Outline the principle elements of Merton's strain theory of deviance

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

According to the strain theory, people feel strain when they are exposed to cultural

goals that they are unable to obtain because they do not have access to culturally

approved means of achieving them. The goals may be material possessions and money?

the approved means may include an education and jobs. When denied legitimate access

to these goals, some people seek access through deviant means. Merton identified five

ways in which people adapt to cultural goals and approved ways of achieving them:

conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. According to Merton,

conformity occurs when people accept culturally approved goals and pursue them

through approved means. Merton stated that innovation occurs when people accept

society's goals but adopt disapproved means of achieving them. An example is

obtaining money by theft. Ritualism occurs when people give up on societal goals but

still adhere to the socially approved means of achieving them. For example, people who

cannot obtain expensive material possessions or wealth may nevertheless seek to

maintain the respect of others by being a "hard worker" or a "good citizen.".

Retreatism occurs when people abandon both the approved goals and the approved

means of achieving them. Examples include people such as skid-row alcoholics and

drug addicts. Rebellion occurs when people challenge both the approved goals and

means and instead advocate an alternative set of goals or means. Civil disobedience in

support of a social cause is an example.