The ideas underlying strain theory were first advanced in the 1930s by american sociologist robert k. Buy social theory and social structure 1968 enlarged ed by merton, robert k. The ideology that societal structure and strain from injustice in the system can lead an individual astray from the. Strain theory was created from the work of durkheim and merton and derived from the theory of anomie. Innovation where people accept the need to achieve their goals but are prepared to do so irrespective of the social cost.
Here persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to attribute. Robert merton, who lived from 19102003, argued that society may be set up in a way that encourages too much deviance. The theory states that social structures may pressure citizens to commit crimes. Following on the work of emile durkheim, strain theories have been advanced by robert king merton 1957, albert k. Merton, in this book, also introduced the notion of theories of the middlerange to sociology. Merton used durkheims principle of anomie to form his own theory, called strain theory. Robert merton 19102003 was probably the foremost american sociologist. Avon and stringer bell exemplify mertons strain theory duration.
Merton argued that general strain theory is developed by a blockage in an individual s life which doesnt allow them to achieve their goal, essentially leading to deviant behaviour. Robert king merton was a distinguished american sociologist perhaps best known for having coined the phrase selffulfilling prophecy, the explanation for how a belief or an expectation, correct or incorrect, affects the outcome of a situation or the way a person or a. His strain theory starts with the general assumption that societies provide both culturallyvalued goals and culturally. Strain theory is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1938 by robert k. Merton uses the progress of achieving the american dream as an example. Merton who, in his discussion of deviance, proposed a typology of deviant behavior. Merton s most popular book is social theory and social structure. If an individual cant achieve this, it can prove frustrating for the. First of all, strain does not appear to be concentrated in the lower class due to the low explained varian ce. Merton asserted that societies are composed of two core aspects.
Baumer 2007 revisits mertons 1938 theory merton 1938, cited under classic strain theory and develops a causal model that describes the linkages between the macrolevel aspects of the theory and the individual aspects, with baumers integrated, multilevel theory suggesting new directions for research. Structural theories of deviance are similar to mertons theory. Mertons most popular book is social theory and social structure. Merton an excerpt from social theory and social structure begins on p. Strain theory is a derivative of emile durkheims anomie theory, which is the theory of normlessness. Applying mertons strain theory to young people japansociology. Although the idea has been, and still is controversial, the suggestion. Savannah state university theories of criminal behavior prof. Discuss how robert mertons strain theory fits into the functionalist theory of deviance and crime.
May 19, 2010 please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. Robert king merton was a distinguished american sociologist perhaps best known for having coined the phrase selffulfilling prophecy, the explanation for how a belief or an expectation, correct or incorrect, affects the outcome of a. Merton s strain theory is an important contribution to the study of crime and deviance in the 1940s it helped to explain why crime continued to exist in countries, such as america, which were experiencing increasing economic growth and wealth. Apr 16, 2016 the continuing relevance of strain theory. The theory states that when society does not provide the necessary legitimate and legal means that allow. The theory which i am studying is mertons strain theory, this particular subject lies within the strain theory umbrella. They explain the origins of deviance in terms of the position of individuals or groups in the social structure. While durkheims concept of anomie was rather vague, merton explains the idea in quite a detailed way.
There have been several attempts to modify strain theory in order to generalize it and the most important of these modern strain theories is robert agnews general strain theory. Start studying 5 adaptations of merton s strain theory. Brooks march 4, 2012 since the beginning of mankind criminality has been a major problem and the most debated topic of interest by theorist on the grounds of why crime is committed, who is more prone to commit crime, and. Jan 18, 2012 according to robert mertons strain theory, there are 5 different types of people who make efforts for the future. Strain theory stain theory keisha harris valdosta state university the strain theory explains the criminal behavior and is a breakdown of why people commit crimes. This was just one of his theories which gained prominence amongst social science circles and beyond. It is a sociological and criminological term that primarily suggests that those who cannot hope to achieve some kind of american dream will receive the constant burden of not necessarily being rejected for not achieving their goals, but not having the resources that.
Critically evaluate strain theory and the functionalist theory of deviance and crime from the perspective of conflict, feminist and symbolic interactionist theories. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology. Merton, whose work on the subject became especially influential in the 1950s. Strain theory sociology project gutenberg selfpublishing. The basic principle common to all three theories is that strain creates pressures that necessitate coping behaviours.
In this book, merton outlined his wellknown strain theory of deviance. Merton argued that anomie is not produced by significant social change, however rather by a social structure that holds the very same goals to all its members without providing them equivalent methods to attain them. In the 1930s robert k merton wrote an article entitled social structure and anomie. Merton developed strain theory, a concept connected to both the functionalist perspective on deviance and emile durkheims theory of anomie. The ideology that societal structure and strain from injustice in the system can lead an individual astray from the path of social norms intrigues me. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. May 20, 2015 the strain theory robert merton 19102003 argued that society may be set up in a way that encourages too much deviance. Register to read the introduction merton puts forward the idea of strain to anomie, presenting a strain to succeed.
