursuit of the actual
goals but continue to rigidly adhere to the prescribed means. They engage in
conventional behaviors despite having given up on the ultimate goal.
Example: Someone who has lost interest in acquiring significant wealth but continues
diligently work a low-paying job just for the sake of following societal norms is
engaging in ritualism.
Staying in a dead-end job (no Advancements, progress or development)

16. 4.RETREATISM:
Retreatism is a mode of adaptation where individuals reject both the
culturally approved goals and the legitimate means. Few people decide
to leave society, and they might use drugs or become homeless to get
away from all the pressures and rules of society..
Example: Individuals who have abandoned the pursuit of success and
turned to drug addiction and homelessness as a way of coping with
societal pressures are retreatants.
A drug addict whose entire existence is focused on getting more drugs.
A person living away from reality in isolation, free from societal
expectations and pressure.

17. 5.REBELLION:
Rebellion is a mode of adaptation where
individuals reject both the existing societal
goals and means. They seek to replace these
with alternative values and means, often
through protest, activism, or revolutionary
action.
Example: A group or individual who
challenges established societal norms and
institutions, advocating for a radical change
in values and means, is engaging in
rebellion, such as feminist activists want to
change the whole system.

19. LINK WITH WHITE COLLAR CRIMES?
• Strain theory best applies only to the lower class as they struggle with limited resources to obtain
their goals. Merton doesn’t address white collar crimes.
• Merton's strain theory can also be used to explain white collar crimes.
• People turn to illegal means to become successful and attain monetary goals.
• They Experience strain or 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.

20. CRITICISMS:
• 1. Limited Emphasis on Cultural Variation: Critics
argue that strain theory's focus on American society limits its
applicability across diverse cultures and societies worldwide,
neglecting variations in cultural norms, values, and
opportunities.
• 2. Neglect of White-Collar Crime: Early strain theory
primarily addressed street crimes and delinquency, often
overlooking white-collar crimes committed by individuals in
positions of power due to its focus on lower socioeconomic
groups.

21. • 3. Simplistic Explanation of Deviance: Some scholars
critique strain theory for oversimplifying the complex
causes of deviant behavior, attributing it solely to the
disconnect between goals and means without considering
other influential factors.
• 4. Inadequate Treatment of Gender Differences:
Early formulations of strain theory did not adequately
address how gender differences influence the experience
of strain, overlooking the distinct societal pressures faced
by men and women.

22. • 5. Lack of Empirical Support: While strain theory offers a
compelling conceptual framework, some critics point out a lack of
consistent empirical evidence supporting all aspects of the theory,
leading to debates about its validity in certain contexts.
• 6. Absence of Policy Prescriptions: Critics note the theory's
limited guidance on specific policy recommendations to address
societal strains, calling for more concrete strategies to mitigate
strains and prevent deviant behavior effectively.
• 7. Overemphasis on Individual Responses: Critics argue that
strain theory predominantly focuses on individual responses instead
of group activity which crime involves.

23. • 8. Ignores Positive Adaptations: Strain theory often overlooks
instances where individuals respond to strain by engaging in
positive adaptations or resilience-building behaviors. It tends to
disproportionately highlight negative outcomes without
acknowledging diverse responses to strain.
• 9. Inadequate Explanation for Non-Deviant Responses:
Critics argue that strain theory inadequately addresses why some
individuals experiencing similar levels of strain do not engage in
deviant behavior, highlighting the need for a more nuanced
understanding of the variations in responses to strain.

24. CONTEMPORARY
RELEVANCE AN
APPLICATIONS
OF THE THEORY:
• 1. Social Inequality and Economic Strain:
• 2. Globalization and Cultural Goals:
•
• 3. Technological Advances and Anomie:
• 4. Changing Workforce Dynamics:
• 5. Political and Social Movements:

25. • 6. Intersectionality and Strain:
• 7. Digital Anomie:
• 8. Crisis Situations and Social Strain:
• 9. Policy Implications:

26. CONCLUSION:
• In conclusion, strain theory, as formulated by Robert K. Merton, provides a valuable lens through which
to understand the relationship between societal structures, cultural expectations, and deviant behavior.
By highlighting the impact of the disjunction between culturally approved goals and the
institutionalized means available to achieve them, the theory offers insights into the adaptive responses’
individuals may employ when faced with strain. As societies evolve, experiencing shifts in economic,
technological, and cultural landscapes, strain theory maintains its relevance, offering a framework to
explore the dynamic interplay between aspirations and opportunities. While subject to critiques and
refinements, Merton's strain theory remains a foundational perspective in criminology, contributing to
ongoing discussions on the complexities of deviance within diverse social contexts.

27. THE END