While durkheims concept of anomie was rather vague, merton explains the idea in quite a detailed way. This leads to strain which may lead individuals to commit crimes, like selling drugs or becoming involved in prostitution as a means to. In this contaxt, durkheim believed that a healthy society was one in which what people had, more or less fitted in with what they thought they deserved. Structural factors, societies unequal opportunity structure and cultural factors, the strong emphasis on successful goals and a weaker emphasis on achieving them legitimately. Dec 03, 2018 robert agnew developed general strain theory believing mertons theory was too vague. Merton s strain theory essay 1912 words studymode briefly outline and highlight the contribution of mertons strain theory to criminology. No other theory so well exemplifies the macronormative approach to the analysis of deviance. He thought that there could be deviance where there is a difference between what defines success and the proper means to achieve said goals.
Robert merton in his theoretical analysis of social structure and anomie takes inspiration from durkheims work. Robert merton and adaptations to anomiestrain informed by durkheims writing on anomie, robert k. Merton s theory of deviance merton s structuralfunctional idea of deviance and anomie. Merton presents the following typology of deviance. Merton asserted that societies are composed of two core aspects. Learn more about robert merton s strain theory and test your knowledge with a quiz. An overview of robert merton s theory of deviance strain theory states that social structures within society may pressure citizens to commit crimes.
Functionalists robert merton created the first strain theory, who adapted durkheim s concept of anomie to explain deviance. Robert mertons contributions to the sociology of deviance. It is a more elaborate formulation of a theory that applies to a society like usa, where people believe in and are committed to the pursuit of some desirable ends e. He changed his name at the age of 14 to robert merton, which evolved out of a teenage career as an amateur magician as he blended the names of famous magicians. In the 1930s robert k merton wrote an article entitled social structure and anomie. Pdf robert merton presented two, not always clearly differentiated. Robert mertons theory of anomie essay 1905 words bartleby. Merton and other functionalists viewed society as an organism with various. The functionalist perspective on deviance boundless sociology. Ambient study music to concentrate 4 hours of music for studying, concentration and memory duration. Cole writes that mertons theory specified how a certain type of society and location within that society generates motivation to commit deviant behavior and notes that artomie theory was probably the dominant theory in the area of deviance through the late 1960s. Merton 19102003 was an american sociologist whose primary focus was on functionalism and deviance. Merton developed strain theory, a concept connected to both the functionalist perspective on deviance and emile durkheims theory of anomie. First presented in 1938, merton s anomie theory of deviant behavior played a major part in the development of the field of deviance and continues to influence the work of many contemporary sociologists.
It was robert merton, a midtwentieth century sociologist from columbia. This is precisely what a general theory of deviance must do. Pdf robert mertons typology of deviance emmanuel caliwan. Merton defines culture as an organized set of normative values governing behavior which is common to members of a designated society or group. The ones marked may be different from the article in the profile. Merton is considered one of americas most influential social scientists. In conceiving of society as a system it becomes natural to see it, like other systems, as composed of p. 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.
Sociological theories of deviance social sci libretexts. Mertons anomie theory is that most people strive to achieve culturally recognized goals. Functionalists robert merton created the first strain theory, who adapted durkheims concept of anomie to explain deviance. Robert merton 19102003 argued that society may be set up in a way that encourages too much deviance. Strain theory preserves the interconnection between culture and social structure which is neglected or defined away by cultural and control theories of deviance. Violence in these circumstances may be a way to cope. It states that prediction comes true because people believe in it and, in fact, make it happen.
Chapter 4 anomiestrain theory 3 strain theories are generally macrolevel theories, and they share several core assumptions. American sociologists richard cowan and lloyd ohlin extended robert k. Robert merton s strain theory stems from a fundamental question that he posed on why the rates of deviance were so different among different societies. However, since that time, cole says that the fieid of deviance. Theories of crime and deviance boundless sociology. According to merton, there are five types of deviance based upon these criteria. Mertons social strain theory to directly address juvenile delinquency and social class. They explain the origins of deviance in terms of the position of individuals or groups in the social structure. Robert agnew argued that strain theory could still be a key theory within crime and deviance but it had to loosen its ties to. Apr 16, 2016 the continuing relevance of strain theory. This paper assesses the theoretical and policy significance of one of robert merton s most influential contributions to modern sociology, the anomie or strain theory of deviant behavior. In the history of modern criminology, few theories have realized the impact of mertons 1983 theory of strain and deviance.