In order to attain that, they study and go to university, and work. It is a sociological and criminological term that primarily suggests that those who cannot hope to achieve some kind of american dream will receive the constant burden of not necessarily being rejected for not achieving their goals, but not having the resources that others were. The strain theory robert merton 19102003 argued that society may be set up in a way that encourages too much deviance. Durkheim concentrated on the reduction of societal control and the strain that was caused at the individual level, and merton analyzed the cultural connection that is present between the individual and the standards of society. Strain theory states that social structures within society may pressure citizens to commit crimes. This leads to strain which may lead individuals to commit crimes, like selling drugs or becoming involved in prostitution as a means to. Buy social theory and social structure 1968 enlarged ed by robert k.
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. Merton developed the structural strain theory as an extension of the functionalist perspective on deviance. Merton was born in philadelphia, america in july 1910. Sutherlands, so he, too, combined elements of mertons anomie theory and sutherlands ideas on social learning in his work.
Cohen 1955, richard cloward and lloyd ohlin 1960, neil smelser 1963, robert agnew 1992, and steven messner and richard rosenfeld 1994. Robert merton took a standard functionalist view that there was a value consensus. Social structure and anomie 675 thus, in competitive athletics, when the aim of victory is shorn of its institutional trappings and success in contests becomes construed as win ning the game rather than winning through circumscribed modes of activity, a premium is implicitly set upon the use of illegitimate but tech. In the late 1930s, he went on to create his strain theory.
The theory was developed by an american sociologist robert k. Conformity acceptance of goals and means, and is the one taken up by most people. When people experience social strain, they channelize there strains in different ways in order to manifest different forms of anomic behaviour. When it comes to explaining crime and deviance, there are a couple theories that sociologists always teach, and one of them is mertons strain theory. Social strain theory was developed by famed american sociologist robert k. With this premise, we explore the possibil ity that research interpretations differing conceptually from merton s original statement contribute to the recent empirical failure of strain theory. 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. Avon and stringer bell exemplify merton s strain theory duration. In its simplest understanding, the strain theory asserts that there are certain factors in the society such as stressors and strains that can predispose an individual to committing crime. Cohen 1955, richard cloward and lloyd ohlin 1960, neil smelser 1963, robert agnew 1992, and steven messner and richard. This chapter examines the role of anomie theory in the sociology of crime and deviance.
According to robert mertons strain theory, there are 5 different types of people who make efforts for the future. While durkheim s concept of anomie was rather vague, merton explains the idea in quite a detailed way. Merton expanded research on anomie in his deviance theory, is widely used today in criminology when studying strain theory. For example, western society places value on economic success, even though wealth is accessible to just a small percentage of people. Our values, beliefs, goals, and identities are developed in the cultural realm. Mertons strain theory theory and methods a2 sociology. Oct 18, 2019 strain theory explains deviant behavior as an inevitable outcome of the distress individuals experience when theyre deprived of ways to achieve culturally valued goals. This theory traces the origins of deviance to the tensions that are caused by the gap between cultural goals and the means people have available to achieve those goals. With this premise, we explore the possibil ity that research interpretations differing conceptually from mertons original statement contribute to the recent empirical failure of strain theory.
The strain is the product of mismatch between culturally prescriptive means and socially prescriptive goals. While mertons theory was based on 20 th century america, it is transferable to any contemporary, western, developed capitalist society. Merton argued that general strain theory is developed by a blockage in an individuals life which doesnt allow them to achieve their goal, essentially. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Society has two main features, as outlined by structural functionalism, cultural structure prescribed goals and legal attainment and the social structure patterned social relationships which exist in differing levels of integration. In this update we look briefly at traditional strain theory and suggest a morecontemporary interpretation that can be introduced to students through agnews general strain theory gst. Strain theory, in sociology, proposal that pressure derived from social factors, such as lack of income or lack of quality education, drives individuals to commit crime. Mertons strain theory, crime, and my pants everyday. Merton 1938 concluded that americans were socialised into believing in the american dream. Robert agnew on strain theory and the american society for criminology. Oct 14, 2008 when it comes to explaining crime and deviance, there are a couple theories that sociologists always teach, and one of them is mertons strain theory.
With that in mind, he set out to try and explain why some. Merton has 46 books on goodreads with 7706 ratings. Mertons 5 adaptations, were ways in which individuals found ways of overcoming this strain to anomie created by social structures. Mertons strain theory is an important contribution to the study of crime and deviance in the 1940s it helped to explain why crime continued to exist in countries, such as america, which were experiencing increasing economic growth and wealth. While merton s theory was based on 20 th century america, it is transferable to any contemporary, western, developed capitalist society. In sociology and criminology, strain theory states that social structures within society may. Building on durkheims theory that anomie is a social condition in which peoples norms and values no longer sync with those of society, merton created the structural strain theory, which explains how anomie lead to deviance and crime. Anomie theory, general strain theory, and relative deprivation theory have identified various types of strain which may induce delinquency and youth violence. Strain theory in robert mertons theory of deviance bartleby. May 23, 20 mertons 5 adaptations, were ways in which individuals found ways of overcoming this strain to anomie created by social structures. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Merton harvard university t here persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to attribute the malfunctioning of social structure primarily to those of mans imperious biological drives which are not adequately restrained by social control.