Strain Theory: Functionalist.

Question 1

Who suggested strain theory?

Answer 1

Robert Merton.

Question 2

What does Merton argue that media and education socialise people to do?

Answer 2

-believe in the American dream.
-achieve shared goals.
-achieve these by approved means.
He concluded that structural means were unevenly distributed and that a gap or strain that existed between the dominant cultural goal and the structural means of achievement that goals.

Question 3

What did Merton believe that strain led to?

Answer 3

Strain leads to a state of anomie.

Question 4

What did Merton conclude about the behaviour of criminals and non criminals?

Answer 4

That they are shaped by the same materials, desires and goals.

Question 5

Evaluate Merton.

Answer 5

+clearly shows capitalist social structure as the cause of crime.
+ Salvelsburg used strain theory to explain the explosion in crime rates in Russia.
- Does not explain why individuals choose to behave the way they do.
- Fails to explain crime that are not economically motivated.

Question 6

What did Merton suggest were the 5 types of behaviour?

Answer 6

• conformity
• innovation
• ritualism
• retreatism
• rebellion