As part of Merton's strain theory, he offers five modes of adaptation. Discuss those modes of adaptation. Which ones should be a concern of the criminal justice system?

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: Conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion. Conformity is the most common mode of adaptation. This individual accepts the goals and the means. The innovator accepts the goals but not the means. They find creative ways to attain material goods. The ritualist rejects the goals but accepts the means. The retreatist rejects both the goals and the means. Drug addicts would be an example of a retreatist. The rebel looks for something else to take the place of the current goals and means. From a criminal justice perspective, the conformist and the ritualist are not a major concern.

Criminal Justice

You might also like to view...

Which of the following is a requirement for computing the F ratio?

a. Comparing two or more independent means b. A normal distribution c. Random sampling d. All of the above

Criminal Justice

What is not part of the assumptions of the profiling process?

a. Humans are creatures of habit. b. Crime reflects the characteristics and personality traits of the offender. c. the analogy assumption d. signature and MO of an offender

Criminal Justice

________________ refers to when an individual becomes involved in deviance as a sequence of events.

a) Deviant careers b) Career deviance c) Short-term deviance d) Long-term deviance

Criminal Justice

The level of proof needed for a criminal conviction is

What will be an ideal response?

Criminal Justice