Robert K Merton Strain Theory
The purpose of this essay is to evaluate two key approaches and explore the contributory factors proposed by established theories in determining the causation of crime. In order to achieve this, one psychological and sociological approach will be selected from the many available to enable providing an analysis to establish the fundamentals behind each concept in to explaining the reasons why criminal and deviant behaviours occurs
The first concept to be evaluated is Robert K Merton’s (1938) Strain Theory, ‘Social Structure and Anomie.’ Its composition is a functionalist, middle-range, sociological perspective that operates by evaluating the impact of the macro on the micro to ascertain the connection between social cultures and societal structures …show more content…
Merton applied the notion of anomie to establish his strain theory in relation to why crime and deviant behaviour occurs. He hypothesised that anomie occurs when there is an imbalance of social structure and culture, specifically the disconnection between legitimate social means and valued cultural goals and used this theory to highlight the interconnected relationship of deviance and crime as being a direct response to a dysfunctional economic system. He argued that people operate outside the norms of society and engage in crime and deviant behaviour when they cannot achieve culturally approved goals through legitimate …show more content…
Although everybody experiences strain in one form or another Merton suggests that one way of dealing with strain is by committing crime!
Merton developed a typology theory to illustrate his concept which explained that the responses to strain depends on whether or not society accepts ‘the means’ and ‘the goals’ to achieve economic success. To achieve this he questioned what type of people or groups may be considered as deviant? This resulted in him devising a framework that enabled him to establish sectioning society into five groups that encompassed deviant or non-deviant behaviour:
Firstly, Merton suggested that on the whole citizens conform to society’s expectations of achieving the means and the goals and referred to these people as conformist. These are the people that accept the culturally approved goals and strive to achieve them by legitimate
The first concept to be evaluated is Robert K Merton’s (1938) Strain Theory, ‘Social Structure and Anomie.’ Its composition is a functionalist, middle-range, sociological perspective that operates by evaluating the impact of the macro on the micro to ascertain the connection between social cultures and societal structures …show more content…
Merton applied the notion of anomie to establish his strain theory in relation to why crime and deviant behaviour occurs. He hypothesised that anomie occurs when there is an imbalance of social structure and culture, specifically the disconnection between legitimate social means and valued cultural goals and used this theory to highlight the interconnected relationship of deviance and crime as being a direct response to a dysfunctional economic system. He argued that people operate outside the norms of society and engage in crime and deviant behaviour when they cannot achieve culturally approved goals through legitimate …show more content…
Although everybody experiences strain in one form or another Merton suggests that one way of dealing with strain is by committing crime!
Merton developed a typology theory to illustrate his concept which explained that the responses to strain depends on whether or not society accepts ‘the means’ and ‘the goals’ to achieve economic success. To achieve this he questioned what type of people or groups may be considered as deviant? This resulted in him devising a framework that enabled him to establish sectioning society into five groups that encompassed deviant or non-deviant behaviour:
Firstly, Merton suggested that on the whole citizens conform to society’s expectations of achieving the means and the goals and referred to these people as conformist. These are the people that accept the culturally approved goals and strive to achieve them by legitimate