Question

6.Define and discuss Merton’s Strain theory. What is the background of this theory? How does this theory explain crime? What are the categories of responses to strain as defined by Merton?

Answer 1

Robert K. Merton developed the Strain Theory in 1938. He tried to state that society puts pressure on people to achieve socially acceptable goals. The goal is same but the means and facilities are not same. This inequality forces people to commit crimes. The background of the theory is very simple that people in the society had different privileges but at the same time developing a uniform culture.

Merton proposes five responses when someone is faced with strain such as conformity where one pursue one’s goal through the norms of the society, innovation which uses socially unapproved means, ritualism where one pursues less challenging goals within the norms, retreatism where one escapes from doing anything and finally rebellion where one rejects the norms and fight for a new norm.