Classic Strain Theory Flashcards

Study Notes

Strain Theories

Propose that social pressures lead individuals to commit crime, with variations in how these pressures are experienced across society.
Highlight disjunction between culturally valued goals and the legitimate means to achieve them.

Robert Merton

Argued that American societal structure contributes significantly to crime and deviance.
Identified conformity to financial success as a criminogenic factor with limited access to legitimate means for economic success.
Described American society as "anomic," where lost norms fail to regulate individual behavior.

Adaptation to Strain

Individuals react to the gap between success goals and access to legitimate means using various adaptations.

Types of Adaptation - Positive Strains (Cultural Goals)

Conformity: Embraces societal goals through legitimate means.
Innovation: Adopts illegitimate means to pursue success.
Rebellion: Challenges and seeks to change societal goals.

Types of Adaptation - Positive Strains (Institutionalized Means)

Conformity: Adheres to societal norms and objectives.
Ritualism: Follows institutional means but loses sight of goals.
Rebellion: Seeks to overthrow existing means and goals.

Types of Adaptation - Negative Strains (Cultural Goals)

Ritualism: Continues following rituals while disregarding goals.
Retreatism: Rejects both cultural success goals and legitimate means.
Rebellion: Not only rejects but advocates for change of existing societal norms.

Types of Adaptation - Negative Strains (Institutionalized Means)

Innovation: Utilizes illegitimate methods instead of traditional means.
Retreatism: Withdraws from societal engagement entirely.
Rebellion: Aims to alter the established system dramatically.

Most Common Response to Strain

Conformity is the predominant adaptation, where individuals maintain traditional behavioral norms.
Strain is alleviated by changing cultural goals or reassessing commitment to institutional means.

Deviant Adaptations - Innovation

Accepts the pursuit of success but resorts to illegal methods for achievement.

Deviant Adaptations - Ritualism

Exhibits surface-level conformity to norms while rejecting the underlying success goals.

Deviant Adaptations - Retreatism

Completely abandons both aspirations for success and established methods to achieve it.

Deviant Adaptations - Rebellion

Rejects existing structures and actively seeks to promote substantial change in societal norms.

Cohen's Contribution

Aimed to unify strain theory and subcultural theories from the Chicago School, suggesting crime helps low-income youths gain status.

Cloward and Ohlin's Insights

Highlighted the limited access to illegitimate routes for success.
Emphasized the need for exposure to criminal environments to facilitate involvement in crime, found in deviant subcultures.

Criticisms of Classic Strain Theory

Lacks clarity on the selection process of adaptations by individuals.
Assumes uniformity of success goals across a diverse American society.
Suggests strain primarily affects lower classes without explaining criminal behavior in higher socioeconomic groups.

Description

Explore the key concepts of Classic Strain Theory through these informative flashcards. Learn about the theories proposed by Robert Merton and the societal pressures that lead to crime. Ideal for students of criminology and sociology.