Essay on Merton's Strain Theory

Limitations Merton’s strain is only concerned with working class as opposed to middle class and white collar crimes, this is a criticism of the theory. (Newburn, 2012, p184) The limitations of Merton’s theory of strain can be argued as the study, which he has compiled is only concentrated on working class crime, not the middle class and white collar crimes. Furthermore, there is an over prediction because not all individuals under strain become criminals. For example, women are under most strain with unequal

One of the most widely accepted, the strain theory, was developed by Robert Merton and focused on social inequality. He believed that when society limits the channels through which one can achieve social stability, “the individuals, then, must adapt to the inconsistency between means and goals in a society that socializes everyone into wanting the same thing but provides opportunities for only some.” Merton’s theory can be applied to most, if not all, societies in the modern

The explanation of sociological and philosophical theory relies on the interpretation of human behavior using theoretical frameworks. These theoretical frameworks have been an integral part over the years and have been used to understand phenomenon in contemporary living. Karl Marx, Max Weber. Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud are some of the famous composers of theoretical frameworks that are used to interpret and analyze human living. For instance, Marx’s sentiments on capitalism are instrumental

1957, by Robert Merton, strain theory originates from Emile Durkheim’s conceptualization of anomie. According to the strain theory, criminal offenders are those who experience the strain to anomie, or, “the disconnection between goals and the means of goal attainment,” (McLaughlin, November 2016, no pagination). While the theory of anomie focused on the mismatch between social norms and individual or group circumstances, strain theory expands upon this explaining that this strain to anomie can cause

Strain Theory Throughout history many sociologist and criminologist have developed theories to explain crimes in society. Robert Merton was an American sociologist. He believed societies like the United States create deviant citizens because they do not give them the tools to create “The American Dream”. There are various things that can turn a citizen deviant such as the inability to achieve valued goals, the presence of negative stimuli, and the removal of positive stimuli. A deviant citizen is

Introduction The initial strain theory which was inspired by Emile Durkheim’s anomie, was created by Robert K. Merton in 1938. (Tibbetts & Hemmens, 2015, p.222). Merton came up with this theory after observing the Great Depression and how poverty produced crime in America (Tibbetts & Hemmens, 2015, p.223). During this time in history, many Americans lost their jobs and were unable to provide for their families. Not only did poverty rise throughout the nation, but crime grew rapidly(Tibbetts & Hemmens

up with the idea called Anomie Theory to explain why offenses take place in our communities. Durkheim reported that crimes took place in our society because there was a lack of ethical norms and social standards within our communities (Walsh, 2018).However, almost half a century later, Robert K. Merton developed Merton's Strain Theory to thoroughly explain why some people in our society are more likely to commit crimes than the others who don’t. Merton’s Strain Theory argues that corruption not only

share the goal of home ownership, it is not possible for everyone to earn enough money to purchase a home of their own. Explain how this problem applies to Merton’s strain theory. Make sure to cover all five possible ways to adapt to the strain (conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion). Applying to the Merton’s Strain Theory Life without purpose is like a journey without a definite destination. To live without purpose is to accept life as “drifting water”. The goal is something

comparison and contrast between Merton’s strain theory of deviance and Labelling theory. In this essay, the comparison between and contrast between strain theory and labelling theory. The essay will start with the key features of each theory and then it will go into the main comparison of the two theories. It will go into to detail on the similarities and differences between the two theories. Strain theory is the theory developed in 1938 by Robert K Merton. It’s the theory that society puts pressure

One of the theories that is believed to cause deviant behaviour and eventually crime in society is called the Strain Theory. This ideology was created in 1949 by American sociologist Robert Merton. Its reasoning explains how goals are not achievable because society puts a barrier, and as a result some humans feel the need to rebel and commit crime. The four types of behaviours in society; classified by Merton’s typology, are conformity, innovation, ritualism and “retreatism”. Those classifications