Deviance is especially intriguing to scholars of theory. The result is a deviant behaviour characterized by rebellion, retreat, ritualism, innovation, andor conformity. Social strain theory was developed by famed american sociologist robert k. Merton narrowed the focus and extended the theory to the. Mar 05, 2015 robert agnew on strain theory and the american society for criminology. While durkheim s concept of anomie was rather vague, merton explains the idea in quite a detailed way. It argues individuals may commit crime due to emotion and not financial gain. Merton who, in his discussion of deviance, proposed a typology of deviant behavior. Merton, who pioneered the sociology of deviance and is considered one of the most influential sociologists in the united states. Structural theories of deviance are similar to mertons theory. Merton during 1938 where he adopted the idea of anomie to develop the strain theory. The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals such as the american dream, though they lack the means.
This paper assesses the theoretical and policy significance of one of robert mertons most influential contributions to modern sociology, the anomie or strain theory of deviant behavior. Learn four sociological theories of deviance by reading, listening. Robert merton is considered to be one of the most influential social scientists. Merton s theory has the reputation of being the preeminently sociological theory. Merton in his theory of deviance, develops different types of individuals or groups who encompass deviant or nondeviant behavior. In conceiving of society as a system it becomes natural to see it, like other systems, as composed of parts that are interrelated and whose operations have consequences on the whole. Robert merton it was one of the principle reasons he used to explain suicide. Jun 30, 2019 ritualism is a concept developed by american sociologist robert k. Merton, in full robert king merton, original name meyer robert schkolnick, born july 4, 1910, philadelphia, pennsylvania, u. Merton 19102003 was one of the most influential sociologists of the twentieth century, producing clear theories and innovative research that continue to shape multiple disciplines. It refers to the common practice of going through the motions of daily life even though one does not accept the goals or values that align with those practices. Merton was born july 4, and died february 23, merton was born meyer r. This essay is going to demonstrate an understanding of robert mertons strain theory, the advantages of the strain theory and also the disadvantages of the theory.
Merton strain theory for merton deviance is the result of a strain between the goals that a culture encourages and how the structure of society allows them to. Robert merton 1910 best known for developing theories of deviance. Merton, social theory and social structure new york. The enduring theoretical significance of strain theory lies in its sociological completeness. A state of anomie develops when access to these goals is blocked to entire groups of people or individuals. Robert king merton 19102003 is a selfstyled durkheimian, writing very much in the functional tradition. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology. P r e s e n t i n gg s ta s another revision at the social psychological level, agnew. It has withstood a halfcentury despite a sizeable amount of literature opposed to its theoretical basis. Durkheims theory of anomie proved influential to american sociologist robert k. Introduction the idea of anomie theory created by the durkheim was enhance by the sociologist robert k. As youre aware, the theory has some clear strengths and weaknesses. Merton s 1938 classic strain theory and its revisions of cohen 1955 and cloward and ohlin 1960. This cited by count includes citations to the following articles in scholar.
Robert k merton developed the first strain theory in 1938 it have. Cultural factors emphasis on achieving goals, less emphasis on legitimate means to achieve them. Mertons anomie theory has provided for the development of other theories such as bond control by hirschi, differential opportunity theory by cloward and ohlins and many others that drew on mertons concepts of anomie in their field of work. Merton was an american sociologist that wrote in the 1930s putting out his first major strain theory i have chosen to write about robert mertons strain theory. Merton, on sociological theories of the middle range, pp. Born in philadelphia to immigrants from eastern europe, he went to temple university, graduating with a degree in sociology in 1931.
