Robert Merton: Strain Theory

Deviance, Crime, and Social Control SOCI 1306 Robert Merton: Strain Theory Sociologist Robert Merton developed strain theory to build on the fundamental theories of Emile Durkheim, but he nonetheless acknowledged that deviation is an intrinsic component of a functioning society. According to this hypothesis, a person's ability to achieve socially acceptable goals has a big impact on whether they follow or stray from society standards. People in the United States, for example, are instilled with the notion of the "American Dream" at a young age, which revolves around attaining financial success and upward mobility. A common representation of this ideal is the story of someone who enrols in a top business school, gets an MBA, and eventually becomes a well rewarded CEO. This person is praised as the epitome of achievement. Merton's theory, however, highlights the harsh fact that not every member of society is afforded equal opportunity to achieve these objectives. Think about the MBA turned CEO who probably attended elite schools, grew up in rich neighbourhoods, and had access to extra academic resources like private tutors. On the other hand, someone else may be raised in a less fortunate neighbourhood with little funding for their schools and no way to pay for extra help with their schooling. Even if both people may have the same socially acceptable objective of becoming wealthy, they come from quite different backgrounds and have very varied access to legal ways to accomplish this aim. This disparity highlights the central idea of Merton's strain theory, which is the tension or strain that exists between structurally provided chances for achievement and culturally mandated ambitions. According to Merton, this pressure affects how people react when their objectives don't align with the resources at their disposal. He outlined five different ways that people may adapt to this strain: innovation, ritualism, retreatism, innovation, and revolt. 1. **Conformity**: The majority of individuals use conformity as a coping mechanism. Even when their odds of achievement are slim, conformists embrace and pursue socially acceptable goals by socially acceptable ways. For example, they could put forth a lot of effort at work, save money, and aim for advancement while abiding by the law and social norms. Despite the ingrained inequality, they uphold the standards and ideals set out by society, preserving social order and stability. 2. **Innovation**: Pioneers embrace the objectives of society but reject the traditional ways to get there, frequently resorting to illegal or deviant activities as a substitute. For instance, a budding company owner who does not have the capital to launch a firm legally may turn to embezzling money from their job in order to finance their enterprise. This adaptation emphasises how people may be driven towards deviation in their quest for achievement by whatever means required by institutional impediments. 3. **Ritualism**: Ritualists give up on the lofty social objectives but rigidly follow the approved methods to reach them. They set their sights down so they may achieve their objectives via legal means. For example, someone may give up on the goal of being affluent and instead concentrate on leading a secure, although modest, existence through a consistent career. This adjustment shows a turn away from the lofty objectives that society has long championed, placing stability and conformity above unrealistic aspirations. 4. **Retreatism**: Retreatists disapprove of both the aims of society and the approved methods for reaching them. People who completely retreat from society expectations, including those who are homeless or drug addicts, are frequently included in this group. They completely detach from the pursuit of traditional achievement and the social structure, exemplifying a kind of submissive resistance. 5. **Rebellion**: Rebels actively work to replace the established society aims and tactics with new ones in addition to rejecting the old ones. Those who aspire to establish a new social order, such as political radicals or revolutionaries, exhibit this adaption. Their acts are frequently motivated by a deep disenchantment with the current system and a desire to topple it in order to establish their idealised version of society. A thorough framework for comprehending how people deal with the constraints and demands placed on them by society systems is offered by Merton's strain theory. It emphasises how crucial it is to take into account the larger social and economic settings that influence people's behaviour. Systemic disparities in income distribution, education, and work prospects, for example, provide people different starting places and affect their ability to access legal ways of succeeding. It is clear from looking at the implications of strain theory that social solutions to deviance need to take these underlying structural problems into consideration. Policies meant to lessen deviation ought to concentrate on providing everyone more equal opportunity to fulfil socially acceptable objectives. This might entail making educational investments, giving impoverished communities financial support and resources, and guaranteeing equitable access to job possibilities. Merton's theory also emphasises the necessity for a more complex interpretation of aberrant behaviour. Deviance should be understood as a reaction to structural forces and limitations rather than as a moral flaw or personal illness. According to this viewpoint, society should stop addressing crime and deviance and instead focus on treatments that deal with the underlying causes of inequality and provide people encouraging paths to achievement that are legal. In summary, the strain theory developed by Robert Merton provides an essential framework for comprehending the intricate relationship that exists between structural opportunities, personal ambitions, and society goals. Merton's theory highlights the need to address the inherent gaps in opportunity distribution in order to promote a more equitable and cohesive society. All people can have a fair opportunity to realise their dreams in a society where the stresses that lead to deviant behaviour are lessened by comprehensive social policies and a dedication to equality.