Another theory attributed to merton is the selffulfilling prophecy. It provided the intellectual foundation for mertons attempt to develop a macrolevel explanation of rates of norm violating behaviour in american society. Merton uses a typology which explains our behaviors through our desire to. Robert merton anomie theory essay example graduateway. Merton harvard university t here persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to attribute the malfunctioning of social structure primarily to those of man s imperious biological drives which are not adequately restrained by social control. While merton s theory was based on 20 th century america, it is transferable to any contemporary, western, developed capitalist society.
But merton strain theory concept seems slightly different appraisal from the durkheim where he argues that the culture creates deviance and disunity. In 1998 the international sociological association listed this work as the third most important sociological book of the 20th century. Merton robert king merton born meyer robert schkolnick. Mertons theory was seen as predicting high rates of crime and deviance among the. Mertons deviance criteria a cardinal american virtue, ambition, promotes a cardinal american vice, deviant behavior.
Strain theory is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1938 by robert k. The term anomie, derived from emile durkheim, for merton means. Anomiestrain theory chapter 4 anomiestrain theory sage. The functionalist perspective on deviance boundless.
Mertons strain theory of deviance role model reference group robert k. Strain theory in robert mertons theory of deviance bartleby. In its simplest understanding, the strain theory asserts that there are certain factors in the society such as stressors and strains that can. Mertons inter vention d efinitely extended the life of functionalism, with the introduction of some valid new concepts. Robert merton s contribution to sociology is one of great importance in regards to the functional perspective of society. Merton s theory on deviance stems from his 1938 analysis of the relationship between culture, structure and anomie. 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. As originally formulated by robert merton 1938, this is pretty much a staple feature of the alevel specification and you can, of course, find an outline of the theory in the channels theories of deviance. Each of these theories provides an image that gives rise to inferences. Merton developed the structural strain theory as an extension of the functionalist perspective on deviance.
Strain theory criminology robert merton criminal justice. Merton, american sociologist whose diverse interests included the sociology of science and the professions, sociological theory, and mass communication. In the 1960s, robert merton used the term to describe the. Mertons theory of anomie and deviance, or as it is cur rently termed, strain theory see cullen 1988, p. The theory states that social structures may pressure citizens to commit crimes. Our values, beliefs, goals, and identities are developed in the cultural realm. Evaluate the usefulness of mertons explanations to our understanding of crime and deviance define what is meant by strain theory explain how strain occurs outline deviant adaptations to strain evaluate mertons explanation of crime compare and contrast durkheim and mertons views evaluate both views and their usefulness. Merton 19102003 merton on structural functionalism. Yet when durkheim writes of anomie, he is clearly indicating a crisis of far greater magnitude and scope than mere criminal behavior. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology tutor2u. He spent most of his career teaching at columbia university, where he attained the rank of university professor.
Strain theory sociologist robert merton agreed that deviance is an inherent part of a functioning society, but he expanded on durkheims ideas by developing strain theory, which notes that access to socially acceptable goals plays a part in determining whether a person conforms or deviates. Strain theory states that social structures within society may pressure citizens to commit crimes. Sociological theories of deviance are those that use social context and social pressures to explain deviance. Apply mertons typology of deviance to the real world and give examples for each type. Merton s functional explanation for why some groups turn to deviantcriminal behavior while others do not. Thus, the appeal of mertons theory and a major reason for its farreaching impact upon the field of deviance lies in his ability to derive explanations of a diverse assortment of deviant phenomena from a relatively simple analytical framework. According to merton, people conform to either the opportunities and goals defined by society or they engage in five types of deviance. 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. Theory of anomie merton s theory of anomie is a borrowing but essentially different from that of durkheim. Merton s reach can be felt in the study of social structure, social psychology, deviance, professions, organizations, culture, and science. If you recall, social strain theory develops a typology of deviance in which an individual can deviate on two planes. Merton was one of the most distinguished and influential sociologists of the. Robert mertons ideas on strain theory and particularly the adaptation of innovation.
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